The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-01-27
SOME GOSSIP OF
STATE POLITICS
SPECULATION ON CONFERENCE
AT HURON.
. GOVERNOR TO BE NAMED
ONE ELEMENT SAID TO BE URIC.
ING RICHARDS OF HURON.

A dispatch to the Sioux City Jour.
nal from Pierre gives the following in.
teresting gossip on the political situa.
ton in South Dakota.
The question which just at present
is agitating the minds political in this
state is, what is to be the outcome of
the stalwart conference at Huron on
the first of February. 1t 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 de-
sire, but want a campaign devoid of
the bitterness and f~actionism of two
years ago. The outcome Of the Huron
meeting will no doubt depend largely
on which element is in control at
Huron.
The situation at present seems to
~revolve around the go%vernorship.
While other official positions are oc-
casioually brought out, the discussions
over the situation invariably center
on that n position. Just at the
present time it looks like a case of
Wesley against the field, with the back
ers Of the field hunting for what looks
like a winner to put into the race.
While this feeling is largely among
the old line stalwarts, it also exists
among some of the disappointed pro-
gressives, who have not been satisfied
with all Vessey has so far done in his
first term. The indication at the pres
ent appears to be that the stalwart
conference will settle upon either E..
l.. Abel of Huron, or ex-Gov. Elrod
of Clark, as their choice, with the in
dications looking toward the selection
of Abel. On the other hand, there
is a rumor that the radicals in the
stalwart ranks will ask for the en-
dorsement of r. 0. Richards at the
Huron conference, under the belief
that Richards will bring over a, num-
Der of the votes of the opposition fac
ton through the workings of his pri-
mary league.
If Richards really gets into the fight
1t is possible that he will cut into the
Vessey strength to some extent, but
the governor will probably draw to
himself enough of the stalwart 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 peo-
pie 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. Wick
hem Of Alexandria, as possible stan
dard bearers of their party for the
governOrship, but when they come to
gather around the board may find
someone else who will be either more
likely or more "willin'."
For lieutenant governor F M. Byrne
OF Faulk county, is looked pom as
the most probable candidate of the
progressives, and J.. w. Parmley of Ed
mundS. is being boosted as a candi-
date of the stalwarts for that place.
The congressional situation is yet
much in the air, and with Martin and
Burke asking for the denomination.
it is a question who the progressives
will put up in opposition. The only
issue which has been raised against
either of them as yet is "Cannonism,"
and it looks as If Uncle Joe intends
to eliminate himself as an issue, and
in such case, the issue will lose it's
force before the campaign comes on.
About the only state issue which ap-
pears to have made itself apparent
in the campaign so far is one of ex-
pense of operation of the state. The
stalwarts claim they turned over the
state affairs to the insurgents three
years ago, practically out of debt, and
that the extravaganza Of the admin
istrations Of Cows. Crawford and YES
sey have run up a debt of practically
81, 900, 900.