The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-27
SOUTH DAKOTA TOPICS

The Roberts county political situation is
rather interesting. Insurance Commits
siorier Perkins is after the nomination for
secretary Of state on the republican ticket
and former Representative c. H. Lien de-
sires to be lieutenant governor Mr.. Lien
announced himself, then formally withdrew,
then Withdrew, his withdrawal and is now
in the race to stay.
It's a long story if told in detail. The
party Is SO strong and the patronage so
tempting that the republicans have divid-
ed into factions. Dave Eastman former
state land commissioner is the accredited
leader Of the insurgents or Crawfordites.
Babcoclk Of Sisseton,l Spackman, Harry
Morris and others represent the organiza-
tion, or the machine" ~
Some of the leading insurgents were ac-
tive in pushing Mr.. Lien to the front. The
state organization thereupon took it to
be a movement in the interest of Mr..
Crawford and sent MIR. Perkins home to
announce his candidacy for secretary of
state. Mr.. Lien is a straight party man
and the friend of the organization, and
when it's emissarY informed him that the
faction supporting him intended to line
him up with Crawford and make him the
insurgent stalking horse he thought it
might be true and withdrew his name
from further consideration as a state can
didate. Later a delegation Of a dozen
prominent politicians of the county waited
upon him, assured him that they were for
him regardless Of Crawford and that their
chief object was to down Perkins and the
faction back of him. With the understand
ing that he was to make no change in his
statewide alliance, Mr.. Lien yielded to
this pressure and once more Sprang into
the arena.
Mr.. Liens position seems to be some
thing like this: The Roberts county dele
cation will be favorable to the state or
ganization whichever faction controls,
the only difference between them being
that MI. Perkins is a candidate simply to
capture the delegation, while he is a can
didate to capture the nomination.
In spite of such assurances the party
leaders will no doubt feel easier if Mr.
Perkins wins He is under obligations to
them for the place he now holds and if he
plays fair he may continue to hold it,
While Mr.. Lien himself, on the other
hand, may be personally beyond suspicion,
part Of his following. particularly Dave
Eastman, is known TO be hostile to the
achine.''
TIL machine is theefore backing Per-
kins and the pace Will be a lively one with
the result in doubt. The situation is an
annoying one md the organization will no
doubt make further efforts to straighten
it out.
The dividing line seems clearly drawn in
Roberts county so far as the capital re-
moval question is concerned. The sup
porters of Mitchell say they will have two
to one or better against Pierre in the
county.
The old-line administration papers have
Mp. Crawford buried and buried deep. The
Watertoyn Puhlfc Oninion avs he will
not have one-fourth of the delegates to the
state convention. The Huronite, pub
lished in Mr.. Crawfords home town, esti-
mates his strength at a possible los dele
gates out of about 1, 000 and the Aberdeen
News says this estimate is probably too
high rather than the reverse.
E. G. Torrey.