The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-01
FIISI|NSIS CLAIMS. OAK.
SECRETARY AYRES TELLS WHY
THEY EXPECT TO CARRY
THE STATE
HAS MADE A CAREFUL POLL
Won In 1896 without Money, Speak
ers or organizetiOn-Have
Made a Fight This
Xear.

SIOUX FALLS. s. D., Oct. H.-(Spe-
al.)-The fusionists of South Dakota pro
Tess to have the utmost confidence in
their ability to carry the state at the
approaching election. Secretary Ayres.
of the Fusion state committee who on
Saturday night gave out the first official
statement as to by what majority they
would carry the state now gives the
reasons upon which he bases his estf-
mate.
For the past year." said he, 'the
Republican newspapers and politicians
have been claiming South Dakota by
majority of from 5000 to 15G0O Five
thousand Was Their minimum estimate
They have SO filed the air with loudly
protested claims as to their strength
that some of their own managers actu-
ally believe themselves in what they
started as a bluff. There never was
any substantial foundation for claiming
South Dakota for the Republicans. The
history of the state shows that in 1880
the Republicans were some 12600 votes
in the minority; they were in the same
place in 1882. If the Democrat and
Populist votes had been combined in
either of these elections the Republicans
would have been defeated overwhelming
ly. In 1894 the Republicans had a ma
jority of 2,500 over all, but this was due
to the fact that several thousands of
Democrats had become Disguised with
the Cleveland administration and voted
the Republican ticket to exercise their
disgust
In 1895 things changed again. Under
the most adverse conditions the Fusion
party. won a brilliant victory They had
no organization, no money, no literary
bureau, no speakers bureau. They were
fighting against a we'll organized party
and still they carried the state for Bryan
INV Sc ,1lo
members of congress, the legislature, the
governor, and railroad commissioners
and attorney general. In 1893 Gov. Lee
was reelected after a most bitter fight.
1t was the most resentful attack ever
made on a candidate In the history Of
this state with the exception of the
vindictiVe warfare now being waged
against Senator sPettigrew In that cleo
ton the country vote was not fully
polled, while the city vote was brought
out in full force. The Republicans had
their ma joritfeS in the towns and cities,
we have ours in the country, and when
a full vote of the urban and country dis
tricts is poIled we are always on top.
This year the full vote of the state
will be polled and the victory Is assur-
edly ours.
ITO make everything brighter for the
Fusion party, we have an additional
strength in this campaign. The German
vote of the state will go almost in a body
to our side. We count on getting at
least IS per cent of that vote for the
Fusion ticket. The free homestead ques-
ton has also made great gains for US,
and the Disguised element among the
old soldiers will be found in our col
umns.
1--WE expect to go to the Missouri river
with majority of 1000, and we are
certain to be met there by our people
from the other side of the state (the
Black HiIls) with a majority equally as
large. That Is as certain as the rising
of the sun. The miners IN the Black
Hills know Senator Pettigrew is their
friend; because he has shown it in the
United States senate, and they are siren
nous in their support of his candidacy.
eve SHALL hold every element of