The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-03-11
WHERE FUSION is e A


Down in South Dakota the demo.
Gratis are in a brown study as to what
course to pursue in the campaign
which is to be fought in that state
during the present year. Never at
any time in the history of what is
now the state of South Dakota have
the democrats had as much as a fight
ing chance. Even during the days
when a territorial form Of government
obtained could they Go more than
to carry an occasional county and
such a thing as a democratic delegate
in congress was never known there.
The only times when democrats held
more than county Offices was in the
two administrations of Cleveland,
when carpetbaggers were sen out
there by him as governors and judges
of the district court. After the ter
ritory was divided and the states of
North and South Dakota were admit
ted they still remained rue to first
principles until the silver wave and
populism swept the country. Then,
for the first and only time, was any
portion of what had once been n of
the strongest republican sections car
ried away by a popular craze and
South Dakota sh~amefacedly took a
place along with Kansas, Nebraska
and some of the other western states
that had permitted themselves to be-
come blinded to their own interests
and it's Pettigrew and those of lesser
magnitude became prominent and
made a grand state an object of ridi-
Guile and its people the object Of rhe
Photographers wit. But sense return
ed to them and at the last general
election they redeemed themselves
and the state once more took it's place
in the republican column. It elected
good men to congress and the state
Offices are filed in an able and repre-
sentative manne
One Of the first things done by the
republican legislature last winter was
to enact a new ballot law. The law
has made it impossible for any can
didate to have his name on more than
one ticket, hence the agony of mind
of the democrats. They can no Ion
ger fuse. To form a coalition with
the populists and use them as a cats
paw is beyond their power. By this
law n or the other Of the two parties
which have hitherto worked in unison
is practically wiped out. They must
either put two tickets in the field or
choose under which name they will
go before the people. To DO the lat
ter NEAR q loss of votes, no matter
what name is chosen, as many Of the
men who in the past have voted the
mOngrel ticket have been held in line
only by the use Of a name. The dem
Ocrats never had any strength and the
populists have lost theirs and are in
no position to make a fight as in for
mer a The general prosperity
that prevails throughout the state is
against them. and the mar upon whom
their main reliance has been placed
to carry them through has practically
left the state. Pettigrew, like Towne.
Bryan and some of the other messiahs
of populism, has had his eyes opened
20 the benefits the possession Of
wealth can bestow and has removed
to New York. where he is growing
rich under the beneficent patronage
of Jim Hill and others who can and
do give him tips that enable him to
take advantage Of the stock market.
With the reform forces thus dis
rupted and torn by doubt and fear
the republicans are smiling and con-
fdent of being able to carry the state
next fall by a majority even greater
han that of two years ago. What
adds interest to the situation is the
fact that the coming legislature will
elect a United States senator. 1t
seems already an accepted fact that
Senator Kittredge will be chosen to
succeed himself. Governor Herried
and Congressman Martin and Burke
will be renominated and the republi-
cans are confident of their election.
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