The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-16
SOUTH DAKOTA TOPICS

| A deal of gossip has been heard in political
for what it is worth, is that Mr.. Crawford
| is going to get out Of the race for senator
and leave a clear field for Mr.. Kittredge.
The formers case is declared hopeless, by
| no means as good as before the death Of
Senator Kyle. This report, SO far as known,
is not confirmed by the home friends of Mr..
Crawford, and it should be taken with a rea-
sonable allowance Of salt.
The foregoing, which appeared in this col
umn last week, caused something of a stir
at Huron and Sioux Falls. At Huron, Mr..
| Crawford denied he had withdrawn from the
contest and authorized the correspondents to
so report to the metropolitan press. At
Sioux Falls, the editor Of the Press threw a
series of fits and had fun with this luckless
writer in something like a column Of space.
On the broad statement that THE Mime
apolis Journal says Mr.. Crawford has re-
tired from the field of senatorial aspirations
in favor of Mr.. Kittredge' ge''-something that
was not said at all-the Press thrashes away
| in the best style of Mr.. Pettigrew's old
understrapper
Well, Mr. Crawford is still with us and
the report was an error. T h urn |
gladly gave space to his statement for 1t
admires him and knows that if elected he
would be every inch a senator-a good man
lOT ulS 5ldlo anu party Oue WHO WOulQ make
his mark in congress. There was a rumor
that he would pull out of the race and b e
Journal | published it-"for what it was
worth"
AS for the editor Of the Press, whats He
cuba to him, or he to Hecuba, that he should
weep for her?" The Press cares no more for
Mr. Crawford than it does for Mr. Martin,
Mr.. Burke or Mr.. Herreid but 1t is alarmed
at the growing strength shown by Senator
Kittredge and the steadily multiplying evi-
dences that the old party in South Dakota
is in as close alignment to-day, If not closer,
than in the campaign last fall. 1t has been
and s the mission Of the Press to stir up
dissensions in the republican household. It
has seen its best laid plans come to naught; !;
1t ha hoped to foment trouble for Senator
Kittredge by encouraging Mr.. Crawford and
the so-called ''insurgent' element; 1t has at
tempted to belittle the accomplishments CT
Messrs. Kittredge and Herreid in the railroad
rates reduction matter, fearful of the effect
upon the political fortunes of these two men !;
it has tried its best to get the South Da-
kota senators by the ears in order that its
own side of the house might have some
standing in court when another election rolls
around. 1t has failed as often as it has tried.
Hence these tears and this otherwise unac-
countable interest in Mr.. Crawford
Mr.. Crawford is not to be blamed for fgur-
ing so largely In the calculations Of this
would-be mischief maker 1t is rather his
misfortune than his fault. AS he has not for
several years been in official lfe and, now
that he desires to re-enter it and is pitted
against one who has always been active in
the party management, the Press assumes
that he stands for factionalism and discord
and is constrained to cheer him on 1t would
Of course be glad to disrupt the republican
party. It's anxiety for Mr. Crawford is a
makeshift and a delusion-a positive detri-
ment to him In his canvass. The Press is
doing the best 1t can for its master, Senator
Pettigrew. 1t fears Kittredge and the ina
chine" Hence, again, these tears.
AS T b Q Journ a said last week Mr..
Kittredge has gained lot Of ground in the
contest for senator. Because The Jour
n a said 1T, the Press contends that T h e
Journal l was INSPIRED by the machine .
The editor Of the Press knows that Kilt
redge has been and is gaining. This is the
fly in its ointment
The Vermillion Republican we'll says: "The
lowering of railroad rates on South Dakota
lines, brought about through the tact Of
Governor Herreid and Senator Kittredge. is
the hardest proposition the Sioux Falls Press,
the Vermillion Plain Talk and other allied
opposition journals have had to face for many
a day"
A desperate effort has been made by the
Press and the smaller batteries to eliminate
the senator and the governor from all con-
sideration in the matter, but their guns have
been effectually spiked by the publication of
the correspondence between the state and
railway officials. To quote again from the
Republican, this remark catches the Press in
the short ribs and causes intense soreness: :
1.-THE reduction will be received with un-
bounded favor by the people Of the state,
and they will recognize and appreciate the
promoters of the plan that more nearly equal
ICES the relations existing between the rail-
ways and the public"
Senator Kittredge, Governor Herreid and
the South Dakota railway commissioners have
held a meeting with the representatives Of
the Great Northern, the Northwestern and
the Milwaukee systems and it is now known
what the reduction means for the state The
passenger rate is to be cents a mile except
in the Black Hills, where 1t will be on ac-
| count of heavier operating expenses. This Is
a reduction Of cent mile over the state and
the rate will be put in force on the first
day Of the coming year The new freight
schedule grants average reductions in mer-
chandise OF 1871 per cent, in live stock Of is
per cent, coarse grain 10 per cent hay 20
per cent and seed grain so per cent These
rates will be effective Nov 1, or in about
two weeks. This stroke of business on the
part of the senator, governor and other state
officials has given the old dry bones the worst
rafting they have had in many a day. No
one expects the Press to be happy
The northern part of the state may have
a candidate on the next republican ticket In
the person Of G. B. Collins Of Groton, who
would like to run for state treasurer L. H.
Bentley Of Milbank is credited with an ambi-
tion to be attorney general So many candi-
dates are out that the editor of the Groton