The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-27
THE VOICE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

The action of the Republican conven-
ton of South Dakota, Wednesday, is
something of a surprise to those who
new States are unanimous for the free
and unlimited coinage of silver. While
South Dakota is not an extensive pro-
Queer of silver, it ppears in the list
OF States which produce the white
metal, though its Black hills yield much
more gold than silver. The Legislature
which was elected in 1890 sent Nj. Kyle,
Senate. He identified himself with the
Populists and was very forward in 1892.
and, until South Dakota reassert I'd its
Republicanism in 1894, took a prominent
part as a Populist in Senate Selibera-
tons. Since that event he has been
silent. Senator Pettigrew. who was re-
elected to the Senate in 1895, mas been
n OF the most conspicuous champions
of the free coinage of silver. Because
OF these Senator'S it has been assumed
in the older States that the people of
South Dakota were in favor of the free
coinage Of silver. Silverites who have
made UP lists of the States they were
sure of have always named South Da-
kota.
put down among those whose votes
would, like those of their Senators, be
in favor of free coinage of silver. Dur
ing the past few weeks it has been in
timated that it was not impossible that
the Republicans opposed to the free
coinage of silver would control the State
convention; still. such a result was not
ans had q large majority Of the con-
vention, that issue being prominent in
the v And they were very posi-
tive about the matter.
The most significant feature in the
affair is the position in which the Re-
publicans in the convention have put
Senate Pettigrew. For some reason he
desired to be a delegate to the national
convention, and to accomplish his pur-
pose he left his seat In the Senate quite
two months ago to make a canvass for
an election as delegate. Such an act
does not commend the Senator to the
highest respect of intelligent people.
No one can imagine John Sherman, Will
liam 3. Allison, George F. Hoar or any
other Senator who fills the position,
leaving his seat and neglecting his duty
to go home and make a anvas to Sc
cure IN election as a delegate to the
national convention. For weeks Mr..
Pettigrew has been going up and down
the State advocating the free coinage
Of silver, going so far as to declare that
he was in favor of the demonstration
of gold. Nevertheless the convention
was aggressively in favor Of oun
money, and required of the Senator
that he should stand III and pledge him.
self to vote for sound money in the con-
vention, which he did in order to be
elected. Never before has a man of
the Importance of a United States e
ator stood up in the midst Of a conven-
ton and pledged himself to oppose the
policy he has been advocating. What
makes the defeat of the Senator more
humiliating is the fact that he sent out
a circular two days before the conven-
ton, urging his election on the ground
that he could be useful as a member
of the committee on resolutions in get
ting a free coinage plank into the ma
tional platform. Having been made
aware of the sentiment Of the Repub-
licars of Dakota in regard to silver. Mr..
Pettigrew should go back to the Senate
and do what he has pledged to do in
the national convention,
No one thing which has occurred
since the free silver question was thrust
upon the country a year ago has more
clearly set forth the sentiment of the
intelligence of the Republican party
upon the subject, after 1T has had time
to consider it. than this resolute action
of the Republicans of South Dakota.