The Washington times., 1908-10-08

SIOUX FALLS. S. D., Oct. S.-Pros-
perity Is the greas asset Of the Repub-
lican party in this State, just as 1t Is
in the surrounding States OF the North
west
It is the great obstacle 10 the sue
cess OF William J. Bryan and the
Democratic party in South Dakota, and
In this section OF the country. In some
Of the Eastern States one can hear Of
Republican disaffection and a drift TO
the Democrats on account Of the In
dustrial depression. Here one hears
little or nothing Of depression. The
land is fairly reeking with the al
mighty dollar, and the man with
money in his clothes and a feeling Of
cOntentment in his stomach Is not
easily aroused to political activity. and
is not easily enlisted in a movement
for a change OF administration.
One would expect to find apathy here.
II anywhere. and II is not hard to dis
cover. The politicians are finding it
uphill work TO arouse the voters, and a
good many of the politicians are not
evincing any remarkable degree OF
burning zeal and enthusiasm. 1t is the
farmer. however. who seems 10 be the
least proae to drop his work and go
about paving up the political earth
Farmer Not interested.
He is. as a rule, not showing much
interest in the situation, and the indi-
cations are he will be hesitant about
going TO the polls. A considerably
larger stay-at-home vote thar usual Is
likely to result unless herculean labors
are done on the stump between now
and election day.
Never before in the history Of South
Dakota were the farmers so prosperous.
The crops have been excellent. They
have not been abnormally large, but
they have been satisfactory. The prices
for all farm products have been high
and are continuing so. Cattle. hogs. and
other livestock command good prices
Mortgages nave been rapidly paid of,
The question that naturally comes 70
he farmer Just as ~ Is likely 70 come 10
the prosperous man in any walk OF life
is, why should ] vote for a change
and how would change help meE'
Advice From G. o. P
Republican, orators are cOunselinE
their hearers that II viii not be wise
for them to vote for Democratic Pres
ident II they wish prosperity TO smile
upon the land and the argument natur-
ally has weight with the man who is
getting along we'll on his farm and hnds
his bank balance is steadily increasing
II requires large amount OF clever ar
gurnent 70 overcome In the mind OF the
average hard-headed farmer the evil
dence OF things seen with his own eyes
Consequently, the Democratic spell
binder who goes out in this State advO-
eating Bryan does not have an easy
proposition presented TO him.
South Dakota has been looked on in
many quarters as a State In which the
I fate Of the Republican electoral ticket
was IN doubt. This view has obtained
! to some extent high n the Republican
I campaign management. The prospects
| as they appear now are favorable for
/ Taft He is likely 10 get a substantial
plurality OF from 1900 10 20000. This
| would be a large falling of from the
Republican plurality OF 1904, when
! Roosevelt carried the state by 30 600.
| II would he about the plurality OF 1900
when Mckinley carried South Dakota
I by nearly 1900
Origin Of Doubt.
The view that South Dakota is doubt
| ful became current early last summer,
( when the factional troubles in the State
were at their height OF bitterness. Since