Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-28
POLITICIANS KEEPING BUSY
South Dakota Republicans Tired Of
Ghost Dancing"
TALK OF THE NEXT CAMPAIGN
some state Officers wiu surely he
RenOminated-Open Field Cor
-Four PositiOns-DemOs
watching.

PIERRE, 8. D., Nov. 27.-Cspeclal)-A
prominent business man Of the state.
whose work takes him TO all sections, while
in this city a few days ago took exception
to a recent statement by John II. Scriven
Of Mitchell, in which Sorivsn Is quoted as
saying that he could not find any political
discussion at any point, until he had started
it himself. The man In question says he
only needs TO listen to the conversation on
trains or in hotel Hobbies to hear plenty
OF discussion in regard to the situation in
the state. and In his opinion there will
be a decided settling Of the situation by
the time the grass shows green on the prai-
ries again. He says there are a few ghost
dancers in both factions OF the republican
party who desire 20 continue the old fight,
and these men are making the most noise.
But that the republicans Of the state are
getting rather tired of leadership Of that
kind, and that they can and will retire the
g~host-dancing element Of both factions IL
they insist on keeping up their beating OF
tom-toms.
The people over the state generally be-
lieve that they have about as good repre-
sentatives in congress, and In the govern
or's chair as they can get. regardless Of
what fractional power placed them in the
positions they now hold. The same feeling
prevails In regard to Treasurer johnson
and Secretary Policy, each having given
the people az Administration in his first
term which has been satisfactory. and
there is no good reason Tor making a
change at the present time. With the same
feeling in regard to the two supreme
judges Just appointed, and to be elected
next year.
A. to state Officers.
After the list Of "hold-overs," the primary
makes It open for anyone who desires to get
into the race for the positions OF auditor,
land commissioner. superintendent Of in
stTuction and attorney general. For these
positions It is an open field. For the posi-
tion Of the head of the educational depart
ment the aspirants already appear to be
numerous, with a wide field to choose from.
For head Of the state land department no
one has appeared in the open as yet, but
before the primaries come around there Will
no doubt be a large enough field to make
a selection from. For the authorship up to
the present the men who have Indicated an
inclination to step up higher are John N.
Johnson of Lyman and e. ]. Lampy Of
Codington, both now serving as county
auditors OF their counties. For attorney
general the names SO far mentioned are
- Jof8sabon OF Nopert5 ana Foyhl ~. JONI
son of Hyde. And by the way, the move
mCnt for johnson IL one which has an ele-
ment behind 1t which the older politicians
Of the state had better consider. The move
was started over a year ago by a bunch
Of graduates OF the state university, who
were classmates Of Johnson. and they are
keeping the question agftated 80 far as
they are concerned. They are appealing to
the young voters of the state, with John
son as the man they are backing. While he
has not yet decided to go into the race,
the young men who are responsible for
starting the move are insistent that they
can win, and the younger voters are a
strength which must be considered, John
son wal not only popular in the university,
but as q base ball catcher played In many
parts of the state, winning popularity for
himself IN that way and securing another
vide circle of young acquaintances who
are willing to help him out for anything
he nay ask. Besides being a good a
catcher, as states attorney Of Hyde county
he showed ability of a different-class OF
catching, by adding to the Irvine plant force
at Sioux Falls a half dozen members of a
horse rustling gang which had been work
ing in Hyde county for several years, and
this helps him in his own county.
The Egan sentiment, which appeared to
be strong when his campaign was first
started in the fall, appears to be hard
hit by the storms OF winter, and reports
from the southeastern part of the state,
where It appears to have been the strong
est, indicate that It is waning.
Democrats sitting Up.
With the apparent ENHANCEMENT in re-
publican ranks Of the state, the democrats
are taking hope. They feel that with the
hope which springs eternal in the breast
OF every democrat they have a show this
time, 'lf'' the party will only hold to-
gether. Leaders Of that party have lately
suggested as possibilities for governor:
Homer Johnson of Rapid City, their ma
tlonal committeeman; Dick Lyons Of Yer
million, their state committeeman, and
Fred S. Rowe of Fort Pierre, who carried
Stanley and Lyman counties for the state
senate two years ago, with a strong re.
publican majority for everyone else in the
two counties. For congress-. Robert EN-
nett DowdelI. who has shown himself as
one Of their shrewdest legislative manipu-
lators whenever he has broken into the
legislative pasture. which, by the way,
has been more often than the average DEM
Ocrat gets a chance in this state, Is a
nassibility. AS a matter of fact, he has
coyly let It be known that he would not
be averse to making a try for goal on that
line. and he will probably be given the
opportunity. That is about as far as they
have announced their desires up to date,
but by the time Of the primaries. II they
can get enough voters rounded up by thai
time to attempt to get into the primaries,
they win probably have a complete list
ready for inspection Of the voters Of thsir
faith and nFah than alnnn 70 A.. Ft,,l