The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-04
BOTH SIDES NORK|NGHARD.
CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH
DAKOTA
FUsIoNIsTs CLAIM VICTORY
Center of Interest Is In Minnehaha
and Lincoln Counties, Whose
LEGISLATORS May Decide
SenatOrship.

SIOUX FALLS, S. D., Nov 3.-(Spe-
cial.) -Both the fusionistS and the Repub-
licans are putting forth their best efforts
in closing the South Dakota campaign.
Virtually every school house and pub
lie hall in the state nightly resounds with
the speeches of either Republican or flu
sion orators.
Secretary Ayres, of the fusion state
committee, last night stated that there
was not the slightest doubt that Bryan
would carry the state by the $500 majority
heretofore claimed. He added that Gov.
Lee, one of the fusion nominees for con-
gress, would be elected to represent his
state in the national house by majority
of not less than $500, and that Joseph
B. Moore, his colleague on the ticket,
would not be far behind him. Moore, he
admitted, might fall behind his ticket in
that part Of the state lying east of the
Missouri river, where he is not very well
known, but that he would more than
make up for any losses by the number of
Republican votes he would receive In
the Black Hills, where he is one of the
old settlers.
Last night the fusionists had a big
rally at Dell Rapids, in this (Minnehaha)
county, and they appear very well salts
fed with the result. The fight for this
county is very warm, and Senator Petit
grew is devoting his whole time to the
territory adjacent to Sioux Falls. This
evening the Republicans will have
grand rally at Canton, and hundreds will
go from Sioux Falls on a special train
to aid in the demonstration there.
The last fusion speaker, in the person
of T. P. Gore, the blind orator from
Texas, who has been speaking for the
fusionists in the eastern part of the state
since early July, has left this part of the
state for. the Black Hills, where he will
aid the local fusion speakers in closing
the campaign In proper manner.
BOTH SIDES ALERT.
While interest is keen in many of the
so-called doubtful counties, with regard
to the legislative nominees, the chief in
terest being at present as it has been
from the beginning Of the campaign, in
the United States enatorship, in no part
of the state is the fight hotter than in
Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, which
are entitled to ten members of the legis-
lature This number represents more
than one-third of the number it is neces-
sary for the Republicans to secure in the
doubtful districts, and they are making
an aggressive struggle to capture them.
They need to obtain only twenty seven
members from the doubtful districts in
order to defeat Senator Pettigrew, and
if they secure the ten from Minnehaha
and Lincoln counties the defeat of Petit
grew is insured
Realizing this, the senator has for some
days devoted his entire time to the fight
for this county, and will remain here
and hustle until the polls close next
Tuesday. Himself and friends are
confident of capturing at least this coun-
ty, with an even chance of electing his
legislative nominees in Lincoln county
also. The Republicans, on the other hand,
point out that Lincoln has always been
strongly Republican, and claim that it
will not break it's record in this cam
paign. They also express the utmost
confidence in securing the election of the
Republican legislative nominee in this
county.
There is little question that the result
here and in Lincoln county will deter
mine the fight for United States senator.
As yet little betting has been done, and
what wagers have been made are on
even terms on the county.