Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-29
WHY HUGHES?

A circular letter on the question Why
Hughesp by can I'm hyphenated Del
egate, has reached many people in
South Dakota. 1t is by DIR. e IL. Col,
ler of Battle Creek. Mich, a delegate
to the recent progressive national con
vention, The letter is as follows:
why should the un-hyphenated pro
gressive support Hughes rather than
Wilson,"
The republicans nominated candi-
date without q program, excepting the
cry, Harmony and the demand that
the democrats get out.
"The national committees of the pro-
gressive and republican parties have
been negotiating a compromise since
January 10, 1916, and despite their CON
tentiops to the contrary, the proceed
ings OF the progressive and republican
conventions proved conclusively that
they had compromised and that that
compromise had been secretly negotiat-
ed by the 'hyphenated' leaders in the
national progressive committee.
''The delegates of the several states
entered the progressive convention with
confidence in their leaders and with one
| avowed purpose to maintain the entity
and integrity of party that was birth
marked with spirit of progressive
ness, that countenanced no boss rule,
no star chamber. no secret conferences
of compromises of any sort whatever
"Whether or no Victor Murdoch ia
or was 'hyphenated' progressive,
time will tell. In the early hours of
its deliberations, Victor Murdock stood
before the delegates of that progress
sive convention and informed them
| that the national committee, of which
he was chairman, was unnecessarily,
unwisely and against any and all per-
suasion on his part to the contrary,
staling the regular order of business,
and stiultifying and damning all of the
fundamental principles born with and
enunciated by the national progressive
| party of this country.
The appeals of Victor Murdock of
| Kansas, Hiram Johnson of California,
and Congressman O'Donnell of Michi
gan, that the convention cut itself loose
| from the secret star chamber confer
ences of the progressive and republican
olive branch bearing committees, and
proceed to the regular order of bust
| ness. were Of no avail in eXtricating
| the delegates of the second national
progressive convention from withundei
the steam roller of the 'hyphenated
progressive majority of the nationa
| committee.
cit is safe bet that the progressive
movement had become too strong IN the
right to further command the respect
| and support of its 'hyphenated leaders
and supporters, who. rather than stano
for principle, united with the leaders OF
| the old boss ruled republican organi
zation, and bartered the principles o1
the honest progressives of this country
| -IoT WDnL! TOT Ifc TGtHtFcDCHiUetll
of themselves and the old guard of the
boss-risden party from which they hac
fled, back into the legislative and ad
ministrative body of this country.
MAY God have mercy on the souls o1
the honest progressives of this country
who turn their backs upon the wonder
full achievements, the high ideals, th'
enobIing intents and purposes of tbs
progressive party of this country, Il
follow its 'hyphenated' leaders hacl
into the boss ridden party, that at
tempts to shift the responsibility o
thirty years of republican misrule upol
three years of democratic administrs
ton
Fort Dodge Chronicle: If L. r. en-
derses Hughes. it will indicate tina,
the was using weasel words when b.