Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-23
THE FIX WE ARE IN.

THE FIX We ARE IN.
A Little Plain Talk by Retired Poll
tician About the Pierre Convention and
Its Effect on Yankton.
To the Press and Dakotaidn.
1 have read your comments in yester-
days paper upon the position occupied
by Yankton county IN the late conven.
tion, and they have set me to thinking.
l am an old friend and admirer Of Judge
Clifford and knowing him to be gen.
tleman of ability and sterling worth.
am rejoiced over his nomination. II
hope he will understand that we have
some local differences to settle and will
bear in mind that whatever
may come in the way Of home criticism,
We are all loyal to his interests and will
give to him the full republican vote of
the county.
lam plain of speech and may look at
things from standpoint too intensely
practical to fit the theory of politics. 1
put it up this way: Raymond incurred
the hostility of the Ordway. capital. com.
mission crowd because he favored the
Yankt ton side of the contest raging be-
tween the two. He stood for thut which
he thought was right and declined to
aid that which appeared to be wrong
| 10 the end that Raymond might be
punished. the capital crowd took coun.
sci with southern leaders and among
themselves they decided to hoist the
banner of "a solid SOUTH" In the be.
ginning there were more northern lead
ers than there were southern leaders in
the "solid SOUTH movement. This
struck me as peculiar ut the time and
the longer I waited and watched, the
more apparent it became to me that the
movement was one to cripple Yankton
and deprive it Of the fighting strength 1t
still possessed.
In the north Yankton had solid ALI.
ance for offensive and defensive opera.
tions in the political phalanx which
stood at the back of Delegate Raymond.
In the south it had many friends but
more enemies, and among its outspoken
enemies was the southern leader of the
''solid south" combination.
It appeared to me that there was but
one course for Yankton-in behalf of
itself and Of its respected friends, Judge
Edgerton andj Secretary Teller-t
stand with its friends. This I know was
the sentiment Of my neighbors. Age
and infrmities prevent me from gong
about much, but I was assured that this
feeling was general.
Knowing Yankton county to be so de.
cidedly in favor of standing by itself in
this matter and sustaining the position
in which it's good friends, Raymond,
Edeerton and Teller. had placed them.
selves, I was very much astonished to
learn that its representatives in the
convention had taken the other course
and joined hands with those who were
opposing our interests. You have told
the public how this all came about, but
the methods employed are no credit to
those who fixed themselves 80
they were compelled to play into
the hands of the capital com.
mission crowd. This would hardly
have been expected from Yankton, even
| by the most ardent workers in behalf
of the southern" cause. It could not
be expected, because Yankton was looked
upon as the head and front of the fight
against the corruption which made the
last legislature odious. It could be ex.
pected no more than that Bismarck
would enter into combination with the
friends and allies of Yankton for the
purpose of placing political control for
the coming two years in the hands oi
Yankton's friends.
But it appears that We have been un.
expectedly placed in position where
we must surrender without terms. We
have been made to say, through oul
Representatives, that We do not approve
Of the stand taken by Secretary Teller
and that We have no faith in the mature
reasoning contained within Judge Ed.
} gerton's dissenting opinion in the capi.
} tai case. I have not the pleasure Of {
! confidential acquaintance With these
gentlemen and do not know how they
feel, but can easily imagine how would
: feel il had been slapped in the face by
: my friends.
II This result ID not the result desired BY
j. Yankton county, but is the result reach
8 ed BY few schemers who, it appears
!. secured their places by methods NO
creditable. We must accept their worl
as our work. Yankton county occu-
q lpied posltion different from that o
any other Dakota county, excepting
i Burleish county. With % it was not .
4 important Who should be nominated +
congress. Il vas our duty to ourselve
i TO sustain the element which had stoo
o By Us in contest inaugunted in . legi,
. laturs and carried on for nearly tw
. yeass in the pres. in political faction
. and In he courts.
VI Ihavs bsen looking over the Int {