Evening star., 1898-10-25
IN THE NORTHWEST
Political Conditions in South Dakota
and Wyoming.
PROJECTIONS EFFECT ON INDUSTRY
Republicans Now Confident of
Success in Both States.
STIRRING UP THE VOTERS
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

CHEYENNE, Wyoming, October 81, 1898
If the election were held in South Dakota
and Wyoming today the republicans in both
states would be certain their tickets would
be elected from top to bottom. They are
particularly sanguine in Wyoming that the
state is now in the republican column, with
a good. healthy majority to contrast the re-
suits two years ago. AS is the reported
condition generally throughout the west
the general apathy has been very great in
these two states. The big audiences at
tending meetings two years ago have as
rule, been lacking this campaign both par
ties having had mere handfuIs of people at
their rallies early in the campaign.
This general apathy is considered a good
indication by some of the republican lead
ers. but it must be admitted by the prudent
and conservative republican leaders that
yet they must consider this prevailing
apathy the part of the voters on the op-
position as an unknown quantity, in view
of the apparent intensity of their feelings
on the silver question two years ago.
in South Dakota the popuiistS have swal-
lowed the democrats, while in Wyoming the
silver democrats have swallowed the pOpu-
lists. There is a straight populst ticket in
the field in Wyoming, but it is not causing
any concern on the part of either of the
other parties and will not, it is estimated,
poll over SO votes
In Western South Dakota.
The republicans in South Dakota are
working vigorously and Systematically for
the success of the ticket.
Owing to the return of prosperity to the
farmers in the eastern part of the state the
republicans are certain that there is now
no doubt as to the result there. They were
concerned, however, as to the result in the
western part OF the state. among the ranch
men and the big mining camps in the Black
Hills. Two years ago the ranchmen We're
rabid. as rule in favor of free silver
since they had been led believe that
was the money question which was to
blame for the low prices of the horses, cat
tie and sheep. Cattle the ranges have
been selling at from 80 to 100 per cent high
er than two years ago, horses average $50
per ceat more. and sheep and wool have
doubled and trebied in price.
large per cent of the miners are of for
eign birth or extraction. They are strong
union men, and although there is no silver
mined in the hills, yet representatives of
the democratic party two years ago sue
ceeded in having the Colorado silver miners
order them to support the democratic or
populsJ ticket as a union measure" Most
OF the mining camps followed this instruc-
ton AT Lead City, however, where the
richest gold mines in America located
many OF the miners disregarded the order
and as a result the republican ticket at
Lead had majority, the only gold or sill
Mckinley
The populists have been unable to get big
meetings this campaign in the western por-
tIon Of the state.
surfing ID the Voters.
The republicans now sure that the
mining camps and range districts will give
big republican majority this fall. The
state committee secured through the nation
al congressional committee three dates for
Webster Davis, assistant secretary of the
interior. He was placed in the Black Hills
and spoke October 13 at Rapid City, 14lh
at Sturgis and 10Th at Lead City. Mr. Da-
Wis was the only speaker the committee has
mad from outside the state. and the result
OF these three meetings has without ques-
uon dlSconcerted the populists. Each meet
ing was packed and at the Rapid CITY
meeting more people went away than could
get into the opera house. From nlan-to-
man canVaSSes the republican managers
had become convinced that the thing most
needed was to stir the voters up on the is
sues or the day. Mr.. Davis unquestionably
did this as other speaker who has ever
visited the Black Hills has been able to do
SIX men who had been Identified with the
popullst party followed him to Sturgis from
Rapid City TO hear him speak again and
sat uIon The platform at Sturgis as an an
nouncement of their change in politics AT
Lead CITY two other populists and one free
silver republican who had heard him at
SturGis the night before sat upon the stage
at the opera house as enthusiastic support
ers OF the present administ ration. Three
special trains carried several hundred peo-
pie from DeadWoOd to attend the meefiny
Representative Knowles. populst candidate
for reelection. is said to have advised his
committee a1ttr the meeting not to attempt
10 hold any public meeting in Lead City be-
fore election, they could not hope to
have an audience that would bear compar-
ison in numbers or enthusiasm. Their tao
Tics now are to see as many voters person.
ally as possible, but in this the republican
managers are going TO follow.
The only things that can prevent the
state going republican this year are the
tactics the pops are using in Singing mud
at the candidates our ticket" declares
member Of the state committee. They
are stopping AT nothing that might preju-
dice vote in their favor"
Aggressive Attitude of the Democrat.
This statement also gives the state of
affairs in Wyoming. The whole campaign
OF the democrats thus far has been con-
fined to attacking the republican candi-
dates This is especially true of the at
tacks on the republican candidate for gov
ernor.
Frank W. Mondell is making a vigorous
campaign for his election to Congress. 1t
Is conceded that he will lead his ticket and
from reports from the county committees
will be elected by at least double the ma
1ority of his opponent two years ago. He
Is popular with all classes of citizens and
many democrats are openly supporting
him.
Although the Wyoming republicans had
a silver plank in their platform four years
ago they are soidly and squarely on the
81 LOUIS platform and are campaigning
along the lines OF sound money protection
and expansion.
Effect of Protection.
Protection has added millions of dollars
to the state in the rise in the price of wool
sheep and, cattle. 1t has also developed
many coal mines throughout the state,
and this industry is now fast becoming the
leading industry in the state Before the
protective tariff the coal that supplied the
northwestern part of the United States
came mostly from British Columbia. Not
only have scores of new mines been open
ed In the past two years in Wyoming, but
TWO new towns have sprung into existence
In the coal sections. Diamondvilie and
Aemmerer. Two years ago over IS per
cent of the railway employees were against
the republican ticket; today the railroads
nave not trains or engines enough In Wyo-
ming TO carry on the passenger and freight
business, and the railway men have for
eighteen months had full time and full
wages. A number Of the local newspapers
which were free silver papers two years
ago are now supporting the national ad
mtnistration and the state ticket The evi-
dent prosperity Is taken as convincing p-ooi
that the state will return to its old plac,