The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-21
SUUIt18 Uk1hU1A" "a
" FARMING \. UP A BIT
The Campaign for Capital Reloca-
ton Begins to Take On a
Little Life.
Both Sides Have Made Some Blum
ders and Have Already Felt
Disappointment.
Special to The Journal.

having begun their campaigns of organization
Each Is predicting victory for itself.
The men at the head Of the Mitchell campaign
are new to state politics, altho Chairman II. L.
Bras represented Dawson county several terms
in the legislature. Closely associated with him
are many of Mitchell's leading business and pro-
fesisonal men, advisory board. with Former
Public Examiner lie Claire Of Aberdeen sec
rotary of the capital committee, and Clate Ttnan,
of the Kimball Graphic, in charge Of the newspa-
per end of the campaign. The Mitchell working
force represents all shades of political and re-
lgious opinion.
Pierre selected for Its chairman John Suther-
land, lawyer OF superb organizing ability, who
politics. He generally accomplishes what he I'M
dertakes. While nominally a republican, he
has acted for several years with the democrats
and populists, and in 1898 he organized an sin
sursent republican, movement which defeated
Kirk T.. Phillips for governor. Associated with
him as his closest adviser is Thomas H. Ayres,
These men have given evidences Of their PROV
ess In their home town where all is in harmony
Jars in Both Places.
| Formerly there was close corporation com
| posed of Congressman Burke, Attorneys Horner
and Stewart and Banker Cummings, who
| things about they liked The most serious
revolt occurred in the spring Of 1902, when the
machine candidate for mayor defeated by
the Sutherland-Ayres candidate. Mr.. Burke was
candidate for the nomination for congress-
and the insurgents told him he could name the
delegation from his county provided he would
leave off the names Of half dozen of his
| members of the machine. By agreeing to comply
with the insurgents request he permitted to
go into the state convention with the support Of
his county.
! When the fight for resubmission came on be-
fore the meeting of the last legislature the
Pierre interests were again placed in the hands
| Of the machine, and unfortunately for them,
| it lost. ISL. MI, .
The capital committee was organized and
Sutherland was made chairman. Burke and his
friends resented the appointment and made two
strOug efforts to have 1t Cancelled, but were de-
featcd
But Pierre has not had a monopoly of inter-
nal dissensioEs. Mitchell has had troubles of it's
| own. Everything harmonious until after
the adjournment of the legislature. Then dis
satisfaction was expressed on account of too
much power having been centered in Chairman
Bras. Complaints were made that his actions
We're arbitrary, and finally it was decided to
| hedge him about with committees so that he
| could not be too much an autocrat. ' ~.
- =; Arguments for Pierre. -.
The Pierre committee sums up its arguments
4 as follows: Pierre, by popular vote, was de-
clared the capital; it is near the geographical
center of the state; people are taking homesteads
in the country vest of the Missouri river; the
| people Of Pierre have invested their money in
that city with the understanding that it was
| to be the permanent capital, and financial loss
will result to them If the capital is moved.
The last is their strongest argument, and the
one that will have effect in getting votes for
them. @g ~r. .. e.. -...... S ...
%, Arguments for Mitchell. ~
The Mitchell contention is that Pierre is not
suitable as location. being remote from the
center of population with only enc railroad run.
ming into 1t; poor hotel accommodations for
which high prices are charged a town that is
decreasing. in population and Is not creditable as
a state capital, all of which, Mitchell says, is
proven by the fact that there has been a capital
removal fight at each session Of the Legislature
and that such fights will continue until the
capital is relocated. s-' '' ..
as to population good train service from al
parts of the state, except the Black Hills, and
from here there is an advantage of one days
journey over Pierre; that Mitchell has grown
on account of its superior location to fully three
times the size of Pierre; that it has in course Of
construction a. hotel $50 by 100 feet and foul
stories above the basement and has other goot
hotels; that it is erecting city hall with stee
vaults and assembly rooms and Offices much bet
ter suited for a capitol building than the one
4 at Pierre, and which the state long
as may be desired free of cost.
All of this and much more is pointed out BY
the Mitchell men. as favorable to their cause.
Blunders on Both Sides.
Some bllnders have been made on both side,
, thus early in the campaign. The first wal
scored against Chairman Bras Of Mitchell, wht
wrote to the lot owners Of Mitchell urging
tell them in how competent hands their fund.-
would be placed, and explained that the Mitchell
committee had done Its work SO we'll that wher
the legislature met it CONTROLLED every thing
| from the speakership to the smallest clerkship.
, Here where the dissensionists in Mitchell
/ made point The letter, intended for tn
hands of Pierre men, and it has been used Wig
orousy since. ...s.... 81.
Pierre's Newspaper Contract.
r But Mitchell did not lave to wait long befor
Pierre came forward with blunder. The Pierr
committee wanted to get the newspapers s.
lined up that they could never get away. Henc
a contract was drawn Astounding in the sever
est legal terms, in part as follows:
This agreement, made and entered into thi
- day of ---., A. D. 1908, by and betwee
- -, publisher and proprietor Of 80
s. D., party of the first part, and the Pierr
Board Of Trade of Pierre, S. D., party of tn
second part:
7 Witnesseth-That the said party. OF, the frs
e part promises and agrees, from this time unit
city of Pierre as the permanent capital of tn
state of South Dakota, exclusively, energeticaly
continuously, and in an editorial way, thr
And the said party of the first part furthe
e promises and agrees to oppose the adoption o
the nmendue MT to make Mitchell the pernanen
capital of the state of South Dakota, and tina
he will net receive publish advertising matte
' of any kind, either communications or otherwise
in the interest of Mitchell as an aspirant 70
o For and in consideration Of the faithful pei