The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-04-16
TAFT AND CRAWFORD
SOUTH DAKOTA REPUBLICANS
INSTRUCT FOR oHIoAN.
Insurgents Control State Convention
at Huron by Vote OF 266 to 222--No
Division of Sentiment Except ON
Candidates for Senatorship.

Not since the days when Nehemiah
G.. Ordway was chief executive of the
territory or when Frank Pettigrew
manipulated political affairs has a re-
publican state convention been fraught
with more interest than the one at
Huron Tuesday afternoon to choose
eight delegates to the national conven-
ton. No direct issues were at stake,
the campaign being waged solely on
the question of United States senator
ship. The insurgents had 266k out of
a total of 400 votes in the convention.
This gave them a strong working ma
jority, and 1t was used to their good
in all the doings of Tuesdays gather
ing.
From the moment the insurgents
presented Frank McNulty. of Roberts
county, for temporary chairman. i'm
mediately followed by the stalwarts
nominating S. II. Elrod for the same
position, each faction lined up for a
battle royal. The insurgents seated
their man and made Sweeney, of Ly-
man, secretary.
Pending committee reports the con-
vention took recess until o'clock p.
m. On reassemblinga NJ. ]. Cheney,
of Clay, was made permanent chair
man and all went smoothly until the
report of the resolutions committee
was presented. The resolutions indors-
ed the policies of President Roosevelt,
and favored the nomination of Secre-
tary Taft for president; advocated the
enlargement of the powers of the in
terstate commerce commission, with
power to grant temporary injunctions;
favored placing lumber, coal, iron and
articles controlled by corporations
and monopolies on the free list: urged
a revision of the tariff schedules and
favored a 2-cent passenger rate and
reduction of express and freight rates;
and advocated permanent improve
ment of the Mississippi river and trib-
utaries.
n, these no objection was made,
but the resolutions indorsing Craw-
ford for United States senator brought
the stalwarts to their feet with many
objections.
Senator Lawson, of Brown, was
chief speaker for the stalwarts while
Judge Dillon represented the tnsur-
gents. Several others took part in
the discussion. and for an hour or
more the excitement was intense, each
faction cheering its speaker to the
echo.
The insurgents were determined to
force a vote on Crawford's candidacy
for United States senator, the stall
warts being equally determined to pre-
vent it If possible The matter final
ly was settled by dividing the resolu-
tons, and that part relative to Gov.
Crawford was voted upon first, 266i II
in favor and 2221s opposing. Then
that portion indorsing Taft for presi-
dent was adopted by reclamation.
Then came the report of the commit
tee on nominations, these delegates
being chosen:
Gov. c. I. Crawford, Huron; e. u.
Sem, Oacoma; X. o. Strand, Howard;
A. W. Ewart, Pierre; C, H. Dillon,
Yankton; A. L. Lockhart, Clear Lake;
e. c. Greinsham, Deadwood; p. III.
O'Neill, Faulk.
Alternates-C. J. Anderson. Aurora;
c. J. Lavery, Stanley; c. w. Pratt,
Charles Mix; G. w. Merry, Grant: H.
c. Alexander, Gregory; o. s. Swenson,
Minnehaha; A. Frank, Brown; G. A.
Hoffman, Walworth.
The work of the convention being
completed several speakers respond
to calls, among them Attorney Gener-
al Ellis of Ohio, who was here in the
interest of Secretary Taft. His speech
was eloquent and enthusiastic and was
followed with much applause.