, 1891-05-15
A GAME OF DRAW.
How it P~aralyzed South Da-
kota Republicans.
Why Senator Moody Was De-
feated for Re election.
Democratic Regard for Cleve-
land and Hill.

oibIA FALLS - ", NAY II Inc
defeat Of Senator Moody and the over
throw of the old regime in politics at
tracted attention in this state last winter,
but the extraordinary fact has not before
been noted that the turnover was brought
about by a game of draw poker. Such,
however, is the case.
The ehiel figure in the contest, and the
chief sufferer afterwards, was Senator r.
F. Pettigrew, the tall, angular. bushy-
bearded Western rustler who has held his
position in the politics of this common
wealth for no other reason han that he
has been emiuently successful as a
boomer" The senator is known there
as a lawyer without practice, a ProhibI-
zionist who iayors the rum traffic, a tariff
Teformer in protection ranks. and a capt.
talist without a dollar.
The game Of poker, which is destined
to make him famous, took place at John
Chsmberlain's club rooms in Washington.
There were some lively spirits around the
board that eveaing. Some did not hail
from the West and were supposed to be
poor players. and vet they proved them
selves quite equal to the scheming genius
who imagined he knew more about the
game than any Eastern statesman. Fin
ally the man from South Dakota found
himself without money or bank account.
Then it was that his mastery mind con-
ceived a financial scheme which would
have made Ferdinand Ward turn an en-
Sious green. He drew a SIS. 900 draft on
his friend and political chum, Joseph NJ.
Bailey, Jr.. a wealthy banker OF this
city. Even the money so obtained was
soon absorbed in the fascinating play.
and when Mr.. Pettigrew hurried home
his pockets were again empty. A few
days later he found to his utter dismay
that payment of the draft had been re-
fused by MIR. Bailey. This indignity the
genial senator pretended no. to notice,
but he was only initiating Brer Fox.
It was soon discovered that Mr., Bailey
had political aspirations also, and at the
state convention last fall he was a promi-
nent candidate for treasurer on the Re-
publican ticket. The contest was a hot
one, but he received one and a half votes
more than were necessary to nominate, to
the surprise Of many, for it was openly
charged that Pettigrew was exerting
every power at his command to defeat the
man who refused to cash the famous
poker draft. When it was discovered
that Bailey's vote was large enough to
nominate the delegates from Senator
Moody s county, some OF whom had
voted for Bailey, announced a change to
the opposing candidate, thus nominating
him.
This, of course, was pre%-arfanged. and
was the revenge that PettiCrew wanted.
But MIR. Bailey was not TO be put down
| 10 AAalp III. 49, a.N - Il. .A-.
tor in every way possible financially, and
it is said by those who know that he not
only succeeded TO a large extent in that
particular, but be has extended his opera
lions into politics also with good effect.
The first evidence of a determination to
wrest the senatorship from Pettigrew's
friend, Moody, was made manifest when
several Republicans refused to submit to
caucus dictatiOn. 1t was a long and bitter
t2ht, but they never weakened to the end,
when a combination of Democrats and 10,
dependents elected Kyle. 1t is an open
secret that Moody would have received
the support of enough men outside of his
own party to elect him had he received a
full Republican vote early in the session.
The man at the back of the whole plan
which resulted in Moodv's extinction was
no other than Joseph NJ. Bailey, Jr. His
revenge for the s~tiletto act at the Mitchell
convention was complete, for with the
defeat Of Moody a large portion of Petit
CREWS strength went down, and then the
senate himself. He is as dead politically
as the proverbIal salt mackerel " Moth
ing can resurrect him, and with his over
throw it is safe to assume that the Re
publican party in South Dakota will not
cut much of a figure for some time to
come.
The great wealth in South Dakota is
in the Black Hills region, although the
entire section east OF there is farming land
the quality of which is not excelled in
America. Naturally enough the silver
section is frantic overthe free coinage ques.
ton, but the rest ofthe state pays little OF
no attention to the subject. Ofcourse a free
coinage bill would meet the approval oil
the masses, but the issue with them is the
reduction Of tariff and the party making a
fight on that question will get the suffrage
of every sensible voter. Owing to the
position of Grover Cleveland on that
matter the Democrats OF this state have
all along stuck to his banner and will not
listen to another name in connection with
the Democratic nomination in 1892.
There are many strong men who admire
Governor Hill because. as they say, he
has done noble service for the party in his
own state, but a careful survey of the
situation fails 20 reveal any marked
strength for an Eastern candidate outside
OF Cleveland But the leaders declare
that they will oppose the nomination Of
a New York man if there is any strife
among candidates from that state. II
! Governor Hill secures a solid delegation