The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-26
From a Staff Correspondent.

Sioux Falls, S. D., March 23.-'Once
upon time as the story books say,
the political campaigns in this state
were conducted in the good old-fash-
Toned way That is to say, there was
no campaign proper until the parties
had duly met in convention and pre-
sented their candidates and platforms.
Then, in the fall, generally after most
of the heavy farm work was ont of the
way, the spellbinder and the organizer
toured the state. Candidates went the
rounds to meet the people. Headquar-
tiers were opened by the party commit
teemen and speakers from abroad were
brought in. 1t was ''giye and take
between the parties. The torchlight
procession and the barbecue were fea-
lures of these strenuous rallies.
kota.N 1t is no longer contest be-
tween the parties. There is but one
party-the republican. At the last cleo
ton the democrats cast only ~
votes for governor, while the republl7a
cans polled 6S,561. 1t is simply ques-
tion of republican factionalism and all
the differences revolve about the poll
cies and methods of government Of the
dominant party. Most Of the cam
paigning therefore naturally comes be-
fore and not after the conventions OF
the parties. A nomination is equivalent
to an election. Who shall administer
the affairs of the state, enjoy the re-
wards and emoluments of party politics
and shape the policies for the following
conclusively settled and put away be-
fore the campaigns in other states arc
| under way.
Greek Meets Greek.
This change from the battle of the
parties to the battle of the factions has
in no wise diminished the strenuousness
of the engagement. The average South
Dakotan must have his political excite
"get more for his money! under the
present order Of things than under the
old. Boiled down, it is the same old
fight, anyway-the offices. The ms -,
want to stay in and the :'outs' want
to get in.
For month or more now the cam
paign of republican factionalfsm has
the average campaign are to be seem,
the candidate. appealing to the people
from the public platform, the country
band, the male quartet, the thoro organ
ization down to precinct committeeman,
the printing and circulating Of cam
paign literature and the pleasantrles
between the newspapers OF the FAC,
lions. IL mlSuG DE SuppoSCu IhSlC NOhiN
be less of charge and countercharge
than under the former system. This IS
not the case, however. The republican
| hand is lifted against the republican
head with a menace and fierceness sell
dom outdone when the parties lined up
their champions for battle. = .
Machine Defends and Attacks. +
I Both sides-the machine and the anti
s - -.H- e ntrNl
ing the state convention. The leading
|:representatives of both speak with such
candor and positiveness that little room
is left to doubt their sincerity.
The machine men seem to be the
easiest in mind, however. They recall
the claims, never realized upon, of the
insurgents two years ago. They
point with much satisfaction to the rec
4 ord of the four years Of administration
under Governor Herreid, the choice OF
the machine. and the first year of Gov
ernor Elrod's term. They defy the
"outs - to point to a case Of maladmin
istration or scandal in office. They in
sist that Governor Elrod and all the
first terlners are entitled to renomina
tion. They do much more than this
They aggressively attack the record in
and out of office Of Mr.. Crawford, anC
| o. NIL. Hall duu OIuefS WHO NOulu oFtl
throw the machine. But, tho entrenche6
) in office and flushed with the success OF
many campaigns, they are not taking
any chances in the work in hand. They
,, are looking to every loophole. Every
foct of 1ebatable territory is receiving
the personal attention of some master
hand.
War on the Bosses.
The insurgents are waging their cam
) paign against alleged bossism and cor
poration influence in the affairs of thu
: state. Their methods are largely educa
tional They have some of the bes
public speakers and their writer's hav,
prepared much literature for the voters
> Their campaign is more or less of hap
hazard affair, effective in some places
, and absolutely unorganized in others. II
this respect they are at great disad
vantage. E
i, Machine, men frankly concede tina
c their opponents are stronger than the,
! were two years ago. Mr.. Crawford, the,
: say. is no stronger, but Senator Gambl
4 had added some strength in the south
t eastern part of the state. But the,
$ are less and less disturbed by the coali