The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-04-23

PAOlNStCu dsdluSL Ally uG-
lay because of the embarrassment,
a would result to the party with
mo leaders nor candidates.
The afternoon session closed short.
ly before Z O'Clock with the passage
OF a motion by Mr.. Basford to name
a full state and congressional ticket
Herbert Knox Smith, the former
commissioners of corporations under
PRESIDENT Taft, and an intimate friend
OF Col. Roosevelt, addressed the con
vention when it assembled at
o'clock. Mr.. Smith urged that the
Bull Moosers of South Dakota pre-
Iserve a separate identity of the party.
The Progressive Position.
I'VE Progressives," said Mr..
Smith, stand for a great advance;
for direct control OF political parties
and government by the citizens, as
against machines and bosses; for in
dustrial justice to that great nine
tenths of US, those who labor; for
vigorous business, encouraged and
controlled to good ends; for the mod
ern state, efficient, active in securing
the citizen, as against muddle and
graft; for government whose chief
aim is the welfare of the citizen, and
not merely the making of wealth for
the strong to seize.
On these great purposes we can
not compromise, and we will not en-
danger them by combining political
%expediency with any party or group
of men which does not hold to them.
Men are Progressive, not because
their fathers were Progressives, but
because they are. They came together
under the driving power of a great
new movement, and throughout the
land their spirit and action are the
same. In the east, as in the west,
they r steadfast in the task they
have taken up.
Fighters in Congress,
"In congress we have a compact
group of fighting men, with a defi-
mite program, backed by the brains
and strength of the phole party. Ev-
erywhere there is the sure. conscious
ness OF a great purpose, before which
temporary defeat and political eNpe-
diency are insignificant.
"Amalgamate! Why should we
'amalgamate? 1T is not safe, to say
nothing of honest. A man who sits on
top OF Q fence in a gale of wind is
due for a fall, and one of the great
winds of history is now sweeping the
United States. Men today approve, or
oppose, but they do not compromise.
why should we amalgamate? 1t
is not honest, o safe. 1t is also sup
remedy foolish. The Republican ma
chine Is facing absolutely certain de-
feat in 1916. That second defeat
means it's disappearance from his
tory. Why should we, the second
party in the nation, the party of the
future, compromise IL ideals to save
from destruction the party OF the
past?
Democrats are Afraid.
And what of the party of the pre-
sent, the Democrats? That party car
ries within itself the forces that will
dissolve it. 1t is irrevocahly a party
of States rights the party opposed
to a strong government. Its chief fac
tor, the south, will see that it re-
mains SO. Now, no party that denies
and refuses power can hold Ameri-
cas- future. The great problems of
the future, corporation control, Jus
tice for the laborer, conservation, are
national and can only be handled by
a strong national government.
This is the Democratic program in
a nutshell. They are afraid of bust
ness power, as they are afraid OF gov
ernmental power. Not daring to use
the power to regulate business con
centration, their one remedy is to
dissolve, destroy. We must, every
man, compete with every other man.
"Three groups of men now face
the problems OF today. The Republi-
can party lives in the past. 1t will do
nothing. The Democratic party is
afraid of power, it can do nothing.
The Progressive party, a weapon
framed and forged by the pressure of
the nations need, both a and will
With the rcopening of the business
of the convention, Mr.. Sem again
moved rs a substitute motion for all
legislation, that no nominations be
made until another meeting six weeks
later. He declared that if the Pro-
gressives could not secure a larger
attendance, it would be better to stop
all further organization.
Declares for Crawford.
Mr.. Basford, who was apparently
the spokesman for the provisional or
%ganization, declared that the new
party needed leaders at the present.
around Whom all Progressives could
rally.
Maybe we should name a senator
ial candidate" he said. There is
but one man, and / believe that he
could be persuaded to run, as this is
a new party. He could come to us
like Roosevelt did. l refer to Senator
Crawford and l assure him that he
would have a sympathetic backing
that he. did not before. l know thai
Mr.. Crawford would not treat oul
request with disdain."
The mention of Senator Crawford.
name brought forth the statement
from Mr.. Sem that the senator coult
not under the present circumstance.
accept the nomination, because of ;
pledge he has given. He doubted the
~advisability of connecting the sena
tors name with the convention.
Vote on Roll Call.
MIR. Sutherland then moved a sub
stitute motion tn ballot on a nomina
}tion fcE yn.leu States senator, but {
m n.Ant later withdrew the motion
M: Sem thentdemanded a ,roll-cal
IOf the convention on h;c Smotio,, ~