Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-16
PopuLIsT rETTIGnEw A PUZZLE.
Republicans Much Annoyed by His
SmLden Change of Henri.

Republicans Much Annoyed by His
Suddcn Change of Heart.
SIOUX FALLS, s. d., July 15.-(Special.)-
The free silver republicans here who have
been inclined to follow Senator Pettigrew in
his fight for free silver are somewhat
abashed over the news from Huron that
the senator has declared himself a full
fedged p%opulist. and proposes hereafter to
BIO Identified with the organization of that
party. Most Of those here who were counted
on to follow the senator claim themselves
still to be republicans. but assert that they
are unable temporarily to work with the
party on account of the money question.
The assertion of their leader that he is an
out-and-out populist and that he had planned
to leave the republican party over a year
ago has much annoyed and disconnected
them. 1t Is believed that the senator's
announcement of his complete conversion 10
populism will have the effect of strengthen
ing the straight republican organization OF
this county.
There Is another feature In the local
situation which is not agreeable to the old
line populists, who have been working for
years to build up that organization in this
county. So far none of them have been able
to secure an Office, and now that there
seems to be a possibility that the populists
may carry this county this fall, the leaders
Of that party feel that they ale entitled to
an office. But the boiling republicans are
already laying claim to the best there is,
and the old line populists complain that
these new converts should first prove their
loyalty to the party before Claiming their
reward. c.. p. Bates, who bolted the con-
vention at Aberdeen and who has since
resigned his position as chairman of the
republican county committee, Is d candidate
for the populist nomination for states attor.
ney, and has Pettigrew's backing for the
place. EX-Mayor Roy Williams, anotht L
bOltpr wants the nODu1iSt nnDiuntipp In,
sherif. Cyrus Waits, another bolter, wants
to be warden of the state penItentiary, in
place OF N. E. Phillips. L. s. q. ''hcrry,
another bolter, wants to go TO the legis-
1ature. ]. W. Boyce, a free silver Petit
grew republican, would like 10 be COUNTY
Judge. Judge G. S, Palmer wants a Con
sulate or a federal judgeship; he does not
care which. So that altogether the older
populists begin to feel that there is not
going to be very much left for them, and
the county populist convention will no
doubt reveal a very bitter fight for the
spoils between the converts and the old
party workers.
The action of Judge C. S. Palmer in bolt
ing the republican ticket ostensibly on the
money question is causing many of the poll
ticians here a very large amount of surprise
mixed with amusement. Last April Judge
Palmer was at the Locke hotel in Pierre, and
he attracted much attention by his denuncia-
tion of II. Grigsby for the %latter's free sill
FeT views. Wlthln SIX weeks the Judge has
discussed the question with many Sioux
Falls business men. and has always taken
the position against free silver. Even after
the st. Louis convention was held, Judge
Palmer is said to have attended a meeting
OF the republicans to arrange for a Mckinley
rally, and it is further declared by those
present at the meeting that he offered to
make a Mckinley speech. Now he has
bolted the ticket because of the money ques-
tion. Much surprise is felt over the pub
lished statement that Judge Palmer is dis
satisfied with the railroad plank adopted at
the Aberdeen convention. but it Is known by
every one of the delegates in that convention
that the Judge wrote that plank in the plat
form himself.
Persistent rumors are coming to Sioux
Falls from various sources that the Sioux
Falls Press has been sold to a syndicate of
populists, in which are Senator Pettigrew,
Judge Palmer and others, No information
is obtainable here at this time as to the
truth or the falsity Of this report. The
Press is now supporting Mckinley, though
retaining its free silver views, declaring
that after all the main issue in this cam
paign is the tariff.