The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-07-08
JULY 8, 1910.
Reorganization is Necessary

In the recent primary the progress
sive republican candidates for con-
gress as we'll as for a number of state
offices we're defeated. This WIS not
because a majority of the republicans
OF South Dakota are not progressive.
A number of causes contributed to it,
but most of them may be punched as
productive of or resultant from one
condition, to-wit: Lack of cohesive
organization of those who believe in
the principles of progressive republic
canism. There we're practically no
active county organizations as in the
proceeding campaign, and a mere shell
OF a state organization. The in
evitable result was disintegration of
the forces which had won in two cam
paigns. OF the causes contributing
to this disorganization may be men
toned in the order of their occurrence
the following:
First, the policy of Governor Vessey
in handling state patronage. He per-
mitted to remain in office or made
new appointees, a number of stall
warts, against the protests of many
progressive leaders whohad supported
him. They felt that the administra-
tion should give it's patronage to
those to whom it owed it's existence.
They believed this, not merely be-
cause 'to the victors belong the
spoils," but on the theory that having
won out in a close fight over in
trenched interests which had never
made the least concession of patron
age, the administration was bound to
use all fair means in it's power to
build up the progressive organization
for further struggle. Not that COM
petent stalwart officials should be re-
placed with incompetent progressives:
but that worthy progressives, equally
competent with stalwarts, should be
given the preference. With this view
Governor Wesley did not agree, or at
least his appointments did not n
form. In justice to him it should be
said that during the primary cam
paign proceeding his first nomination.
he was induced by mistaken friends
to make some promises in the matter
of patronage, which may not have
met wholly with his personal approval
and certainly not with the approval
of a large number of progressive
workers; and that he has done what
he has because he felt under moral
obligations to do so.
However, no matter what the rea-
sons may have been for this policy of
giving patronage to opponents rather
than to supporters, the result was
certain. 1t put a blanket on many
active workers, who, while not work
ing primarily for the spoils, believe
the fruits of victory should be used to
fortify the victors. His curse doubt
less gave Governor Wesley personal
following among political opponents
of his faction, and the thousands of
stalwart votes cast for him because
of this, gave him his denomination.
But to the progressive organization
and cause as a whole it was disinte-
grating and Improbable.
A second cause contributing to pro-
gressive Reorganization was the dis
satisfaction of many with the course
of the progressive senators from this
state in the recent congress. The
divisions and crossing of lines were
confusing, giving opportunity for
criticism of some votes of Senators
Crawford and Gamble on the tariff
and railroad bills. While much of
this in the light of possibilities and
final results, was unwarranted, it
gave the stalwart press opportunities
to misrepresent and proclaim them
traitors to the progressives who
elected them. The senators we're not
here to explain and defend themselves.
Not being directly in issue in this
campaign, progressive papers and
leaders who were more or less con-
fused by the stalwart hullaballoo, did
not feel it incumbent on them to un-
dertake this to the clouding of the
real issues. Inevitably, many pro-
gressives confused, if not worse,
and not in spirit to enter heartily in
to a campaign when results of pre-
vious contests appeared to be SO un-
satisfactory.
A third factor contributing to pro-
gressive disorganization was the d.
vision caused by the course of r. o.
Richards. Because of his attacks on
Vessey, Crawford and Gamble, after
his strong support in their election, a
great many p~rogressives thought it
nOf. wico fnr him RI ho ,ooIo I.