The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-12-05
SHOWS A FEW THINGS
Pierre IS A%ttributing Altogether Too
Much Concern ng Mitchell's
Campaign Methods.

Liz AfSuS-LedQer is puDllSllnl
statements on capital removal from
some Of the leading citizens of the
different towns related to the contest
now being waged, and recently give
Mltchell's claims, as presented in an
article from Mr.. II. l.. Bras, and
later n in the interests Of Pierre,
written by Hon. b. A. Cummins, of
that city. Mr.. Cummins statements
some OF them-will bear %analyzing, as
they are somewhat contrary to the
record and the facts. His first prop
osition, thats.--''Pierrc's position is
pure n Of defense" is true IN part;
but the scurrying Of her capital COM
mlttee, and others around the state
to try and keep former supporters in
line. evidences more. than a defen-
sive campaign.
Mr.. Cummins states that "the
present intention Of Mitchell is to
throw a few of their certain votes
to Huron and Redtield to make them
appear to have considerable follow
ing, and when the final compromise
comes and those votes 20 back to
Mitchell they hope by some deal to
take The strength OF Huron and Red
field with Them"
This assumption on his part is truly
refreshing, and one would imagine
he was running the campaign for
Mitchell, instead of Pierre. But he
is reckoning without his host, and
there is nothing in his declaration
except a little Cummins wind.
supplemented by a lively magma
tion.
His assertion that..we do not credit
Redlleld with any strength outside
OF Sphinx County, is another evidence
OF what he does not know.
We do admit that the Northwestern
road is for Pierre; but because that
road has voted bonds to buy the
"Elkhorn' road, does not evidence
any intention to build from Pierre to
the Hills, "--although the possession
OF the--"Elkhorn'' would give them
a route to the Hills, via Huron,
Sioux City, Nebraska, etc. A route
that has been open for 10 these many
years. But no one believes the North
western will build west of Pierre, in
the next hundred years.
He refers to the rapid growth Of the
country west of Pierre, and cites the
large number of entries made by
homesteaders there recently as ar
evidence Of settlement, by which the
geographical center--Pierre--will soon
become the center of population but
he forgets to inform the public that
nearly all of those filings are made in
the interest Of syndicates who realize
that the free range must soon 90, and
who are 'thrifty'' enough to induce
homesteaders to secure control Of
these grazing lands--I speak advisedly
when say grazing lands--to be later.
when final proof has been made,
turned over to the cattle man for his
very own. 1t may be true that the
country west Of Pierre is growing"
but that the population is increasing
to any %appeciable extent is not in
evidence.
He suggests that the republican
party does not want another capita!
campaign. I have perused the
recent state platforms of that party
and 1 freely admit that nowhere can
l find a plank either for or against
capital removal. And the republican
party is not responsible for either the
present contest, or of those that went
before. This is a matter that affects
the entire state, and political lines
are not drawn in this contest.
He says; sit has not been long
enough since the capital campaign OF
1890, for the people to forget what a
capital campaign means and think
ing people will hesitate long before
PluLSlHS CAlC oCuCC Ill dill OUIci lSllt
Of that character" But he forgets
to add that this campaign will not be
like former ones. There will not be
any buying Of votes by the thousands,
as then; and no city entering this
race will issue bonds to repudiate
later or scale down to 80 cents, minus
accrued interest for a dozen years. as
has recently been done. No money
will be used beyond legitimate ex
penses, unless "Peerless Pierre" as
suggested by one of its most promi-
nent citizens, should elect to pursue
such a course.
He says: "After two hard fought
campaigns the capital was won on
the merits of the issue.' Does Brother
Cummins mean that the expenditure
by Pierre of some half a million of
80 - - - - 49,