Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-04-08
STATE POLITICAL GOSSIP.

q STATE POLITICAL GOSSIP.
A Sioux Falls correspondent of the
Pioneer Times has an interesting let
ter on the political situation of the
state in the issue of March 81. He says
III. l.. Loucks, the middle-of-the-road
populist, who defeated fusion at the
recent meeting of the peoples party
state central committee, has written u
letter to a friend in this city, in reply
to the assertion that the Loucks fac
ton had been turned down. He states
that the silverites from Sioux Falls,
who were the champions of fusion,
traded off the aspirations of their town
as the place for holding the conven-
ton, for votes in favor of fusion and
were then defeated. MI. Loucks has
announced that he will seek the NOM
ination for congress to succeed Con-
gresham Kelley, and a merry time
may be expected.
A prominent student of state politics
said that it would not surprise him if
there were four tickets in the field this
fall, as the situation is now shaping
itself to this end. The democrats are
almost sure to have a ticket, and the
middle-of-the-road populists have
shown plainly that they are not dis
posed to be governed by the silver re-
publican, while the latter will be con
tent with nothing less than a full
ticket, or a fusion with populists that
may meet with their approval. With
such a feeling among the republican
opposition it ought to be an easy mat
ter for the republicans to win u victory
this fall.
Ex-Congressman Picker has an
nounced himself as a candidate for
congress before the republican state
convention and also Il candidate
to succeed Senator Pettigrew in 1900.
The president of the republican state
league is taking steps to strengthen the
organization in this state under direc-
tions from the national league. This
auxiliary of republican clubs has been
of material aid in this state and while
there has been considerable red fire in
the past, the league has accomplished
some good. President Woods is re-
ceiving applications for the creation of
new leagues for work during the past
| month.
Dr. Finnerud, who is an avowed can
didate for governor on the republican
ticket. says the public opinion. so far
as it relates to the politics of this state
is moro changeable than French senti-
ment. When National Committeeman
Kittridge meets with defeat in land
ing federal patronage, ''the republican
half-breeds and mules, who had been
silent as long as ali went we'll with Kit.
threw up their noses and aiscordantly
prayed in unison that Kit and his per-
sonal staff were dead beyond the hope
of resurrection. But when Kit wins
out, as he did the Mccoy matter. then.
presto, change! he is no longer dead or
in Il dying condition. He's all right. a
shrewd, sharp, capable political leader.
Such are some of the vicissitudes OF
political leadership"
Kirk q. Phillips, the present state
treasurer, is o a full-fledged candi
date for nomination for governor by
the republicans and he may be consid.
sidered as strictly in it from this time
until the convention meets. Mr.. Phil
lips is one of the republican state Off
Gals who are serving their second term
and against whom there snot the least
breath of suspicion has been raised
He is popular in every locality and es.
pecially so in the Black Hills, his home
where two years ago he ran severai
hundred votes ahead of his ticket.
A few weeks ago it was thought that
a faction was being formed in the re
publican ranks for the overthrow o
the imaginary machine, but of lat,
nothing has been heard OF it. One O
the alleged leaders said: s'When I re
viewed the recruits / came to the con