Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-01-19
DAKOTA LEGISLATURE
The Farmers Have a Majority
and Hold the Winning
hand.
A Council Caucus Is Held and
the Republicans With
draw.
StimmeII Nominated for. President OF
the Council and Keith for
Speaker OF the
House.

become mighty uncertain sometimes. Last
president OF the council, owing to division
between the friends Of Stimmcll and the
friends OF Van Osdel. This morning the
alliance members met In caucus. There were
thirteen present, but Robert Lowry, Of Huron,
withdrew on the ground that he was a Re
publican and intended participating in the
Republican caucus and did not think 1t right
to ~forestall the action OF that caucus until
some OF its members were present. At the
meeting this afternoon twenty-one were pres
ent. The other three members being Demo
Gratis, Of course, did not participate. When
1t was proposed to carry out the program
adopted by the alliance caucus without any
modification or concession to the nine Repub-
licans, they withdrew. Those Withdrawing
were AS follows: Lowry, Erickson, ballard,
Polndexter, Washabaugh, Crawford, Camp
bell, Hally and Hughes. The twelve remain
ing then nominated the following: Stimmell
for president; Wallace, OF Stutsman, for
chief clerk; tiooofellow, of Bookings,
for assistant; Erick Olson, Of Caution,
for enrolling clerk; w. w. Girtor, OF Mine
; county, for engrossing clerk; +. L. Cressey,
I OF Huron, for clerk OF the judiciary commit
Tee, W. IL. Ellis, Oh Dlckty county, Ior ser
geant-at-arms; Alex. Forrest, o. Barnes, for
assistant; +. ". Hanson, Of Grand Forks,
for messenger; Hines, of Winona county, for
doorkeepcr; and ID. X. Strong, of Walsh
county, for Waterman. An attempt will Of
course De made to unite the Democrats with
the nine Republicans and tie the council.
In the house the farmers met In caucus last
night, or, AT least, some OF them, and adj
journed until this morning, when twenty
| three farmers and fpur other mamhprs met In
caucus and agreed upon Keith for speaker OF
the house, smashing entirely the popular
slate OF yesterday, which had Aikens at its
head for speaker. When the result OF that
caucus was known there was much swearing,
especially as five or six farmers claimed TO
have sought admission TO the caucus and were
ruled out, being met at the door by a lawyer.
When the caucus met 1t was apparent that
the twenty-nine were ready TO stand by the
result OF the early caucus. Bob Price was
elected chairman and j. v. White secretary.
Several attempts were made to adjourn and
the farmers were appealed to grant this and
unite upon a farmer.
The first ballot resulted as follows Aiken,
10: Keith, u; Price, !; Van Etten, /. Aiken
at this poinr declined to be longer considered
a candidate anG appealed to the farmers not TO
insult him by e~lecting another attorney, since
they were unwilling TO support him, declin-
ing TO 90 so on the ground that he is an at
torney. Many attempts were made to adjourn,
when Farmer Sheets called upon the adjourn
inc farmers 10 stand UP. He said ten
farmers seemed to have polled for Lawyer
Aiken and tgenty-three for Lawyer Keith.
Mr.. Sampman Of the alliance said he came
here TO vote for a farmer for speaker
bat he found every farmer committed.
The first one he talked TO was Lawyer
Keith and the next to Lawyer Aiken, and so
on through the list, and on the first and
G4pDph ho1lgfG taken in this pnHruz avarv
farmer present voted for one lawyer or the
other. But now a few have suddenly con-
cluded That a lawyer Is not worthy TO hold
this important position. For his part he did
not care whether the man chosen was a law
yer, a doctor, a preacher or a farmer. He
cared only TO inquire whether he was honest
and competent.
Buruham OF Cass, WHO had In the meantime
been nominated by the supporters Of Mr..
Aiken, here suggested Mr.. Sampman for
speaker, VINO promptly declined and a vote
was put aud carried TO proceed To a ballot
without further interruption. After many
dilatory motions this was agreed and a ballot
was taken, resulting Is for Burnharn, % for
Keith, | for Sheets and | for Fletcher, and
the caucus adjourned, Mr.. Aiken declaring as
be went out: "Well, the railroads have or
ganized the house,
At the close Of the discussion Mr.. Keith
declared that he had been selected by the
farmers In the interests of the farmers, and,
IL elected, be should see that they were taken
care Of. The remainder Of the Keith slate
appears TO be Hamilton for chief clerk, Rug
giles for assistant, Dakin for bill clerk, Rora-
paueh for sergeant at arms, Small for as
s~istant, Carr for enrolling and engrossine
clerk aud Sorayee for assistant.
The legislature meets at 10 a. IN. tomor-
row and will probably adjourn at once after
organization, leaving the governors message
to be presented Wednesday.