Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-25
EYES ON HURON CONFERENCE
South Dakota Politicians Watching
Meeting Of Stalwsrts.
TWO ELEMENTS IN FIGHT
Radicals want TO Renew old Fac
tionRl Row, while CONSERVATIVES
Would Heal wOunds-Richards
for Vessey's Opponent.

question which Just at present Is agitating
the minds political in this state is what
lie to be the outcome Of the stalwart con-
ference at Huron February 1. Ut Is a we'll
known secret that the radicals among the
stalwarts desire to repeat the bitter fight
OF two years ago in the primaries, while
the conservatives among that faction have
no such a desire, but want a campaign de-
void OF the bitterness and factionalism Of
two years ago. The outcome of the Huron
meeting will no doubt depend largely upon
which element Is in control.
The situation at present seems to revolve
around the governorship. While other Of
flcial positions are occasionally brought
out in the discussions the situation in
variabcy centers on that one position. Just
at the present time 1t looks like a case OF
vessey against the field, with the hackers
Of the field hunting for what looks like
a winner to put In the race. While this
feeling is largely, among the old line stall
warts, It also exists among SOM Of the
disappointed progressives, who have not
been satisfied with all Governor Vessey
has so far done in his first term. The
indication at the present appears to be
that the stalwart conference will. settle
upon either e. L. Abel of Huron or Ex-
Governor Elrod Of Clark as their choice,
with the indications looking toward the
selection of Abel. on the other hand there
is a rumor that the radicals in the stall
wart ranks will ask for the endorsement Of
II. o. Richards at the Huron conference,
under the belief that ichards will bring
over a number of the votes Of the oppo-
sition faction through the workings of his
primary league.
Richards Appears willing.
The position of richards himself up to the
present is one OF Barkis, II his papers are
to be considered in any way rejecting his
persona. views. He has neither announced
himself as a candidate nor denied that he
will ask for the place, his position 50
far being that Governor Vessey has not
made good as a Candidate of the people"
and that someone should be selected who
will do the will of the people in the gov
ernor's chair. If he really gets into the
fight 1t Is possible that he will cut into
the Vessey strength to some extent, . but
the governor vii. probably draw to him
self enough Of the staiwart vote of two
years ago to offset any loss he would
suffer in that direction.
The only other republican" candidate is
George w. Egan of Sioux Falls. who is a
spectacular platform orator, and who has
started to warm up the people for the June
campaign, making his first talk in his
campaign at Mitchell a few days ago, and
whose strength is as much of a problem
now as it was last summer, although it
appears to be somewhat on the wane.
The democrats are talking e. s. Johnson
Of Rapid City or p. F. Wickham of Alex
andria as possible standard bearers of their
party for the governorship. but when they
come to gather around the board they may
find some one else who will be either more
likely or more willing"
Second Place Candidates.
For lieutenant governor, F. M. Byrne of
Faux, county is looked upon as the most
probable candidate of the progressives, and
J. w. Parmley of Edmunds is being boosted
as a candidate of the stalwarts for that
place.
The congressional situation is yet much
in the air, and with Martin and Burke ask
ing for the denomination, it is a question
who the progressiyes will put in opposi-
ton. The only issue which has been raised
against either Of them as yet is Cannon
ISM and it looks as If Uncle Joe intends to
eliminate himself as an issue, and in such
case the issue which has been raised will
lose it's force before the campaign comes on.
No one has as yet announced himself in
opposition to either George Johnson, the
stalwart treasurer, nor to c.. S. Policy, the
progressive secretary Of state. This may
be "remedied" before the days get much
longer.
For the state land department, ]. E. Tru-
ran, the present deputy In that department,
and F. F. Brinker of Lake county have so
far announced their candidacy, neither
allying himself as a fractional candidate,
but only as republican.
The situation 30 far as superintendent of
instruction is concerned appears to be set
tling down between c. II. Lugg of Hutch
inson, who is classed with the stalwart fac
tion, and c. G. Lawrence of Lincoln, who
is classed as an %insurgent and being doomed
as a counter-lrritant to the candidacy of
George Johnson, talwart treasurer, from
that county.
So far the johnson" element In the cam
paign appears to be confined to the candi-
dacy OF George Johnson of Lincoln for
treasurer, Royal c. Johnson OF Hyde for
attorney general, and John M. Johnson of
Lyman. who wants to be state auditor.
Economy Sole Issue.
About the only state issue which appears
to have made itself apparent in the cam
paign so far is one OF expense of operation
VI Tue bldtSs Ahp eAhlNaA - CldlhA bhNg
turned over the state affairs to the insur-
gents three years ago practically out Of
debt and that the extravaganza Of the
administrations OF Governors raYford and
Vessey have run up a debt OF practically
100000. This, they claim, is unwarranted,
and that II they had been left in control
Of affairs such a condition would not have
existed. They lay the increase TO the Gre
alton OF a lot Of new offices. The pro-
gressiYes' answer TO this is that out of
the increase in Indebtedness over 500. 900
is in improvements and buildings at the
different state institutions, which must be
kept up to meet the growth Of the state;
that any new offices created are fee
offices and have no bearing on state in
debtedness; hat there is bound to be an
increase in state expenditures as the state
grows, and that the increase in this line
has been but a little over $4,000 in the
time since they took control OF affairs. and
that such increase would nave been in
evitable under any management. some OF
the "mino prophets Of the progressive
wing of the party attempt to excuse in
creased expenditures through the cost of