Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-02-25
Kyle's Election.
How it was Done.
States His Position.

when Senator Kyle was reelected,
the Republicans voting solidly for
him, having dropped Pickler. The
Republicans of the house voted al
most sOlidly for Kyle ard the Re.
publicans of the senate began at
once to change to him, so that before
the result Of the ballot was
ced, enough changes had been made
to give Kyle 65 votes, -three
than were necessary to elect. The
populists shifted from man to man,
but the Republicans stood solidly
for Kyle, With the solid Republic
can VOTE and with the populists who
stayed with him, Kyle secured
enough votes to pull him through.
Again the Republicans proved
themselves better politicians than the
fusionists. Not satisfied with enact
ing or defeating such Legislation as
they deemed best, they quietly and
Systematically secured the election
of the United States senator while
the politicians were asleep. 1t was
apparent that there was no possibility
of electing a Republican, and all
night long and until seven o'clock
this morning the Republicans and
thirteen of Kyle's staunchest follow
ers were in conference and finally
agreed.
When the joint assembly met, the
Republican members of the senate
voted for Picker as usual, by pre-
arrangement ; but when the Re-
publicans of the house roll were
reached, they commenced voting for
Kyle. 1t was then that the oppo-
sition first discovered the scheme.
Before the vote was recorded, all the
Republicans changed to Kyle. 1t
was then that changes began and
confusion reigned. Olson Of Law
renee roasted Kyle and attempted
to create a stampede for Goody-
koontz. Twice the ballot was veri-
fed, and before the second verifca-
ton was announced Judge Palmer
arose and stated that when he left
the Republican party it was not
from choice but what he thought
was a necessity ; but he had found
that he had ''landed in the ranks of
a party deficient in a high regard for
political principles or common dis
cernment, a party not competent or
qualified to manage the affairs of the
state, and unfit to legislate for the
state He then changed his vote
to Greeley (rep.).
After speaking for more than an
hour, the ballot was finally
ed ; Kyle 65, Plowman Al, Palmer
l, Goodykoontz IL, Greedy A, Hinck-
ley l. The populists voting for Kyle
were McGlenn of Edmnnds, Kindchy
and Neer of Brown, Denton of Mar
shall, Goodwin Of Day, Swartz and
Cotton of Minnehaha, Gibbs of Nc
Cook, and Klindt of Buffalo. The
democrats were Kirk of Minnehaha,
Wilkinson of Lincoln. Purdin of Me-
Cook, and German of Edmunds.
Representative Keith of Lake i'm
mediately gave notice that a caucus
of free silyerites would be held to-
night to repudiate the election. The
fuslonists are all torn up over the
matter and are blaming each other
even to the extent of personal abuse.
This falls heaviest on Pettigrew and
Governor Lee who have resorted to
the most questionable tactics to de-
feat Kyle, and it was mainly due to
this opposition of Pettigrew and Lee
that the Republicans turned in and
helped him.
Congressman Picker worked all
night to harmonic the Republican
forces and line up for Kyle and APP
pears as happy as though he had
been elected. Governor Lee is
nearly mad with anger I'VE the re-
suit and says the Republicans have
killed the populiss party in this