Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-18
Wesley FIRES FIRST Gun
Governor Of South Dakota Opens pro
gressive" Campaign at C~enterville.
RICHARDS VIEW OF ISSUES
Executive Committee Of stalwGrts
Meets At Aberdeen ana Organizes
another View OF the
Isauea.

HURON, s. D., March 17.-tspeeial.)-
Mr.. r. o. Richards, chairman OF tho pro
aresaive republican campaign committee
was seen at headquarters today ana an
nounoed that everything is now ready fer
opening Of the progressive primary oam-
paiRn. Governor Vessey addressed the first
county conference for organization pur-
noses on Tuesday afternoon at Centervtle'
The issues Of the campaign between the
stalwarts and the progressives have sim
roared down 70 two propositions. Mr..
Richards said;
,arhe state financial issue was thrsshed
out two years ago ana both factions have
since declared In their respective platforms
for keeping state expenditures within the
state revenues in the future, SO there Is no
disagreement as to policy in this respect
which really wipes out that issuei the
people having through their legislative
representative authorized, and at the polls
endorsed. what has been expended for
needed state buildings In excess OF state
revenues.
The two remaining issues raised by the
difference In platforms are as followsi
First. Shall the stalwart congressman,
Martin, and Burke, who for the last ten
wears nave stood with the annon
nOlilV OF DIOIGCLlOn OI WhN0lV
hon and organized graft, without a protest,
be- reelected and continued 70 represent
this AGRICULTURAL state at washington oi
shall two new progressive congressnlen ".
nosed 10 that policy be elected In their
Mace. This Is the congressional issue
Second. Shall the stalweEt practice OF ths
personal spells system. when mas $1,000 he
continued or shall a legal party meth9S as
TO party nominations to appolhINe n ~
be made part OF the prlma.y HM oun IN
their platform, While the progressive plSt-
form declares specifically Tor IT, AehSe, u u
stalwarts stand committed 70 a rnssiues
OF the spoils system while the progressive
stand committed against the c~onuhuhncs
OF the spoils system with q party reOa"
added, These are the Issues.
THE ataiwarts with certain allied interests
arc pursuing q still hunt campaign, os-
tensibly for a come-together scnene uhuer
cover: while the progressives VIII wage III
omen educational campaign based on PrIn-
oiples and will try to smoke the
staIvart Committee Organizes.
ABERDEEN, S. D., March l~L-(6pecial)
The executive committee OF the ]
republlcan organization, consisting OF one
committeeman from each county met at
ABERDEEN yesterday with John c. Simmons
chairman Of the committee. A number OF
candidates Of that faction for state office
were also present. Candidates and com
mftteemen expressed confidence In the out
come at the primary election in June, the
general feeling being that the insurgents
had committed a fatal error In placing X
q. Richards Of Huron In supreme COM
mand. after Richards had denounced Gov
ernor Vessey as being untrue to the prln-
oiples Of the progressives, and Governor
Vessey in turn had denounced Richards as
a victim Of chagr1n and hatred because ne
could not boss the state administration
Chairman Simmons has as his secretary
Tom Roberts. former private secretary 70
Senator Kittredge, while Dick Halliday,
editor CT the Iroquois Chief and former
state auditor, Is in charge Of the stalwart
press bur. au.
The stalwarts, in addition TO attacking
the alleged compact between Wesley and
Richards, by which they claim Richards
rather than Vessey, will be the real gov
ernor OF South Dakota-the power behind
the throne-if the progressives WIN are
also attacking the alleged extravaganza Of
the present administration which It Is
charged. has spent over SL.5OO,O00 more
during the first year Of its inoumbency Of
the executive offices of the state than the
Elrod administration expended during his
two years term.
The progressives, however, are not at
tempting to defend their alleged extrava-
gance. They simply stand pat" and
claim the growth Of the state demands the
increased cost Of the state government,
which, they state, is sill lower per
capita, than that OF any state Of similar
population.
The campaign. so far, has been COM
paratively free from the bitterness which
characterised former faetional contests
within the party in South Dakota, but both
factions are nevertheless very much in
earnest. and the fight will not be de
cided until the ballots are counted In June.
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