Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-02
HOT FIGHT AHEAD

il
The calling of conference Of the
bull moosers of South Dakota At Nit
chell on April Is for the avowed pur-
pose of placing complete congress
sional and state ticket in the field
will add interest to campaign which
promises to possess number of i'm
portant features, and which doubt.
less will be one of the hottest cam
paigns ever waged in South Dakota.
1t is known that the democrats of
the state are preparing to take full
advantage of the alleged sore spots
which have been left as the result Of
the recent hot fight between the two
republican factions for success at the
primary election on March "a. While
the old line republicans of the state
succeeded in nominating their can
didate, Charles n. Burke, to the
United States senate, this one office
will be the only representation they
will have on the congressional and
state ticket which will come before
the voters of the state at the election
in November.
The election of Ed. S. Johnson to
the United States senatorship is al
most certain to be the outcome; he is
strong administration man, and
thousands of republicans will vote
for him for the reason that he can and
will boost South Dakota into promin-
ence. and secure a great many i'm
provements and other benefits to the
state, which no other can bring to us.
Democrats Are Hopeful
The certainty that the bull moosers
Will have candidate in the field for
all offices, including that Of governor,
and with the possibility that r. O.
Richards, of Huron, independent
progressive republican candidate for
nomination at the recent primary
election to the Office of governor, will
become an independent candidate for
the governorship and contest with
Gov. Byrne for victory at the No
vember election, will greatly compli-
cate the situation, and, because Of
these opposing candidates all draw
ing their votes from the republican
party of the state, the democrats be-
lieve they have the chance Of q life
time to s'put over" their candidate
for governor.
The democratic newspapers Of the
state in their current issues intimate
that hot fight will be made by them
against Gov. Byrne and that they
will make the most of the alleged al.
lance between Gov. Byrne and the
Homestake mine interests in the Black
Hills, Gov. Byrne having received
majority of more than 1000 at the
primary election in Lawrence county
where the Homestake mine is located.
and which yields a powerful influence
among the voters of the county.
The democrats figure that bull
moose candidate for governor will
draw thousands Of votes from Gov.
Byrne and that if r. O. Richards en-
ters the field as an independent re-
publican candidate for the governor
| ship, himself and the bull moose can
didate will draw enough republican
votes from Gov. Byrne to defeat him.
Wilson May Deliver Speech
In futherance of the democratic plans
it yet is believed that at the critical
part of the coming campaign
President Wilson can be prevailed upon
to come to South Dakota and make ct
least one speech in behalf of the demo-
/ cratic candidates and that Secretary
Bryan, who always has been exceed
ingly popular with the democrats Of
South Dakota, also will come to the
state and make rumber Of speeches
in behalf of the democratic candidate.
Although the speaking campaign Of
Mr.. Richards extended over only about
two weeks Immediately prior to the
primary election, he captured many
thousands Of votes in the state, the
strength developed by him coming as q
great surprise to his opponents. It
even is believed in some quarters that
had his speaking campaign extended
over month or two he might have
captured the republican nomination for
governor. 1t is s:;d that if he enters
the field as an independent republican
candidate for election to the Office Of
governor at the November election he
will make a more extended campaign
and might easily play havoc with the
regular republican candidate.
AS yet there has not been much dis
cussion as to the identity Of the men
who will be selected to make up the
bull moose congressional and state
ticket. For the United States SENATOR
ship there is possibility that either
Richard Franklin Pettigrew, former
i United States senator from South Da-
kota, or John Sutherland Of Pierre.
will be selected to make the race . the
bull moose candidate for election to the
L. H. a -