The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-04-23
M00SERS CLOSE
NO CANDIDATES
ARE NOMINATED
Wrangling Marks TIE
Afternoon and
Evening
Semi lNsURGENT
B aek Hills PROGRESSIVE Wins
Fight To Defer Nominations
Herbert Knox Smith Speaks.

The bull moose in an unruly ami
nal, liable TO crash through the
woods at any moment, charging on
any foe who stands in it's path, and
stopping for neither alarm nor dan
ger. The Bull Moose of South Da-
kota proved true i o type in its first
state convention held yesterday in
Mitchell.
The initial session in the forenoon
moved with well-oiled machinery, and
with all melicity OF a sewing circle.
Everything along the Potomac was
serene for a brief session early in the
afternoon, but when it re-assembled
at 5 O'Clock the bombs commenced
to drop, and the convention fairly
sizzled for a period that will be re-
membered for its torridity, if nothing
else.
No candidates were named. But
to reach this decision preceded sever
al hours of dilatory tactics, acrimon-
ious debate and finally all of the
unctiousness of the Hague tribunal.
And with the decision to name no
candidate was the vote of the conven-
ton to meet again at Huron early in
June, to name a state and congress
sional ticket and perfect a complete
state and county organization.
Resolutions Draw Fire.
Hans A. Ustrud, of Sioux Falls,
former state superintendent of public
instruction and chairman of the com
mittee on resolutions, drew the initial
fire of the convention battle with the
reading of the resolutions, which
made general endorsement of the
policies of the national Progressive
party, condemned President Wilson
for his %'scowardly desertion" Of the
canal tolls plank in the Democratic
platform, and labelled the Demo-
cratic and Republican senatorial
nominees as handy GRAND boys for
the corporations The resolutions
were signed by Mr.. Ustrud, A. o.
Murray, w. j. Mundt, w. Il. Har-
tung, Il. l.. Rayburn and o. S. Bias
ford.
e. L. Sem of Deadwood then fired
the opening gun of the engagement,
which he did not cease until the con-
vention's close. He was on his feet
Immediately, protesting against the
references to the senatorial candi-
dates on the ground that it was be-
licdlu luc diSHilS VI tiIc CuuNSittIIi
lie declared he did not doubt the
truth of the statement.
U. e. Murray, of Murdo, a men,
her of the committee was emphatic
in the belief that the phrase should
be retained.
For Homcstake Gold.
''There have been traitors in the
progressive republican ranks" de-
clared Mrs Murray. "They may be
Judases; maybe they got thirty
pieces of silver, maybe some of them
got Homestake gold"
The debate closed with a vote To
refer the matter back to the com
mittee for revision. The reference
to President Wilson on his attitude
toward the Panama canal tolls also
was eliminated.
The report of the committee CT
organization brought forth the fight
of the whole convention, in its nam
ing the state executive committee and
the county provisional members OF
the state central committee. The re.
port was offered by John Sutherland
of Pierre, chairman of the commit.
tee.
BY the report. the state executive
committee comprises G. o. Van Meter
of Murdo, chairman, and I. III. Jones
of Huron, secretary. and John Suth'
erland. of Pierre. Joseph Janousek
of Yankton. NJ. G. Carlisle. o.
Brookings. w. r. Corrigan, of Aber
deem, J. NJ. Miller of Colome, Oscar
Olson of Lennon, S. A. Nash, o,
Sioux Falls, and Geo. w. Wright
The county central committeeman
were the names as printed yesterda,
: in The Republican.
When the report was brought fortl
for action. Mr.. Sem, wearing
Roosevelt button as large as a saucer
was in the front Of the convention
floor, ready for debate.
Sem Protests.
t'This is the rawest thing 1 eve
saw in a political convention" h
said, as he turned to the gallery ant
faced a throng of regular" Republi
caos. by your action today. in fore
ing down our threats this committed
and working the gag-rule 8'to till
limit. you r. furnishing capital am
munition for those .stalwarts' ,sul
there. Tommy Roberts, Charley Da.
and Dick Woods.
"fSome of us have come clear acres
the state and to have this thing ru
over on us is too much. SIT sis. alb
solutely indefensible1 lnda tgiveststh
opposition the best of ornaments tina
we are not real Prsgressives
This brought forth an immediate
rejoinder from Chairman Van Meter
"Tlie charges are absolutely un
true" he shouted. THE ,committe'
was named with the. 'adv.ce1 Of ever.
man in this convention who cared t,
give it. The county chairman hav
been picked by the delegates them
selves, and as for the state commit
tee, we Progressives have no lega
standing In South Dakota and i
makes no difference. who they are
The LAWYERS tell us that we canno
get on the primary ballot for. tw'
years and our legal status is nothinI
now"
Action Was Inadvisable.
Mr.. Seen PROMPTLY moved to sus
pend the nomination of any candi
dates Until a. date six weeks hence
declaring that the small attendant
at the convention made action mad