The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-09-04

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exercise the authority and strength their
habitation and superior valuation have
given them. With population, valua-
ton, advanced cultivation and civilization
in excess thirty-three per cent. over our
northern neighbor, it looks like the mad
dest of folly and the most arbitrary de-
mand for supreme domination for the
weak minority to exact the highest posi-
ton in the representation of Dakota terri
tory. Their authoritative demand for rep
rescntation in excess Of their actual equal
ization is but the result of the evacuation
acquired in their former successful combats,
but this unfair and unjust recognition that
has been allotted South Dakota can be re-
versed to q condition precisely opposite
from former occasions and we shall ex-
pect such elimination at the Pierre con-
vention. South Dakota goes in to win,
and if they fail it can be
charged to the doors of the men who are
to-day advocating North Dakota repre-
sentation in the Missouri river counties.
Having made up their minds on the sub
jcct of ''South Dakota man for con-
gress,' they naturally desire to establish
beyond all reasonable doubt of mistake who
should represent u.s. Two men are men
toned in South Dakota-Judge Clifford
of this city and A. G. Mellette Of Water
town. So far as their conditions OF hon
esty and integrity are concerned, both
have clean record. So far as their con-
stituted makeup in the line of polical pre-
eminence or ability is concerned, both
have ardent supporters who claim
slight superiority as to which would be
the most desirable man to send to WASH
ington. So far as the actual fairness or
right of the matter is concerned-Gitford
poses on a towering mountain beside Mel
lette in the valley. Melette came to Da-
kota with a commission acting as a mag
netic power to draw him hither. and has
remained in Dakota since his arrival a few
years ago simply because of the individual
gain that has accrued while register of the
land office. He has been sustained by the
injection of government pap ever since his
first introduction into the territory, and
now his friends are asking he should re-
ceive the highest honors of our people be-
cause he desires a more elevated position
than regi. ter of the land Office. In order
to secure hold on the land Office he re-
moved from the east to Watertown,
and ever since his residence at that place
has been quietly training and working for
the position. and now comes out as an
open candidate, claiming the friendship
and support of R. T. Pettigrew and G. T.
Mccoy in his candidacy In some coun-
ties in South Dakota the anti Pettigrew
men threaten to knife Clifford because of
former Identification with the Pettigrew
faction, claiming that Clifford is simply
Pettigrew atlmirer. From Il Watertown
correspondent, Melettes home, we learn
Pettigrew and Mccoy will support Mel
lette, and that all are quietly working in
conjunction for the desired end. If that
report is correct, it is certainly wrong for
the anti -Pettigrew men to refuse to sup
port Clifford on the charge Of 'identifica
ton with the Pettigrew faction. -Four
years ago central Dakota was unpopulat-
ed, undeveloped and almost unheard of.
They are certainly assuming an extreme
arbitrary position in demanding the selec-
ton of Mellette, when their rating upon
valuation and population is to-day vastly
inferior to that of South Dakota. How
ever, if central Dakota can command the
strength to center the Pierre convention
on a man from within her borders. well
and good; ifa failure to acquire that end
is the result we shall expect to witness
the transfer of her strength to South
Dakota man, believing that to be their in
tention.
The result of the combat at Pierre can
not now be foreseen. The shrewdest po-
itical manipulators are as totally unable to
forecast the ultimate outcome as the
common, every day delegate, and it
will require the introduction into the
arena of few more county conventions
before a partially definite idea can be
gained. In the meantime if the friends
of Clifford and South Dakota representa-
ton inocuate the proper demand all along
the line, victorious finale will be the re-
suit. South Dakota has the strength,
and if she displays the sand, all is we'll.
Dr;ft;nr ,r,morc and nartially formed