The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1912-05-17
DEMOCRATS In
REAL CONTEST

Extract from Minneapolis Journal)
Redheld, S. D., April 27.-The princi.
! pal contest in the Democratic camp
centers in the nomination of governor,
( with e. g. Johnson of Yankton on the
one side and p. f. Wickhem of Alex
dndria on the other. Both men meas
/ ure up TO the requirements of the
/ Office. Mr.. Johnson has been power
(, in Democratic councils for many years
In the old convention days he and his
brother were decided factors In shap-
ing platforms and making states. For
! years he resided in Douglas county,
and the Democracy came to have a
! strong following there. His wife's
health failing, he removed to the
Black Hills in the hope that higher
altitude would be beneficial to her.
| After her death, he returned to the
scenes of his former home on the east
side of the Missouri river, and is now
a resident of Yankton.
/ Mr.. Wickhem belongs to the old
school OF Democrats and has the back
Ing of such old line party men as Bow
Ter OF Sioux Falls, former Congress
man Kelley and others. He is popu-
lar among the pioneers and the older
Democrats and his fight with Mr. John.
son seems to be largely between the
younger and the new Democracy ON
the one side and the old organization
on the other. The Johnson men are
r. 10
The Wickhem men, while friendly to
Wilson, are credited with a leaning
toward Champ Clark.
The Wiekhem men maintain for
| their candidate sort of right of emil
rent domain because of long allegiance
TO the party, in times, too, when little
or nothing was to be gained In the
fight they were making. They deny
the charge of the Johnson men that
their leader is a reactionary. The
.Iohnsonites contend they are the only
simon pure progressives within the
party and point to the fact that Wick
hem opposed Bryan in 1896.
Mr.. Wickhem held federal appoint.
ment under the Cleveland administra-
tion and Johnson followers say he was
naturally governed by the wishes of
! Els chief and men like Mr.. Bowler,
Mark Sheafe and others who held ap-
pointments under that administration
and not only sympathized with but
threw their support to the so called
Palmer-Buckner boilers in that cam
paign.
For Johnson it Is maintained he
demonstrated his progressiveness by
abandoning Republicanism for Bryan
ism in 1896, and, further, that he has
ever remained loyal to the peerless
leader" furnishing his latest testi-
monial at the meeting of the national
committee at Washington in January
last when he supported Mr.. Bryan In
his effort to oust Guffey OF Pennsyl-
vania as member of the committee.
Mr.. Johnson appears to be in the
I lead at the present stage of the con-
test. 1t is asserted he not only has
the support of forty out Of the forty
! FIVE Democratic papers In the state,
I hut that his nomination is being urged
by hundreds Of active party workers
all over the state, mostly young pro-
6ressive Democrats who are not in
! nuenced by federal plums but who
want to land their chosen leader in
the governors chair and who are am
bilious to see their state In the same
class as North Dakota, Nebraska and
others in the Northwest which have
elected Democratic governors.
Both sides have thorough organi-
sation and are making still hunt for
votes. Both believe that II the Demo
rrats unite they will have a chance OF
electing the governor. AS means to
this end each has full ticket for the
primaries in June. Candidates have
been put up In each congressional dis
trict so that the interest locally may
be kept alive.
With either Egan or Byrne as the
Republican candidate, Democrats pro-
Tess to believe they will have a show.
II the former Is nominated they ex-
lpcct thousands Of Republicans to bolt.
The latter. they contend, will make a
weak candidate. Many progressives.
they say, are jealous of Byrne and
look askance, while the so called stall
warts will have no heart In his cam
raign.
Johnson promises II nominated to
make rousing campaign-such as the
Democrats of South Dakota have never
before seen. He will canvass every
county and will be seconded on the
Etump by Fl. F. Pettigrew. the Demo
cratic candidate for the United States
senate.
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