Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-07
A Prediction That the State Will Go
Republican.
some OF THE REASONS FOR This
Many Acquisitions From Demo-
Gratis and PopuIists.
THE COMING LEGISLATURE

! of the presidential election in South Da-
| kota- He is one of the best known repub-
| Hcans in his state and is accounted a
| good judge in political contests. He said:
| Il believe South Dakota'S electoral vote
is as certain to be cast for Mckinley and
| Roosevelt as 1t is that Iowa, Aassachu-
| sets, or any other state. by common con-
sent assigned to the surely republican col
| umn, will meet expectations next Novem-
ber South Dakota is naturally a republi-
| can state. The people who have settled
| there came largely from the progressive
| states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin,
| while an important element of the popu-
lation came from the eastern states. There
! Is 1eaven' of New Englanders. more
| than a 'sprinkling' of New Workers and
PennsylvanianS, and not few from the
northern and more progressive portions Of
| what is now known as the middle west.
A Change Since 1896.
South Dakota was admitted to state
hood in 1889 with full set of republican
| officials in state and in Congress. In 1880
| to 1892 when populism was sweeping over
| the west. South Dakota held fast to her
republican moorings and elected the re-
publican state ticket by a safe plurality,
| and gave Harrison and Reid her first cleo
toral vote. In 1891 the republicans elected
the state ticket by a satisfactory majority
and controlled the legislature by almost a
two-thfrds vote. But during those early
years of statehood the republican party, in
order to pacify certain local politicians,
had been playing fast and loose on the sill
yer question, and in 1896 it paid the PEN
atty of its folly when the fuSionists carried
the state for Bryan by 1S3 plurality out
of a total vote of $3.50. and two populist
members of Congress were elected by plu-
ralities about as trihing result not en-
tirely and absolutely discouraging to re-
l he, rio ha
election feared the fusion claim of Bryan
majority of 5000 might be approximately
realized.
But there has been change in the west
and in South Dakota-since 1896. Two
years ago the republicans elected the con-
gressional delegation and the entire state
ticket, with the exception of governor, by
an average majority of about 5000, and
controlled both branches of the legislature
by large majorities. In 1899 there was
judicial election, which was vigorously con-
tested by the fusionists. and the result was
a republican majority of over 6.oOO. This
| brief rehearsal of the elections Of South
Dakota since statehood shows that it is, as
1 have said. normally republican state.
General Prosperity.
The reasons why the republicans are
| sure to win in South Dakota this year are
numerous, and are both local and national
in their character. l will give you two
three. Prosperity, like the name of Abou
Ben Adam, leads all the rest. That joking
inquiry which was met everywhere soon
after the election of 1886 about having
seen the general has been called in by the
fusionists. The general is in evidence
everywhere now, and fusion orators are not
| making inquiries as to his presence. He
speaks for himself in every city, village,
hamlet and farm house in this country; and
| nowhere In this broad land has the tide of
prosperity been felt and realized more than
in the west. The evil prophecies regarding
the effect of the gold standard, which
scared many good people into voting for
Bryan in 1896, cannot be repeated this wear
with any such effect. Money is abundant
and interest rates are low; farm produce is
higher than it was in 1896 and the cattle
raiserS and sheep growers are not in a
mood to lister to the calamity forecasts
that caught their ears in 1896. In fact the
general conditions in South Dakota are so
different today from what they were in
lso6, and SO extremely different from the
conditions predicted by the Bryan orators
if Mckinley should win. that it seems to
me it's a reflection on the Intelligence of
| the people this year to believe that they
are In need of campaign oratory or liter
| ature for the purpose of convincing them
of the things which all see and know
The Philippine Situation.
The Spanish war and the situation in the
Philippines will have an influence on the
elections in South Dakota this year. par
ticularly because that state furnished one
of the best regiments that went into the
service in the Spanish-American war. and
because one of the nominees for Congress
| on the populist ticket declared in a public
speech while the South Dakota troops were
fighting the cause of their country that
he prayed the God of battles would assist
Aguinaldo in driving the American army
into the sea- AT the time he gave utterance
to this remarkable language he was Judge
OF circuit court in the Black Hills dis
trict At the recent populst convention
held in Yankton, Judge Moore was nomi-
mated for Congress, and upon being called
10 the PLATFORM for speech, with spirit
OF dehance, he turned to the reporters in
the hall and repeated the language which
he had previously uttered, as stated The
voters Of South Dakota will show their
condemnation of Judge Moore and his sen
ttments at the polls next November most
emphatically. and with him will go down
the entire state and congressional ticket
Judge Moore's utterances and the senti-
ment back of them are not the sentiments
of the loyal people of South Dakota. and
they are IN overwhelming majority in the
state.
"A successor to Senator Pettigrew will be
elected by the legislature, which will be
elected at the November elections. In 1896
the fusionists controlled the legislature and
gerrymandered it in the apportionment act
passed that year. But Notwithstanding that
the republicans controlled the legislature of
1898, and had a large majority In each
house. And the prospects are considered
| good FOR republican success this year, al
electoral tickets might be carried by the
republicans by large majority and yet the
contest in the legislature be very close
Senator Pettigrew is reported to have stated
at Aberdeen a few days ago that Mckinley
could carry the state by a majority of TO-
600, and still the republicans lose the legis-
lature. But the republicans are not under
estimating the contest before them They
are organized they have never been or
ganized before in the state and there is NOT
section from which do not come encour-
aging reports. I have recently heard from
Representative Burke, who has returned to
the state, and he makes the most saneuine
report concerning conditions prevailing
Acquisitions to Republican Ranks.
1.-The chairman of the state committee
has just returned to headquarters from
| trip to the Black Hills and other portions
of the state, and he is more than pleased
with the results of his observations. So far
as has been learned. there are no defections
| from the republican ranks, and there are
constant and increasing acquisitions from
former democrats and populists. This state
ment Is not gfittering generality; the
! names OF persons can be given. I am able