St. Paul daily globe., 1890-05-22
RIPE FOR THE REAPER.
The South Dakota Democrats
Ready to Take the State
by Storm.
Tariff Reform Sentiment Is
Making Great Headway in
That Section.
Grant County Farmers Take
a Shy at the United States
Supreme Court.
Manitoba Catholics Make a
Test Case on the New
School Law.
Snecial to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WATERFOWL. S. D., May 21.-The
political campaign in South Dakota this
year commences early, anu gives prom
ise of being lively from this time hence
forth. The action of the Democrats in
calling theis state convention early is
commendable one, and shows upon its
face that the party of tariff and ballot
reform in this state means to make a
vigorous campaign; also that it is will
ing and anxious to get its platform
formulated and placed before the
masses of the people, so that all may
learn the policy that is to be pursued in
asking for the suffrage of the voters.
1t is given out at this date that the tar
itf, which is of paramount Importance
to the farmers Of the Northwest, will
be the main issue. There is current
OF anxiety in Republican ranks, COM
mingling with fear, connected with this
issue, and many Republican farmers all
over the state have spoken in no un-
certain manner on this subject, which
so largely interests them. They have
went to the polls year after year and
voted their straight party ticket
under the false promises that their
party leaders have made, and, after
seeing and assisting the high tariff
advocates retained in power, they have
been compelled to swallow the bitter
ness of broken pledges until it has be-
come unbearable. Ballot reform, too,
will be a watchword for the Democrats
of South Dakota this year. In nearly
every county, township and city in the
state reform clubs are being organized,
and these two reforms-tariff and the
ballot-are being discussed and studied,
and many who have heretofore given
these important questions little or
no thought. are fast learning their I'M
portance. The question of the resub-
mission of prohibition to the people of
the state will also receive its share OF
consideration. The recent decision OF
the United States supreme court rela-
tive to the sale Of intoxicating liquors
in the original package has given pro
hibitiOn black eye. 1t Is reported
that wholesale houses will soon be es-
tablished in all the larger cities, and
that liquor will be sold as per this de-
cision. Many who voted for prohibition
last fall did not look into this matter as
it now confronts them, and without
further trial they are ready to return
to a system of revenue for the
sale of liquors. The Democrats
have certainly made no mistake in call
ing their state convention early in the
season. 1t will be at time when the
farmer representation will be larger
than if it were called after harvest, and
it is confidently expected that the tlllers
of the soil will turn out in large num-
bers. The work of the last session of
the legislature has caused great 'uneasl-
ness in the Republican ranks. and just
how they are going to face the voters
this fall is matter of conjecture. Their
broken pledges are squarely before
them and as yet have gone unanswered.
The Democratic platform will be so
constructed that the old ringsters of the
Republicans, through their state central
committee, will be compelled to spring
something delusive to the voters as a
last resort, hence the latenesS OF their
convention. But the people will not be
deceived so easily this time. They have
drank of the cup Of bitterness so long
without complaining that the virtue of
such proceeding has given away to a
more candid thought of the real issue
and the medium through which reforms
SO long demanded may be attained.