The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-09-23
THE SENATORsH|P
Wagner's Candidacy Enlivens
the Situation
Chief Opponent

nouncement of E. E. Wagner. of this
city. formerly United States attorney
for South Dakota. of his candidacy for
election 10 the United States senate as
the successor of Senator Crawford. tie
senatorial fight in South Dakota now
can be said to have opened. Keen in
terest Ia being displayed in the detailed
announcement which is expected to
be made ia the near future by MI.
Wagner. He will SET fcith the prin-
ciples for which he stands and which
will serve rs the platform upon which
he will ask the voters OF South Dakota
to send him to Washington.
Mr.. Wagner il one nf the. brainiest
of the prominent men of South Dakota.
and ID is conceded by his political OPP
ponents that he will prove to be one of
the strongest and most aggressive can
didates who ever have come before the
voters of the state for political prefer
ment.
Those who have carefully gone over
the situation delare that Senator
Crawford is not = strcng with the
/ voters OF the state as he was when
! originally elected TO the United States
senate. By his vote for the Payne
Aldrich tariff bill he alienated u con-
siderable number of his former sup
porters, who, following the announce.
ment of his vote on this measure. did
not hesitate to openly denounce him
as q fake reformer.
Senator Crawford on several occa-
sions during the past year or two, and
even as late as the fore part Of this
month, when he made a political ad-
dress at the state fair at Huron, took
occasion to make vicious personal as
saults upon q number Of the most
prominent men of the state because
they are opposed to him. These at
tacks. the anti Crawfordites say, were
simply invitations tc the men assailed
to take an active part in the fight
to bring about the downfall of Soma
tor Crawford. Ii is said that rs q
result of these bitter personal attacks
there Is a keen whetting OF knives In
different parts of the state prelimin-
airy to the men assaulted taking an
active part in the senatorial fight, with
the object and determination Of doing
their utmost toward aiding in lifting
the political scalp Of Senator Crawford.
While Fl. L. Loucks, of WATERFOWL,
has announced bis candidacy for cleo
tion az the success or of Senator Craw-
ford. the chief fight will bs between
Mr.. Wagner and Senator Crawford,
both Of whom are progressive republi-
cans and have been identified with
that branch of the republican party
Of South Dakota since it was organ
lied. six or eight years ago.
There has been Y great deal Of Cos
sip to the effect that Congressman
Martin would become a candidate
against Senator Crawford. but usually
well informed politicians express the
opinion that Congressman Martin will
not enter the senatorial lists. but
content himself with seeking \ re-
nomination and reelection to the
house Of representatives. where he has
boone q power and where he can &C
complish more good for the state than
would be possible in the upper
branch.
In the event that Congressman Mar
tin did enter the senatorial contest
he would divide with Mr.. Wagner
the anti Crawford vote and thus in
directly aid the cause of Senator Craw-
ford. But discussion. Of Mr. Martin az
q senatorial candidate is believed to be
idle, and it is believed the way will
be clear for all anti Crawford rspubli-
cans in South Dakota to unite upon
Mr.. Wagner a. the candidate who
stands The bettsr chance q bringinv