Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-09-21

BOWEN d KINGsBURY, Prop'trs
1t was hardly expected that any con
siderable number of the delegates t.
the republican territorial convention
would reach Yankton last night. Blu
they came, nevertheless, by delegation
and singly, every train bringing it
crowd of representative men. Thos
who arrived were largely from remote
portions of the territory, the north being
strongly represented in the gathering
throng. The advantage of being early OF
the ground was evidently considered
for the veteran convention manipulation
came from the advance guard. Among
the prominent figures OF the assemblagt
are most of the old familiar forms anC
faces-veterans who have fought anG
bled on many an ensanguined field and
are again upon the ground with the
odor of battle IN their nostrils.
The preponderance of active northern.
ers in the city last evening gave TO tie
anti-Gjfford movement an apparep;
strength which excited the ftiends oil
the champion OF the southern oaIse and
induced them to exert themselves far
into the night to bring order out of the
chaos SO suddenly precip,tated by the
landing of four train londs of delegates
within two hours of the early evening.
Allen and Edwards, the leaders OF the
northern cohorts, bad arrived at noon
yesterday and were well established ii
their works before the rush began.
Moody, one of Gifford's I,eutenants,
came about the middle of the afternoon,
bIe Clifford himself did not arrive until
nine O'Clock in the evening and no gen.
eral plan Of action was formulated until
he came. This gave to his opponents
an advantage of time which was
shrewdly used and had temporary
effect upon wavering ones, the element
1t was designed to reach.
The bold claim of the north erners
that they held hundred and twenty
five northern votes solid against Clifford
had gone out and filled the political
atmosphere and when this was supple
mented by the declaration that the anti
Gitfordites were certain OF the temporary
organization there was some consterna-
ton. But later III the evening this lost
its effect in the presence of the Clifford
side of The case and the confidence of
the southerners returned.
On the face of the convention returns
Judge Clifford has enough instructed
and otherwise certain votes to give him
the nomination. A large number OF
votes ore, however, represented by prox-
always feel strongly bound by the in :
structlons or the personal tendencies of
their principals. 1t is in the proxy
field that the opposition has labored
industriously and persuasively and With
some effect. Lawrence county Illus
trates case. The county convention
was strongly Clifford and its delegates
were elected upon that issue. Afterwards
Eve of them gave their proxies to an
anti-Gitford man and he is here to vote
them.
The southern county of Brookings
comes to the convention with divided
delegation and the same may be SAID of
Moody. Minnehaha, another southern
county, is In the fieid for Minnehaha
county man-Grigsby-and it will not
commlt itself beyond that. Brown
county comes pledged to Brown county
n-Gordon-and claims to control
the southern counties of Edmunds and
Mcpherson and Day, representing in all
twenty-five votes, which it says will go
to Gordon. This is q break in the
southern ranks There are six votes in
the Black Hills delegation of forty
which will go against the south. With
these and the Gordon following and all
of Brookings, Moody and Minnehaha
cast against Clifford, which is not at all
probable, he will have within two votes
of enough to nominate. This is figuring
the aorth solid against him. There are
several northern counties known to be
favorable to his nomination and some
instructed to vote for him. Giving to
the anti-Gifford forces their greatest
strength they will be unable to accom-
plish his defeat, though they are strug-
Cling to slaughter him and are not at all
scrupulous towards employing the old
methods.
If the advocates of the division OF
Dakota and the creation of two states
stand soiidly by Clifford he will become
the nominee CT the convention by a good
majority. The battle ID being fought
upon this issue and the issue should be
accepted. There is in the convention q
large division majority apd every dele
gate favoring that cause owes his vote
to Clifford.
During tonight .he contending iyrcss
will fall into line and the conflict to bt
inaugurated on the morrow swill bt
shaped. That Judge Clifford now holdl
the winning hand is conceded. How tc
accomplish his overthrow ia the study
OF the opposition. They have not yei
solved the problem and the situation il
discoursging one to them, despit
their allegations to the contrary.
| Burieigh county could not have com
nitted biusder more fatal to its inter
I u