Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-24
SOUTH DAKOTA'S SENATORS
No Lack Of Politics in the State This
Fall.
Interest Conferred In the Choice of
senator-Mr. Pettigrew May
Succeed Himself.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


Special Correspondence Of The Evening star.
SIOUX FALLS. S. D.. October Is. 1884,
A seat in the Senate and two in the
House form the prizes for which the parties
Of South Dakota are row most earnestly
contending. AS election day approaches
the struggle narrows down more and more
to an effort to capture the legislature and
thus make sure the succession to the seat
now held by r. F: Pettigrew. 50 that while
there may be dearth of pumpkins and po-
tatoes this year in South Dakota there is
no lack for politics, crop which is never
short, though often Of a poor variety. There
are four full state tickets in the field-re-
publican, democratic. populist and prohibit
ton. Each party has specific object in
view. The prohibitionists do not want re-
subnis sion of the prohibition amendment,
so their object is a negative one. The
democrats want and say they must have
the senatorship. Kyle. the other Senator,
is pOpulist, and in case the anti-republi-
can forces win they mean TO enforce their
demand for possession of the other seat
The popuiists want everything from the
senatorship down to township clerk, and
the republicans want those two seats in the
House and Pettigrews seat for himself
Still, has been Indicated, the senator
ship is the focus of the whole fight. And
the result depends upon a good many con-
tinsencies, the principal one OF which is
the success of the fusion arrangement be-
tween the democrats and populists While
no formal deal has been made between the
central committees of the two parties, yet
II Is evident that they have arrived at a
fairly amicable understanding, which will
last until election day at least.
In 1870. when the democrats and nonulistS
secured a majority of one in the legislature
and elected ]. II. Kyle TO succeed Gideon
G. Moody In the Senate. there was fusion
in eighteen counties. and in one other the
democrats put up no ticket This year
fusion on the legislative tickets has been
accomplished in sixteen counties, while in
eleven counties the democrats have put
up no tickets. In other words. there is
practical fusion in twenty-seven counties
of the state. 1t is certain that the republi-
cans will elect thirty-eight members and Il
is equally certain that the fusionists will
elect thirty-four. OF the other flfty-four
members all are more or less I'm doubt
1t is thus anybodys fight, with both sides
claiming the advantage.
Mr.. Pcttigrew's Chances.
There is no doubt that IL the republicans
win, Mr.. Pettigrew will be his own sue
cessor Before the state convention there
were many murmurs OF opposition to the
Sioux Falls statesman in his own party,
but Pettigrew is a shrewd manager, and
he has succeeded in pacifying his enemies
ard enthusing his friends within the party.
But 1t is right here at home that Petit
grew has the hardest fight of all on his
hands. He feels the vital importance of
carrying Minnehaha county, with its seven
members and its home Endorsement and
he will compass that result II the thing
is humanity possible. AS far as the records
Of the past go. IL is about an even thing.
Txn Won atp0 he
combined cast z. 162 votes. while the re-
publican vote was 2065. Local patriotism,
which might be expected to turn the scales
In Pettigrew's favor is somewhat offset by
the candidacy for the Senate on the popu-
list side of Robert Buchanan. who is leav-
ing no stone unturned to defeat his fellow
citizen. 1t is. of course, unlikely that on
the fusion basis the two parties will be able
to poll their full strength, as they would
for separate tickets, and this fact COM
bined with the Widespread discomfort with
present conditions is confidently counted
upon by the Pettigrew managers to turn
the tide in their favor.
Another very bitter fight is OH in Yank-
ton county, which also sends large dele
cation to the legislature. In that county
fusion has been arranged, and it is a
straight two-sidei fight.
Both Claim the Prize.
II the Independent combination happens
to carry the legislature there will undoubt-
GUY VIC a piOiOh5cu over the prize.
Both democrats and populists are laying
plans for capturing the senatorship The
democratic argument is that the populists
have one Senator. and that a proper regard
for the principles that should govern the
division OF the spoils of war dictates that
they should have the other seat. They are
Tot pushing any one forward actively as
yet for the place, since the chances of VIC
tory are not overnight; but once the legis-
lature is won there will be no dearth of
asptrants from every quarter OF the state.
The populists, on the other hand, have two
avowed candidates. and evince a strong
determination TO appropriate the seat willy
nilly.- Robert Buchanan OF Sioux Falls and
H. l.. Loucks of Huron, who are running
rival newspapers. are also conducting rival
campaigns for the senatorship. They are
almost as bitter against each other as
against the common enemy. Loucks refers
to Buchanan as a tenderfoot In the populist
party, and asserts that he should not ask
for honors until he has won his spurs.
Buchanan retorts that Loucks Is ''bloody
Canadian" and utterly unworthy of con-
fdence. And so the fight goes merriiy on.
Senator Pettigrew has succeeded in CALI
Ing to his aid good deal of outside talent,
including Tom Reed, Senators Gaiiinger
Allison and Davis and Congressman Dol
liver. The race for the two seats In Con-
gress Is pretty nearly a sure thing for the
republican candidates. Congressman J. A
Pickler and Robert ]. Gamble of Yankton.
The opposition is divided. and the republi-
cans are making strong campaign. Both
are elected at large, the state not having
been districted. There was some soreness
at first over the turning down of Can't
Lucas, the Black Hills representative, for
reelection, but that seems to have been
successfully overcome. and the gallant cap
tain Is now making speeches for the ticket
Take IL by and large. and the prospects
for merry time politically do not seem
likely to end with election day in South
Dakota
SPREADING THE GOSPEL.