The Saint Paul globe., 1900-11-30
SOUTH DAKOTA POLITICS
GAMBLE's CHANCES TO LAND THE
SENATORSHIP SEEM BRIGHT
AT THIS TIME
s0MMERs FOR SPEAKER AGAIN
Representatives WiImarth, of Bea-
die, and Price, of YanE<tOn, Cam
didates for the PIace-The
Referendum Coming Up.

PIERRE, S. D., Nov. 29-(Special) y
The various candidates for the senator
ship are industriously at work, and
while Gamble claims enough either in
structed, or pledged, though uninstructed
members, to carry him through on the
first ballot, the leading opponents refuse
to concede this, and claim assurances of
their own. Besides two or three avowed
candidates, there are a number of Others
who are on the waiting list, perfectly
wiling to put themselves in the way Of
lightning, should a storm break, and the
flashes begin to flicker. AS 1t stands at
present it is considered even betting on
Gamble or the field, men being found
who are willing to take either side of
that proposition. The Black Hills sec
ton of the state is said to be friendly
to the selection of Gamble as his getting
out OF the way gave them congress
man Which they could not have secured
had he remained in the field as a candi-
date for congress. Major Lee Slower,
of Watertown, is probably the second
strongest candidate and is making a
hustle which will tell. A general i'm
preston prevails, however, that in "a e
it is not Gamble, it will not be any of
the present avowed candidates. but a
dark horse, who is yet to be developed.
The appointive officials of two years
ago are again in the field for another
chance at the snaps, as well as are the
other prominent candidates who were left
in the ruck Some of the old ones may
land, and others are likely to be left
behind. AT the present time it looks
very much as if A. G. S0mmers, of Grant,
would succeed himself as speaker of the
house. He made a good presiding officer,
and has many friends among the old
members, who will be numerous in the
coming session. Representative Will
marth, Of Beadle, will try for the place
again, but he was not strong enough to
land two years ago, and will not likely
get through this year. Representative
Price, of Yankton, is also a candidate,
but his strength will be probably cut by
the candidacy of Gamble for the senate,
and that will likely keep the honor from
him. Other candidates for the Place will
more than likely develop, before the OPEN
ing Of the session, but Sommers is at
present the most likely candidate.
The fusionists will be so few in num-
Der at the coming session that they will
cut but little figure, and can Go nothing
III the way of hampering legislation, but
their fusion hackers are waving the ref
erendum" club, as a threat of what
they can do in case they do not secure
legislation which is to their desire.
The coming session will have the benefit
of the existence of larger number of
eX-memberS than any other session since
the organization of the state, and in this
will be fortunate, as it takes a body of
new members several weeks to get the
way of the legislative grind and, until
they find this out they are running at
loose ends for part of the time The
older members will be familiar enough
with the work to get started right early
in the session. and can aid in pushing
work
1t is very probable that some one will
attempt to legislate through the refer
endum at the coming session, and unless
the bill thus presented is properly
drawn, it will mean a lot of work for
attorneys in case anything of the kind
ever passes on vote of the people A
few such bills would mean the need of
ballot boxes Of enormous size, as any
such bills presented in the legislature
must go to the people printed in full on
the ballot, and several such laws would
fill a large-sized bin in wards or precincts
with a heavy vote.