The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-08
SLOW CAMPAIGN
IN SOUTH DAKOTA
REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE MAX
ING ALL THE HAY.
Elrod So Popular with the Masses
that Nothing Can Stop Hinl-Ob-
jections to His ROugh-and-Ready
Style of Dress Make Him Friends
Rather Than Political Enemies.
From q staff Correspondent.

From staff Correspondent.
Aberdeen, S. D., July S.-South Dakota
will have a campaign based on capital re-
mova and that is about all. Time was
when 1t used to have the real strenuous
thing. All the big party leaders visited
1t at one time or another.
But all this is changed. General Prosper
ity took the field in person few years
back and there has been something doing
ever since. Populsm couldn't stand up
before his methods Of campaigning and Its
forces rapidly. disintegrated. Pettigrew
was laid on the shelf. Bryan's name be-
came no longer one to conjure with. Re-
publicanism has returned to it's old-time
sway, and they are talking about 10000
plurality for Samuel H. Elrod Of Clark,
the republican candidate for governor.
I spent several days at Watertown and
Clark, the home of the next governor,
and was impressed with the affection felt
by the people for the republican candi-
date. They say he is the real stuff
no frills, no furbeloWS, no nonsense. They
love him because he is plain man, with
plain speech and the rugged honesty Of
a Lincoln. They don't have to use a step
ladder or megaphone when they want to
approach and get word Of mouth with him.
They have known Sam Elrod, as they like
to call him, since the foundations Of the
state were laid, and in public and private
they have never found him wanting as a
man and citizen. 1t is going to be a diff
cult matter for the democrats to find a
man who will make any real Roadway
against this candidate Of the republican
party.
Democratic editors are not trying to say
much against the mainland some Of them
are honest enough to admit that they lack
material to work upon in this respect
but they are knocking his clothes and
finding fault because he isn't second
Berry Wall or Ward McAllister. But
somehow they cannot work up an issue
on the Wardrobe-Or, rather, the lack of
1t, as they contend-of the republican can
dldate. There seem to be too many who
like the negligee clothes which he wears
and the ready manner and speech which
soon make him at home anywhere. A
campaign cannot turn on clothes alone.
and the poverty of the opposition for real
argument and objections has been en-
phasized by this little episode, and Sam
Elrod is more popular If anything than he
was before.
to get good in the course Of a month or
so. When the crops out Of the way
and the national campaign begins to
gather force, political matters will warm
up in this state. I expect to spend much
of my time in the field and on the stump.
We ought to carry every county in the
state and believe we will. There is no
local disaffection anywhere. The results
Of the convention have been accepted with
good grace, and the republican party Is
pulling true and strong. President Roose-
welt is going to have four years more in
the White House, and prosperity is in
South Dakota to stay.
South Dakota has taken some wonder
full strides in the last five years. The
opening Of the Rosebud well demonstrates
the change that has taken place in the
public mind toward the state. Many thou
sands will settle there. The destiny of
the commonwealth is clearly marked. It
Is a great state now but it will be greater.
Our youth Is Intelligent, enterprising and
patriotic, and our pioneers have shown
Their mettle and have won the fight for
the subjugation Of this part Of the west
AS working corporation, the state is
well conditioned and settled and will move
up rapidly in the sisterhood Of states
South Dakota is republican and will re-
main SO for years to come. Populism and
poverty have had their day."
Aberdeen and, in fact, all the larger
centers of the state are developing as il
by magic. I can see important changes
for the better since my visit here last
fall. The smaller towns are prospecting
too. The state Is a conner and no mis-.
take. w. D. Williams,