The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-07-04
AN IOWA VIEW OF THE DEATH
OF POPuLISM.

.# oASaA ! Ian
party of South Dakota has gone the
way of all the earth. The popuilst
party of South Dakota is dead. The
end of the populist party of South
Dakota came at Huron on the 18th
inst. the occasion being astate meet
ing for the purpose of placing in
nomination a state ticket to oppose
the ticket nominated at Sioux Fails
by her republicans.
Preliminary to the death scene the
populists and democrats met in separ-
ate conventions. The question was
whether the democrats should be alb
sorbed by the populists or whether
the pouplists should be absorbed by
the democrats. The populists appear
to have offered weak resistance.
It'll curious to note that when it
was finally agreed to fuse with the
democrats, ex-Goy. Lee was commits
stoned to notify the democratic con
vention Of the action OF the pouplist
convention.
The descent Of the populist party
in South Dakota has been rapid.
1t was the populist party that car
ried the state in the election of 1896.
1t was the populist party that gave
Gov. Lee a second term in 1898. 1t
was the populist party that Senator
Pettigrew Joined as a last resort.
There was SO little left of it at the
Huron convention that but one pail
bearer vas required, and Gov. Lee
was fttingly chosen to act in that
Office. \ +
The Huron convention no less than
the Sioux Falls convention. gave
striking evidence Of the great change
that has come to South Dakota. The
death of the populist party means
that the prairies of the state are no
more disturbed by the howl of calam-
ity. The action at Huron involves
confession of failure of all evil
prophecy and liberal fulfillment of re-
publican promise.
Involving politics and independent
OF politics the result at Huron is
proof in tangible form that South
Dakota is enjoying prosperity be-
yond the dream of the Oldest inhabi-
tant. Otherwise possibly Senator
Pettigrew would have been at Huron.
Otherwise the populists would
have had strength to demand in a
loud voice the surrender of the
democrats. This is the point in the
Huron convention inviting to the
business men of the state and to
the business men of the country.
1t is not too much to say that the
action at Huron is calculated to bene-
fit the material interests of the whole
state. 1t is calculated to strengthen
the foundation of confidence in the
Integrity, resources and prospects of
the state. to which much has been
added since Mckinley was inauguar-
ated president of the United States
in 1897.
The fact is to be recognized. to be
sure. that the democratic party has
absorbed the populism of the state
and at the present time is not MANY
removes from the populist party itself.
The relationship will have to run It's
course. Time will be required to es-
tablish a higher grade. But the work
has been entered upon. Another wear
or two will mark decided improve
ments. Next year South Dakota will
be comparatively free of politics.
The year after that Will be presiden-
tial year, and the democrats OF South
Dakota. unhampered by a p%opulist
party. will endorse the national
democratic platform, which, pre-
sumptively, will be free of populism.
Meanwhile, of course, the people of
South Dakota will keep the transi-
tional democratic party of South Oak
ota in waiting.
Admiral Dewey has been hefore