The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-29
SOUTH DAKOTA TOPICS

SOUTH DAKOTA TOPICS
! The fact that another meeting of capi-
tai removal men was held last night at
Redfield, to compare notes and plan fur
what length the movement is going. The
removalists already claim the house and
are sanguine they have{a sufficient NUM-
Der OF senators to swing the organiZa-
ton OF the senate. Representative
Browne OF Aberdeen Will be the speaker; of
the house if the capital relocation cembi-
nation Is able to control. Coming as Mr..
Browne does, from what has been strong
Pierre territory heretofore the fact of his
selection shows that the capital removal
men nave made some important gains.
Claims Of the Removaiists.
The removalists concede little territory
and few votes, comparatively speaking,
east OF the Missouri river to the hackers
OF the present capital. They admit that
Hughes, the county of which Pierre is the
seat, and the adjacent counties of Sully,
Hyde, Hand, Faux and Potter will OPP
pose removal. ALI of these have a light
vote in the legislature. To them is likely
to be added the delegations from McPher-
son, Campbell, Clay, Bon Homme and
Yankton, and perhaps a few scattering
votes from members who are Conscientious
at all for its alleged bad effects: on the
morals and politics Of the state. This is
about all the removalists concede to Pierre
on this side. .<.e
.. ..s->EThe Hills Divided. 49,
OF course the friends Of Fesubn1ission
would like to have the support of the
Hills, but they profess not to have counted
upon it and to be able to get along with
out it. Out OF 1872 members. the Hills has
but fifteen In the earlier stages Of the
canvass the Hills was accounted strong
Pierre territory by almost everybody. Sew
eral Of its leading papers and citizens took
a strong stand for Pierre. More recently
there have been indications of a change
and removal men are not without hope
Of dividing it's strength. The Pioneer
Times of Deadwood has come out for re-
submission, although inclined to be OPP
posed to it on the start. The Sturgis
Record, edited by c. c. Moody, son of ex-
United States Senator Moody and brother
to State Senator Moody Of Deadwood, be-
lieves that the Hills has catered to Pierre
long enough and that it is the part of wis.,
dom to take another tack to secure a rail-
road across the reservation. The Lead
Call is out for removal. All in all there
seems to have been a significant shift Of
sentiment, probably for the reason that
it is felt that out of the renewed agita-
ton the chances Of the Hills getting what
it has long desired. a direct eastern con-
nection, are greatly enhanced.
Huron Hopeful.
TO put it in a nutshell, the resubmis-
sion men are confident Of winning. Pierre.
they contend, will not have the organiza-
ton Of the legislature or the backing Of
the state machinery, factors which, they
assert, gave it IS success in all previous
trials Of strength.
Granting that resubmission carries.
Pierre processes to expect that Huron Will
be it's competitor at the polls Huron,
likewise, is confident of it's success in
the joint caucus. 1t is not making brass
band campaign, but is we'll organized and
its campaign committee is said to be do
ing some very effective work. Adherents
Of Mitchell and Redfeld also expect to
see their town chosen.
Pierre Ready for Fight.
An ex-state official, who resides at
Pierre, was in Minneapolis this week and
expressed himself just as positively as
did Congressman Burke that the removal
lists will never win. The capital city, he
asserted, was never in better shape to
wage contest at the polls than now.
All Of it's old bonds have been taken UP
and new ones issued at so low rate that
the earnings of the natural gas municipal
system are sufficient to defray all interest
expenses. The last Of the old bonds.
issued during the famous fight when the
capital was located, were returned this
week.
Other Institution Towns Interested.
1t is maintained by Pierre that anything
like a successful movement to change the
capital will invite no end: of trouble for
the seatszof a half dozen Of the state in;
situations. Pierre citizens point to the
showing made two years ago by Water
town for the removal Of the reform school
from Plankinton, and contend that to put
one institution on wheels will be to en-
danger the permanency of all. If the
legislature will not act of its own accord.
it is pointed out that it can be made to
do SO through the medium Of the initia-
tive, adopted as an amendment to the
constitution in conjunction with the ref
erendum. Pierre apparently would
throw scare into all communities
which have a state school or charitable or
penal institution. It believes also that a
redhot capital relocation campaign will be
ruinous to the general: real estate bust
ness Of the commonwealth and to that ex-
tent check the prosperity that has been
felt in every section; that bribery and
corruption will become rampant and that
the state will acquire an immense
amount of unwholesome notoriety. The
initiative which was regarded rather
lightly at the start is now held in high
esteem at the capital, for it is contended
that it would be an easy matter to secure
the signatures of the necessary per
cent of the voters to make the legislature
submit a given proposition to the electors
of the state.
Signs Of a Hard Struggle.
The forces are preparing for the gam
est struggle ever witnessed at the capital.
More rooms have already been engaged at
Hotel Locke, where all the pins are
usually set up, than were ever occupied
at that hostelry during any session of the
legislature. There will be no room at all
for transients, although the building has
been enlarged and the equipments and
facilities reinforced. New furnishings
have been put in place and apartments
never before used for guest rooms remod-
eled and made ready for the crowds that
are coming. Mitchell has engaged suite
Of rooms on the fourth floor and Huron
and Redfield will have headquarters on
the third. 49,
Some important legisla ton will be at
tempted besides capital removal An
other effort will be made to devise an &C.
ceptable plan to increase the revenues Of
the state. and the insurance companies 1t
is said. are, not to escape. There will be
a stringent oil bill and an attempt will be
made to doctor the incorporation laws.
The Watertown Public Opinion. Sioux
Falls Press aud other papers are adrocat--
ing state primary election law. and
something may be attempted in this di-
dection. The Press declares that ''the
old primary method does not belong to the
era of the Australian ballot. but is relic
of the immature election processes Of the
past
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