Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-05-19

glance TO the republican party, though
many good men were forsaking II. II
the party wanted to be cocksure OF
carrying Clark county Il put his name
upon the ticket. He not only carried
the campaigns, but largely paid the ex-
penses. He has been stat3's attorney
for ten years, not SUCCESSFULLY because
the law prohibits IL, but from time to
time during his long residence in the
county. Only once before has he been
a candidate before stale convention.
That was at Mitchell in 1895 when he
was defeated for congress by Mr..
Burke. But he never sulked. He WAS
true blue-in defeat as we'll as success.
Mr.. Elrod Is the first citizen of his
homa town. He WAS there ahead OF
the first dwelling and there has never
been movement for The public veal
10 which be has not led off. He has
helped to build schools and churches
and is the original tree planter in all
that section. II there is q burden 70 be
horne every body thinks at once Of Sam
Elrod. In every day life he Is all that
good Methodist processes to De. Had
he been less open-handed he might
now be rich. As it is, he'is well on
his feet,n having modest and com
Portable home In town and farming
lands near by. The common people
love him, and do most Of the voting in
South Dakota. Congressman Burke's
prediction Of $4,000 plurality looks
none TOO high.
Certain members of the ssmachine"
made q demand the night before the
convention for the head Of State Au-
ditor Halliday, one Of the first termers,
on the ground that In the earlier stages
of the canvass he had airted with the
Crawford men and had not made a
proper effort TO line up bis county. L.
was argued that conventions cannot be
controlled without votes and that Hal
laday had failed ITO play ball. The
fate of the auditor was Id the balance
for an hour or so, bur eventually the
conservatives won over the radicals
and 1t was agreed TO let him go in with
the rest. 1t was y close call, however
MIR. Halliday makes an excellent state
official. and to have turned him down,
even though he we're replaced BY q |
newspaper man, would have given of
fense TO the profession.
Crawford's hopes were dissipated
when the Hills and Minnehaha county
delegations decided to stand by the or
gnniz alton. For months before the
convention Mr.. Crawford and his news
papers asserted that q goodly part OF
the Hills would bein his camp. The
machine on the other hand, was
satisfied that II had 1t all weeks before
the convention Mr.. Crawford was
simply fooled and, 1t is understood,
blames Congressman Martin to some
extent for raising false hopes.
There has been aud is much specula-
tion as TO Mr. Crawford's future. Some
assert thateyentually he will take his
old place as attorney of the North
Western railway. This hardly seems
likely however. II the writer were to
hazard q guess ID would be that the
attorneyship will be held by r. L.
Brown OF Winona the remainder OF the |
year, asd that early In 1905 South |
Dakotan, even more prominent than
Mr.. Crawford, will be appointed 10 the
position.
All the governors OF South Dakota
have served two terms and Mr.. Etrod |
will probably not be an exception 10
the rule. Mr.. Crawford cannot, there's
fore, look forward to the governorship
for four years at least. A ssat in the
senate has no doubt always been the
goal of his ambition and il will not be
surprising II two years from now he Is
found In the lists against Senator Gam
BILE. He has positive strength In some
|of the counties and will be factor In
the next senatorial election II he sets
out to be. The machine, too, is NOT
80 enthusiastic for Senator Gamble az
III il for senator Kittredge for instance
and this might be helpful to Crawford.
The convention ran like clock work
Branson, Hanley, Baskerville and Ste
wart made model committee chairmen.
The last named from the committee on
rules and order Of business made re-
port that simply tied the hands Of the
opposition.
One of the last acts oF the convention
was 10 empower The chairman OF the
state central committee 10 appoint an
executive committee of ten, that official