Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-02-26
Stalwarts and Progressives Ready for Battle to Fin
 ish Next Election

HURON, S. D., February 25.-The po- Iitical atmosphere of South Dakota threatens the most serious storm that has swept the state in years. Unlike Iowa and other states the fight here
 between the "prOgressive' and "stal- wart" republicans is not confined to rep resentatives in congress, but extends all
 along the line of state officers from gov ernOr down.
 Early in the month the "stalwart y republicans came out with the an nouncement that they intended to put complete ticket in the field, made up solely of members of their own faction. Today the leaders of the progressive faction met in conference here to take similar action. This is taken to mean that between now and June ', when the state primary will be held, there will be battle to the death between the rival republican factions of South Dakota.
 Former Governor s. H. Erred is slated for the gubernatorial nomination on the "stalwart v ticket. In the formal announcement of his candidacy he in dorsed the principles enunciated at the stalwart' conference held here at the beginning of February. It is not antici- pated that he will have any opposition in securing the nomination of his fac tion. In addition to the governorship the stalwarts' have also picked ther candidates for congress and for n~-iy all or the state offices.
 The "progressives' so far have not been able to present so united front l,,l, ,1..,, +,.1 that today's conference will accomplish much toward bringing about the desired harmony and unification. Governor Vessey is slated for renomination on the progressive' ticket. Much is believed to depend upon the attitude of R. O. Richards, one of the prominent leaders or the state. Dr. Richards, after hay ing supported the "progressive' repub licans for five years, broke with them over a year ago in letter repudiating Governor Vessey and Senators Crawford and Gamble. Ever since the break oc- cured, politicians have been wondering what ticket Richards would put forward this year. Recently it has been report ed that a truce would be arranged be- tween Richards and the Vessey fac tion, whereby Richards would be allow ed to frame the platform and the Vessey people name the ticket. These reports have been denied and from all indica- tions it will not be definitely known just where Richards stands until after the present conference of the "pro- gressives' is over.
 There is also some curiosity as to the course that will be taken in the com ing campaign by former United States Senator Pettigrew. He is quoted as hay ing said privately that there is no longer any democratic party, that what was left of it was destroyed during consid eration of the tariff bill, and that there ought to be new party.
 Alleged extravaganza on the part of the present progressive" republican administration will be the principal slogan of the "stalwarts' in the i'm pending battle for supremacy at the June primaries, while anti-Cannon will be one of the main issues upon which the progressive" republicans will wage their fight for continued control. The "progressives confidently declare that Vessey has made so creditable a record as governor that no one can beat him.
 Some of the more hopeful democrats profess to believe that the fight between the republican factions will be so bitter that thousands of members of the fac maries will at the election next Novem- Der cast their votes for the democratic ticket.