Evening star., 1896-09-29
SOUTH DAKOTASENATORSHlP
This Matter May Complicate the Electoral
Situation.
Republicans, However, Hope to Carry
the State for Mckinley
by $4,000.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
SIOUX FALLS. S. D., September %, 1885,
The republicans are very confident of
carrying this state for Mckinley and gold
AS in the north state the issue is some
what complicated by the senatorial cam
paign for Mr.. Kyle's seat but as the gen.
tlemen who are reaching after the Kyle
tosa are all standing Squarely on the st.
Louis platform there is none of the en-
barrassment to the party managers that
they feel in the north state, where Hans
broughs anomalous position has caused so
much trouble Senator Pett:grew has ef-
fectually cleared the South Dakota situa-
ton by going over openly to the populist
party.
Gov. Sheldon, who is stamping the state,
and incidentally endelvoring to work up
senatorial boom for himself, says: THE
only uncertainty is in regard to the size of
the majority. In the northern part OF the
st"' there seems TO pc regular landslide
o.. way. / candidly believe that Mckinley
Will carry the state by 1000 majority"
The republicans figure on more than max
ing up for all silver republican dcSertions
from the ranks of the gold democrats. Two
years ago the republican plurality on gov
ernor was 1883. This !2-G4 pes cent
of the total vote. This year the opposition
has successfully fused, and the result de-
pends entirely on the relative size of the
silver republican ana :he gold democrat
defections. If they about the same the
republicans would still win by comfort
able majority, bu. las is claimel--tne
gold democrats outnumbec the silver
publicans, by much will the majority be
increased.
The Disappearing Democracy.
1t is singular fact that more than 90
per cent of the gold democrats will vote
for Mckinley. and not for Palmer. 1t Is
exceedingly doubtful whether a Palmer
electoral ticket is put in the field. nearly
unanimous is the desire of the gold de-
mocracv to vote for the republican cam
didate The fact is that the South Da-
kota democracy has nearly lost it's identity
as party. 1t has suffered a process of
slow absorption into the populst party.
and the remnant. which has steadfastly
declined to accept populism, is now ready
and anxious to embrace republcaniSm. The
battle is. therefore, an elemental one be-
tween the republicans and the populists.
The republican state central committee
has just completed poll of the state. and
claims that this shows material and un-
expected gains of gold democratic votes in
nearly every voting precinct.
The senatorial canvass is any mans meat
so far The leading candidate is doubtless
Congressman Picker, VINO has recanted his
silver views and stands without hesitation
or quibbling On the st. Louis platform.
He is making a canvass of the state and
picking up Legislative votes wherever he
can. But his lead is not by any means a
commanding one. nor has Gov. Sheldon
been able to make much headway. Ex
Senator Gideon G. Moody of the Black
Hills was a candidate. but his claims have
been overshadowed by geograp phical con-
siderations. and not much is heard of him
now. The impression seems to prevail that
the winner has not yet been mentioned.
On the other side Senator Kyle Is, of
course. candidate for denomination. but
ha jS ont Of
not likely to be named in the event that
the fusionists control the Legislature. Sen
ator Pettigrew would in that case be likely
to be in a position where he could dictate
the selection of personal friend, for he
has succeeded remarkably well in captur-
ing the popuiist organization, and bids
fair to become great power among his
new alliances as he was with his old ones.
In this connection an interesting story
is in circulation just now to the effect that
Pettigrew is slated for cabinet position in
case of Bryan's success. Another version
of the same tale awards him the Austrian