The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1898-09-16
PET TT|GREW TALKED.
Pettigrew, Hitchcock and
Wright Opened the Cam
paign in this County.
The Senator's Speech Was
Not Received With Any
Degree Of Warmth.
COULDN'T PICTURE
COULDN'T THE EPICTURE
Not Enough Patriotism in
Popu1ism to Look at Nc
Kin1ey's Picture.

kinley'S Picture.
OPENED THEIR CAMPAIGN.
to do the Job Effectually.
Populism had full sway at the corn
palace Friday, night when Senator F. R.
Pettigrew opened the campaign in this
county. Previous to the speech the,
Juvenile band played several selections
on the street and in the building.
There was quite a contrast in the crowd
on this occasion and that of two years
ago, when the senator spoke in Mitch
ell. AT this time the building contain
ed many empty seats and there were
more as the people kept leaving the
room.
A. E. Hitchcock OF this city made the
first talk, and it was the first time in
two years that he has appeared in poll
tics. We presume from his associa-
that he said he no longer poses as free
silver republican, but comes out as q
populist. AT the conclusion of his brief
remarks S. 81. Wright, Of Cham berlain,
took the stand and proceeded to rip
things up the back, by talking of the
railroad assessment, in which he told q
deliberate falsehood in saying that
Kirk Phillips voted against every pro-
position Of Gov. Lees in the matter of
fixing the railroad assessment. Mr..
Phillsps voted with the populists in
raising the assessment.
Mr.. Pettigrew began his speech by
again explaining why he left the ST.
Louis convention two years ago, and
started In on q discussion of the free
silver question, claiming it was para
mount in the campaign. His argument
along that line differed but very little
from what he said two years ago, when
the people of the United States said
emphatically that free silver was
not popular. He had some statistics to
prove that the people were still poor
and that there was no opportunity for
them to get rich. Mr.. Pettigrew
doesn't care to admit that South Dako.
ia farmers are prosperous, but drive
over Dawson county would reveal to
him some fine crops, great number ol
COWS. whose product is carried to the
creamery and a good sized check comes
in every month. He can see this and
much more.
Mr.. Pettigrew criticised the admins
tration for its conduct of the war, snd
belittled the efforts of the navy, waict
made record in the war unequalled BY
any other country on earth. He made
mighty little impression on the audi
ence with his ungentlemanly and un
patriotic criticisms. He had much tt
say about the war revenue bill and how
he voted against the measure, becaus.
it placed the burden on the poor Will,
the rich escaped. In fact the senator
had great deal to say of what 1T" hat
4 done in the senate and how 81" hat
been opposed by the republicans in al
his reform measures. The senate
took up the initiative and referendum
and explained the vagaries of tha
measure. he admitted that Switzer
land was the only country in the worl'
[ which has adopted the measure, bu
: thinks South Dakota ought to have il
The senator couldn't be good populis
and not believe in the initiative an
J referendum.
7 He had considerable to say about tn
republican machine and the platform
and all he could do was to ridicule i
' When he got to railroad matters b
didn't stint himself in charges that th
/. railroads owned all the courts and th
= republican party as we'll. Mr.. Pett
grew lauded Gov. Lee and would max
8 him governor for life, defending him #
9 taking money from his own pocket
! bolster up his administration. He sa
that the reason Phillips wanted to
Q elected governor was that SO he cou
9 settle up with himself, intimating th
y the treasurer was shory in his account
h The senator had bet er bring son
y proofs along when he makes such fou
It dationless charges.
: The senator closed with the predi
btion that ''we would bury the repub
" can party SO deep that it wouldn't
worth digging up"
His speech was noticeably weak, 81