Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-15
NO PEACE IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Fight Between Stslwsrts and Pro-
gressives Will be to Finish.
CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS OUT
Congressional Situation IL Compile
Gated by Question whether Refer
endum Applies to Division
Law Of Last Year.

FlhhtNE, ,. ~ Eebs lA-tSpGClhl - ne
conservatives in the two leading republican
factions OF the state, who were hoping for
an end to the fa%ctional wrangles in the
party, have abandoned all hope in that line,
and the state is to see just such another
wrangle this year as the one which stirred
the who'll state in the primaries of two
years ago.
The only element which may allay the
bitterness is that up to the present the
indications have been that neither faction
could align the voters as they did two
years ago. The leaders will do their best TO
this end and may draw on the same kind
of a contest before they get through with
their fighting.
The call for the progressive general con-
ference at Huron for the Gath Of this month
has put an end to any hope OF peace. The
progressives will take a leaf from the book
of the stalwarts, and while they will only
meet to confer and will abide by the
primaries for their nominations, with no
slate. the leaders will on the side fix the
ticket they want, and those who attend
the conference will go home pretty well
informed as to who is to receive their sup
port. From the fact that r. c. Richards
signs the call for the meeting on the Gath,
1t is pretty strong evidence that he will
not attempt to flock by himself in the
campaign, but will again ally his primary
league strength with the progressives, and
that their differences have been patched
UP. In fact there are strong rumors that
such a deal has been contaminated
Referendum for ConEressmen.
The congressional situation is likely to be
complicated by the fact that the question
of the power Of the referendum to apply to
the congressional district act OF the last
session is to be tested in the courts. Such
a move is said to be under way and ready
TO come out into the open at almost any
time. It only waits the completion of the
preliminaries toward the legal steps before
the suit is begun. If 1t should be held
that the referendum cannot apply, 1t will
go a long way toward settling who the
nominees of the progressives are to be for
the congressional places. Even II the
referendum is set aside. it will make no
difference in the lwa selections, as
they each live in the different districts
fixed in the act.
But with the progressive, II the referen-
dunn is declared to be imperative, there
may be a great difference in who will be
their candidates. The action of John F.
Shrader OF Rapid City. In definitely an
nouncing his candidacy fixes their man
from that district, which in fact covers all
the state west Of the Missouri, and east Of
the river, along the line of the fourth
standard perallel as nearly as possible as
county lines will permit. This will make
Shrader a candidate in IN immense dis
trict, with a population based on the
census of five years ago, and which is of
no real merit as a basis, as it gives him a
district out of proportion In both territory
and population. The same holds good in
regard to Mr.. Martin IL the district law
should be sustained. II not sustained the
whole state will vote on both congressman
as they have done in the past. If sus-
tanned, the progressive objections will then
be only in the southern district, and will
probably be Thomas Thorson of Canton,
who will contest with Congressman Burke
for the place. II the field is left open, the
progressives may select either Attorney
General Clark, or Judge McNulty as their
candidate from the eastern part of the
state, as it is understood that Thorson is
not really anxious to get into the race, and
) would prefer to wait two years and make
} the fight for the senatorship against Gam
BILE.
Independents May Win.
i The hot fight which has now been precip.
itated may mean before 1t is finished thai
6OAlC VI NAO ~ RAaSC9N WAAN
; make the run independently will come ii
r as the winners, but they will be working
under more or less of a handicap, regard.
a less of the beautiful theory of the primary
: as the "list' candidates will be mutually
I working together, and have the backing Of
!" funds of the two organizations, while thu
i independents will of necessity have Il
: make their own individual fight, and carr!
their own expenses.
The situation is such that the democrat
who have returned from Huron are in
c hopeful mood. They also obeyed tn
primary and did not put up a ticket, blu
canvassed for the best men to put for
e ward, and will likely have a complete tickle
e filed this year. instead of only a few name
o as they did two years ago. They expec
J to get recruits from whichever tactic,
is in the minority among the republicans
and when the real campaign opens, wi
only have to use the arguments of the re
= publicans themselves in the primary t
v show that the nominees OF that party ar
d not fit to be trusted with official business
70 1t is to be bitter war from this tim
o until the votes are counted in June, an
the man who does not want to have a han
Z in the fight. will have to take to tn
bushes and hide out until election day
when it will be safe for him to come /
and vote, and live in peace for a few day
s until the selected warriors on the two side
lie republican and democrat, then, start the
y battle for a final settlement in Novembe
There is to be no peace, and II it does M
finally result in democratic success in tn
= state, it will be one case where "histor
= refuses to repeat itself"