St. Paul daily globe., 1888-03-10
BLACK HILLS POLITICS.
Why Political Clubs Are Put on the
Boards in the Rapid City.
AN IOWA PRoHIBITIoNIST.
How Spilman Came Near Being Marshal
in Place Of Maratta---The Tin Min
ing Interests.

RAPID CITY, Dak., March 9.-POlltics
have commenced to boil in the local cal
dron. AS yet the ebullition is not suffi-
ciently violent to attract any great
amount of public attention, yet the
effect of it can be detected by even a
casual observer. And in some OF its
aspects the local situation is amusing.
Some months ago few of the faithful
may their number increase-Organ-
lied Grover Cleveland club, the osten-
sible object of which was to in
dorse and furnish at least
moral support to the administra-
ton. For since Sparks has been re-
moved the Democrats of this section on
nothing if not loyal. This action on part
of the opposition greatly perturbed the
mind of the opposition, and this dis
quitude has resulted in the formation
last Saturday night Of
A REPUBLICAN CLUB,
whose mission it will be to Illustrate
the schemes and Vaccinations whereby
the Democrats might have hoped to
of the G. o. p. The personnel OF the
club. of course, comprises all classes.
1t is headed by Hon. A. J. Wood as
president, man whose political tenets
admit of no doubt, he having
been member of the Iowa
legislature in 1888, when the
famous prohibiting law of that state was
enacted. Mr.. Woods chief character
isties are his zeal in the cause of tenn
perance, and his hatred for anything
that partakes of even symptom of De
mocracy. He has retired from active
life, and is without visible means Of
support All the trouble that has ever
been experienced here between the rum
and water elements is laid at his door,
and no doubt correctly, as Satan finds
some mischief still for idle hands to do"
He never loses an opportunity to an
nOunce himself as crank, and his gen
eral course has been such as to convince
all of the truth of this statement at
least. AS the large majority of his
party here are anti-pr0hibs,t the curiosity
of his position may be discovered. But
his supporters promise that he will
electrify the party, and are very jubi-
liant, which joy reminds one strongly OF
the tune the little boy whistled while
passing the old burying ground. The
Republican party is so strongly in the
majority here that it is only through
some almost supernatural agency that a
Democrat ever gets into local office.
And this makes the
FUN FOR THE DEMOCRATS
all the more palatable, as the scram-
bic among the Republicans for
place often amounts to what is
most desired-a Democratic vic
tory. Spring election will soon be
on, and the usual accOmpanlments
or now developing. And while on pol
iticS, | am reminded that Il. u. Spill
man is still here, awaiting the arrival
of his commission before jOIrneying to
DEVILS Lake to assume charge of the
land office there. His caution is the re-
suit of an experience connected with
the Office of United States marshal for
Dakota. 1t is we'll known that Spilman
was an applicant for that position, but
it is not so we'll known how ever he
came to he appointed. His chief op-
ponent for the place was the present in
cumbent, Daniel W. Maratta. The
story as told the GLOBES correspond
ent comes from reliable source, man
who was in Washington at the time, and
is familiar weth the affair. President
Cleveland had made up his mind
TO APPOINT SPILMAN
to the place. and had already signed the
appointment to be sent to the senate.
This news reached Messrs. Day and
Mccormack, who were united in their
opposition to the Black Hills candidate.
A short consultation resulted in visit
to the president from weIl-knOwn
lobbyist, Finley by name. He urged on
the president that the appointment of
Spilman be held back forty-eight hours.
To this a reluctant consent was given.
Then Finley boarded the fast express
and went to Buffalo, N. Y. Here
he consulted with Bissell, the former
law partner of Cleveland. Now, it so
happened that Maratta was protege of
BiSSell's father, and between the two
men warm friendship still exists. So,
at the request of his former law partner,
President Cleveland gave over his in
tention of appointing Spilman and sent
in the name of Maratta to the senate.
Although there appears little chance for
repetition of this experience, Mr.. Spill
man does not care to move, it seems,
until he has made assurance dOubiy
sure"
TIN MINING
interests are still at the front. 1t is as
much as one man can do to keep track of
the new locations and strikes. Of course
tin is the chief mineral sought in the
southern Hills, but the other minerals
are not neglected. Deadwood'S chance
for the erection of reduction works there
to treat the refractory ores of the Bald
mountain and Ruby BARN districts is
good, although very unpleasant con-
troversy has arisen between the project
Ors and the local representatives of the
Homestake company. The difference is
such as may not easily be patched up,
but the washing works may go up just
the same. AS the days of spring draw
near mining men seem more alert and
restless.and busy season is confidently
JoobaI fnryyord fO NV oil