Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-02-12
FROM THE REALMS
OF LEGISLATION.
A WEEKS D01Nds AT PIERRE.
A Weeks Happening Among Our
Law Makers as Seen BY
Our staff Correspondent.

The senatorial struggle continues with
all the complications Of political ambition
arraved on one side or the other. Sena'
tor Kyle's men have stood solid, and show
remarkable staying qualities. Represen-
tatve Schwartz of Minnehaha. and Rep
resentative McManus of Hanson, are the
generals who have guided and held the
Kyle forces intact, and these able young
men show political sagacity of great abil'
ity. If they are forced to surrender in
the end. they can fall back on record
that any man might be proud Of.
The followers of Mr. Good, ,koontz are
ably led by Senator Stewart Of Brule. He
is full OF resources and rapid manipu-
lator of political conditions which ever
onfront a general when he is attacking
the intrenched position held by superior
members. Senator Stewart is ably as
sisted by Senator Schlund OF Mitchell.
and Speaker Colvin of the same place.
Mr. Goody koontz has as loyal following
as ony man could ask for. and if he too
fails, his captains and lieutenants can
pull down the Goodykoontz coiors with
honor.
Judge Plowman Of Dead wood, IS gen.
eral. himself OF the Shelidan order, and
no man in the senatorial race stands
higher in the opinion Of the legislature
and the people than does Judge Plowman.
His followers constitute the entire Black
Hills delegation, with the exception Of
one Republican. The Black Hills men
are all general, among whom we name
Senators Fairbanks, Buck and Bradley,
Representatives Mastick. Court, Oliver,
Lilly and Olson. They are not only
generals but they are fighters and will
never surrender until surrender means
victory through political defeat.
The followers Of Henry l.. Loucks were
no less brave and determined than those
OF the other candidates, but saw that
their champion stood little show of an
election, and gracefully surrendered. w.
E.. Kidd and Geo. B. DAILY Of Brown, COL.
Wright Of Moody and Senators Bothum
of Minnehaha and Grill of Union, were
among the able and loyal champions of
Mr.. Loucks. himself one of the best
organizers in the state. They fought a
brief but brilliant battle and recognized
defeat when they met it. 1t takes cour'
age and Judgment to recognize defeat in
a senatorial contest. and happy is he who
| is able to do this.
This is the position OF the battle at the
opening of the 34th day of the session.
Senator Kyle has made splendid record
all through the wonderful struggle, a
struggle surrounded by conditions seldom
encountered IN a senatorial contest This
is equally true of Judge Plowman and
Mr.. Goodykoontz.
Just what the outcome of this battle
will be under present conditions no one
can tell, but a great many are hoping for
the end. The legislature is doing good
work so far as law making goes. and
could rush work good deal faster if
they had a senator elected. The populists
of the sta te need not be alarmed over the
seeming split on this question. 1t is more
imaginery than real. Before the end of
the session comes, il no one of the three
are named, the leaders Of the prominent
candidates will get together like sensible
men and decide on some one else. This
must be done, providing no one of the
present candidates can win out in a
reasonable time. The Populists are all
fighters with whole chunks Of lndepen-
dence in their makeup, but they never
have failed under trying conditions to get
together and do the right thing in the
midst of convention excitement. Take
the last four state conventions and the
boys lined up under banners Of harmony
at the right time when harmony seemed
long way off. The silver forces in the
Legislature will do the same thing during
the session. There are few Democrats
here, who are not members, who do too
much talking, and by their unwarranted
prcSuulpGlOu " uICthtc, nave uOO uCip
to harmonize the strained relations be.
tween the factions. 1t is a grevious fault
in man when he doesn't know his place,
and 1t is much worse when he gets out of
place and goes to raising cain with other
mems chickens about to hatch out. There
are some of that class of men loose IN
Pierre.
The gentlemen who are going to elect
a senator every morning, fix their slate
and 60 to work to smash the other fellows
slate and it has been slate smashing ever
since the session opened. A great many
lightning rods with senatorial tips have
been raised by ambitious men, but light
ming has failed to hit. and perhaps, the
rod that will catch the fluid, has not yet
been put up. A senatorial hat is on