The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-18
FIGHT ON HIS
HANDS AT HOME
G. o. p. LEADERS CARRY WAR
INTO CRAWFORD'S CAMP.
Tactics OF His Supporters SO Objec-
tionable that the Organization Will
Try to Make Him Feel Its Power
in Beadle County-Recent Incidents
Have Widened the Breach Between
the Striving Elements.
Special to The Journal.

Sioux Falls, S, D., Feb. 1S-Contrary
to expectations, Beadle county will after
all be the storm center Of the battle be-
tween Coe 1. Crawford and the present
republican leaders for supremacy in the
state.
Altho the leaders had originally intend
ed not to make fight against Mr.. Craw-
ford in Beade county, where he lives.
recent developments have caused them to
change their plans so far as that county
delegation to the next republican state
nominating convention is concerned
Mr.. Crawford. instead of having a walk
away in his own county. will be forced
to fight for every delegate he secures
there.
Regardless of the fact that a newspaper
writer at Huron recently sent to north
western dailieS q statement to the effect
that only three or four men in the whole
Of Beadle county We're opposed to Mr..
Crawford, 1t Is stated that there is con-
siderable opposition to him there. AS the
primary system is in effect in Beadle
county, the opposition. to Mr.. Crawford
intimates that there is every reason to
believe some of the delegates to the state
convention can be taken from him.
crawford's Peculiar Campo ign.
The determination of the republican
leaders not to conCede Beadle county to
Mr.. Crawford is due solely to the charac-
ter of the campaign waSed by himself
and his friends. The personal newspaper
organ of Mr.. Crawford at Huron. ever
since Mr.. Crawford announced his can
didacy for nomination to the office of
governor has bitterly assailed the repub-
ltcan leaders. Recently these personal at
lacks have become more furious.
While Mr.. Crawford the republican
leaders declare, does not write these at
lacks himself no one can convince them
that they are not approved by him be-
hnN In inf and hat he,
therefore Is responsible for them.
Recently Mr. Crawford himself, in his
public addresses and in circular letters
which he is sending to voters turnout the
state, is resorting to the same tactics and
making personal attacks on the repub y
lican leaders, under whose guidance the
party has won several brilliant victories.
Fierce FactonaIism.
In addition, one of Mr.. Crawford's most
prominent supporters at Huron a few days
ago bitterly denounced Colonel John II.
King of that city, for twenty-five years
q leading citizen of Dakota and prominent
for years in the councils Of the republican
party, the grievance against Colonel King
being his opposition to the candidacy Of
Mr.. era wford.
The Crawford supporter who assailed
Colonel King informed him that he would
spend $4,000 to drive him out of the
state. Similar threats have been made
by the same man against other repub
licans who have incurred his dfspleasurs
by opposing Mr.. Crawford. r. IT,. j.
These Incidents throw a sidelight on the
campaign methods adopted by Mr.. Craw
fords principal supporters, and show why
the republican leaders have decided to re-
sent the attitude of Mr.. Crawford and his
friends by waging an aggressive fight
against him in his own county.
Should they succeed in capturing &
goodly sprnkling OF the Beade county
delegates from Mr.. Crawford it will great
~ handicap him In his candidacy, as he
would then be in the position of asking
the nomination to the highest office at
the disposal of the convention without q
united delega ton from his own county
behind him.