The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-11
CAPITAL REMOVAL IN S. D.

All the state papers are beginning to
discuss the capital removal question, and
the prospects are some life will be given
the campaign yet. Each candidate is put
ting Its best foot forward. In Beadle
county the country gave the city of Huron
q free hand, and all the legislative nomi-
nees are from that place. F. M. Wilcox
is the republican candidate for senator,
and ex-Mayor G. S. Hutchinson and Editor
John Longstaff We're selected for the
house. These men were chosen on the
capital issue and will go to Pierre to fight
Huron's battles.
The legislative nominations of the dorni-
nant party in Dawson county will be die
tated in large part by the candidacy Of
Mitchell for the capital o. L. Branson,
cashier Of tho First National bank Of
Mitchell, will be the senatorial nominee.
Pierre is alive to the situation and has
picked one Of it's strong men for the SEN
ate. According TO reliable reports from
the capital, Senator Bob Stewart will not
be candidate again, but will make way
for that solid citizen and partizan of
Pierre, Banker c.. G. Bennett Mr.. Stew
art has given a fine account of his lncum-
bency. Twice chairman Of the committee
on appropriations, he was as many times
instrumental in pulling Pierre out of a
tight hole. Mr. Bennett has done great
deal tor Pierre and understands all the
tricks of legislation. He is good man
to have on guard.
All the conventions will be held in the
next few weeks and the lineup at Pierre
will then be determined, as the democrats
will hardly get a handful of members.
There will no doubt be a miX-up for the
organization of the legislature. The
friends of removal will want the best
'chairmanshtps and will undertake to rob
Pierre of some of the strong beverages it
has had heretofore. There will thus be
a. show of strength at the outset, even
though the contest slumbers temporarily
thereafter. The Importance of starting
right has been pressed home upon the re-
moval faction, and there is less likelihood
of omissions and .oversights in, early stages
which may come to be embarrassing and
even fatal later on. AS the United States
senatorship was settled lorg ago, there is
nothing to dispute priority with the CAPT.
tai removal issue. ..-~-.~
A gentleman from the southeastern part
Of The state, who is in politics because he
likes the game and has made a success of
it, said to me the other day: TN my judg-
ment the capital question will have to
stand largely upon it's merits. Appropria-
tions will cut some figure, but not as much
as heretofore Besides, log-rolling is be-
coming more unpopular. I believe that If
Mitchell can keep down the rivalry of HUI
ron and Redfield, a removal resolution can
be passed direct for Mitchell. With HUI
ron and Redfield fighting, either secretly
or openly, Pierre is likely to win. Next
to their own town, Huron people want
Pierre to have the capital. Witness their
action at the last session in sending a
delegation to Pierre by special train to
work against Mitchell When that city be-
came the choice Of the caucus"
This view Of the situation will rather
please Mitchell and give comfort to Pierre.
Huron has the capital city idea SO well
grounded that hardly any one expects it
to share in any com mpromise that gives the
spoils to some other aspirant. AS pointed
out In previous article, Pierre's hope
rests almost entirely upon the division Of
the re1novalists.
Recently there has been a revival of the
rumor that the Great Northern or some
other corporation was getting ready to
iron the railroad grade between Aber-
deem and Pierre. Two strangers appeared
at Aberdeen and threw out hints to this
effect and held conferences with citizens.
Immediately the press declared that
Pierre was up to it's old game of building
paper railroads. The conclusion seems
Just one for dust has been thrown in
peoples eyes in this manner before.
Then there has been circulated a report
that plot was Matching to consolidate the
state university and the agricultural
school and remove the former from Ver-
million to Brookings. Other consolida-
tions and shakeups Of like character have
been bruited. the entire scheme being
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