Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1906-02-02
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.


Minneapolis Tribune of recent date
states the present political situation
in South Dakota very completely:
So long rs the opposition to the
republican party in South Dakota can
not show enough substance to raise
shadow there will be party fight in
every campaign, as there is always an
element which would not feel that
political duty had been done unless
they were in contest.
1.-Two years ago the "insurgent" ele-
ment started in with claims which
loomed large on the political horizon
until the convention day arrived, and
when the test came their ipolitical
cloud WAS like unto the threatening
clouds which made their appearance
in Dakota during the drouth days,
ending in puff of wind and doing no
good to anyone.
again they are making large claims
and have with them elements which
naturally should give them more
strength than they developed two
years ago, and before the end of the
campaign may have that effect, but
that is problematic.
"The fight of the insurgent force is
on the machine. In this they profess
to find comfort in the turning down of
the machines in Ohio and New York.
but evidently fail to analyze the whole
situation. The machines which we're
turned down in those states we're using
their power for financial gain to them
selves or their friends and the people
refuse to be longer used for that pur-
pose.
! "In South Dakota the machine
exists as it does in every state in the
union. There could be no united
party organization without it. 1t can
be used for good as we'll as evil pur.
poses. and is generally used for good
in all states.
1.-The present machine is composed
OF the state officials who have admins
tered the affairs of the state in such a
manner that they have placed the state
in a position where the public debt is
bat little over one dollar per capita.
and no one can point to where they
have used their positions for private
gain Tor themselves or friends or have
failed to honestly administer the affairs
for which they were chosen.
''Even if the people decide to change
at the coming convention there will
yet be a machine, the only difference
being in the men who will manage it,
and the present fight in the state is for
that end
The average voter cares but little
who is running the machine so long as
it is run honestly, but will begin to take
notice very quickly if there is any mis-
use of power or funds by the men CON
controlling affairs. The state affairs
have been honestly controlled in South
Dakota for many years, none can gain.
say.
"That they would be honestly CON
trolled by the men who would be
placed in power by the "insurgent'
leaders if they gained control, but few
would question, and practically the
only question at issue before the peo.
pie in the campaign is which machine
is to control.
''The men who are the most promi
nent in the ''insurgent" ranks are
generally we'll known. most of them in
the past, by the grace of the machine
in control in their time having served
the state officially, some of them we'll
others not SO we'll, and the people will
know who they are following, which
ever side they line up on.
"While the five months between nov
and the convention date may brine
decided changes in the political situa
ton, every surface indication at the
present time is for fully as strong {
showing by the machine in the nex
state convention as they made in tht
last one.
"This prediction with the fact il
view all the time of improbable con
tingencies arising which will chang,
! the whole situation. On that basi
the "insurgent" strength in theFcomin,
convention is not likely to exceed 5o
ont of the 1869 delegates, and thei
strength is more likely to be about 4Ol
This proposition will of course be hot
ly denied by the leaders of their forces
but no more SO than was the predic
tion of the last campaign that strength
would be but $50 and it was only
mere half dozen over that.
"The lineup in the convention q
the leaders at the present time look
= like Gamble for the senate, Hall fo
congress, and Crawford for governo
on the part of the insurgents.
"Ihe machine line up is most likel
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