The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-09-18

t' ASPhciiSab ~ iatiDAVo III
der the leadership of progressive re-
publicans. No one now seriously ques-
tons a truth so obvious. The repub-
lican jarty must adopt a progressive
platform. 1t must nominate progress
sive candidates as its national stand
ard bearers. 1t must change the basis
of representation in national conven-
tons so that each state shall be re-
presented according to the numerical
party strength it possesses as shown
by the previous election. Newly chos-
en- national committeeman fresh from
the people, Il have charge of the
temporary roll and of the preliminary
determination of contents, instead of
allowing this tremendous power to be
exercised by outgoing committeeman
selected four years before. These re-
forms in party procedure are now
conceded as inevitable by nearly all
of the very men who last year boldly
and defiantly refused to recognize "a
single n of them.
Rebuke of Voters.
Such a concession could only be
forced by a rebuke administered by
the rank and file of the party which
four years previously had won an
overwhelming victory, but which last
year won a narrow and doubtful mar
gin in only two states in the Union
Utah and Vermont. That defeat seal
ed the fate OF the old stalwart regime
and witnessed the passing of the AL
drich-Cannon- Barnes-Penrose-Lorim-
%er-school of politicians from the stage
of action. With a sound progressive
platform under a new leadership by
progressive republicans, such as La
Toilette, Cummins. Hadley. Borah,
and ROOSEVELT he chooses to re-
unite with us-the republican party
Will return to power in the near flu
ture. 1t can never do SO under the
leadership of the old reactionary po-
liticians. That is SO obviously rue
that it will not admit of argument.
Men who fought Robert M. LaFol-
lette for years and who were never
heard to say one word in his favor
before, are now anxious to be known
as his friends. Recently when certain
stalwart politicians of this state were
trying to popularize a somewhat for
lorn and futile attempt which they
we're making to get up a meeting at
Sioux Falls. they tried to persuade
progressives like Cummins and Borah
to come there to speak to them. So far
as / have been able to learn, they
did not invite Cannon or Taft or Pen
rose to come. / leave you to draw
your own conclusions.
"Stalwartism and standpatism and
machine politics in the republican
party have lost their power. The sec
ret ucu and secret maneuvering to
break down the civil service and di-
vide and distribute the spoils of office
which are now so plainly observable
in the inner councils of the democra-
tic party in Washington, indicate
that they are falling under the curse
of those alIuring vices in the demo
cratic organization. This gives to the
progressive republicans a golden OPP.
%portunity. They can easily take com.
plete possession of the republican
party and make it the truly progress.
sive party of this nation. Unless they
do so, the progressive party will dc
the work which progressive republic
ans have the opportunity to do, but
fail to improve.
Ten Years Fight.
Ten years ago., right here in Hur-
on in the old opera house, l threw
down the challenge to the railroad
stalwart POLITICAL machine, which
during the preceding ten years. had
held the people of this state in a grip
of iron. You know the story. 1t was
an, unequal contest. l put all l hat
into it, giving up my law practice
and spending all my money. stump,
! ing the state during the cold winter
months only to meet defeat the next
spring in the Sioux Falls convention
at which through force of circum.
stances, the railroad machine made 9
double promise to W aspirants fol
the office of United States Senator
and by a combination with Lawrence
and Mtnnehaha counties, accomplish
ed my defeat. l DOTTED my hat to the
successful candidate and stumpeu vi.
state for the ticket which was elect,
ed. But the fight went merrily on.
declared for d direct primary election
law. the adjustment of railroad
, passes, an increased assessment O
. railroad property, the overthrow O.
> bossism and the enforcement of pub
! lie service corporations from poll
tics. Two years later the machine un
/. dertook to carry out it's promise tt
make Mr.. Martin United States Sen
i ator and Mr.. Gamble Joined the in
surgent movement. ! was nominated
for governor, Burke and Martin wer,
defeated in the convention and Gam
. BILE was returned to the Senate.
!. offered CANDLES Seat.
I. THE legislature was progressiv,
! republican by an overwhelming ma
4 jority. Mr.. Gamble had been endors
i ed as the party candidate for United
> States Senator by the republican
state convention in a contest will
Mr.. Martin. Subsequently the coun
ty conventions, which nominated re
. publican candidates for the legisla
J ture, ratified that endorsement an,
instructed the legislative candidate
to support him. Notwithstanding
: these expressions of the popular will
> at that time, men who had met wit
defeat at the polls, and who had pur
u sued me during the campaign with
bitterness of denunciation seldor
.. %equal1ed, sought to tempt me to allo,
y my name to be used as a candidat
,. for the Senate against Mr.. Gamble
: not because they loved me more. bu