The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-09-05

Hot SPRINGS, s. D., August 27.-J. B.
Kelly, late assistant United States attor-
ley for the Dakotas, spoke as follows of
he senatorial situation in the Black Hills.
1 observe in your issue of the 21st instant
An interview with Mr.. Sterling, who claims
to represent the Chicago and Northwestern
in South Dakota, 'both legally |
and politically" This interview, if correct
ly quoted, raises a question whether he is
Us claimed, thoroughly informed upon the
political situation in his state, particularly
of the senatorial question n the Black
Hills.
He is quoted as saying "that Mr.. Moody
will be re-elected." "That there was nothing
in the report that Judge Moody will lose
several legislative districts in the Black
Hills country THAT there is no oppo-
nent against Moody in the republican
party and none will be brought OUT
''That he (the legal and political represen-
tatiye of the Northwestern road in South
Dakota) is fully satisfied that every county
in the Black Hills section will elect Moody
men,"
These are merely the personal opinions
of this young man who is under obliga-
tons to Judge Moody for securing his CON
tirmation as United States district attorney
for South Dakota.
The facts are there is a very grave ques-
ton whether Judge Moody will be re-
elected to the United States senate. Last
year Moody made a very strong and stub
born fight in the Black Hills, and after a
determined struggle succeeded in carrying
but n county out of six in the Hills, and
that county was his own, Lawrence county,
where there is usually a republican major
ity of from 1000 to 1000, yet Moody car
ried it by less than 200 majority, the high
est man receiving about 300 majority and
the lowest seventeen majority, notwith-
standing at that time Colonel Parker was
i'll the Moody ranks and one of his nomi-
nees for the Legislature.
A more bitter and exciting struggle is
o pending in Lawrence county this
year. A large number of the straightout
republicans have Joined the independents
and the fight will be made at the polls.
1t is stated openly that the independents
and democrats in this county lave Joined
hands on the Legislative ticket and that the
issue will be Moody and anti-Moody,
In fact the entire Legislative issue, in the
Black Hills, will be largely Moody and
anti-Moody; party politics upon the legis-
lative ticket will cut but a small figure
compared with this issue. The anti-M cody
republicans justify it partly by the fact
that the Homestake mining
Judge Moody's strongest supporter, know
no party when their interests are affected,
as was evinced last year by the election of
Judge Thomas, a democrat, over HASTE,
the republican nominee for circuit Judge.
Then again, Judge Moody and the Home
stake Mining corporation have assumed to
re the political dictators in the Black Hills
for years-all of which is bitterly resented
and they refuse longer to be classei as
worshippers at the Moody shrine. In
Pennington, Fall River, Butte, Meade and
Custer counties parties who nave been in
politics in these counties say they will do
this year as they did last, send anti-Moody
men to the legislature. Even Pettigrew
md Mellette will be unable to save him IN
these counties. Tho friends of Judge
Moody and those federal officers like
young Sterling, of course endeavor to
carry the idea that there is not now, nor
will be, an opponent to Moody, but when
the legislature meets, Moody will find ar
rayed against him that legal giant of the
Black Hills, the Honorable Edwin Van
else, the brilliant Tom Sterling, of Sphinx
county, the grave and dignifed Dillon, of
Mitchell, and one or two Others.
To read that recent interview in your
paper, one u~nacquaiuted with the political
situation in South Dakota would conclude
that Judge Moody was the only republican
sufficiently we'll equipped to represent
South Dakota. But go to the state conven-
ton at Mitchell and there will be found
BESIDES those above named q dozen bright
brainy young men that can successfully
meet Judge Moody anywhere, in the arena
Of debate or anywhere else, although they
may be unfortunate in not having behind
them two great corporations like the Home
stake Mining company and the North
western roilroad company.