Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-08-19
POLITICAL LINE-FoRMING IN PROCESS.

Political Ino-forming for the Forthcoming primary campaign is
in process Of development.
The alignment, within the republican party, has not been dein-
IteIy disclosed, but it seems probable that the old line of cleavage
which has divided the party heretofore viii be eliminated in a large
Lieutenant Governor Peter Norbeck, while having made no for
NAL announcement, is conceded to be the leading candidate for the
goTernorshir 1t appears likely that Congressman Royal G. John
1t IS Significant !" a way, that former '"itrd states senator
|Ce l. Crawford, in declining to become a candidate for governor
and better men at The head Of state affairs. This indicates opposition
to Norbeck, and also to Governor Byrne.
The extent to which Mr. Egan, whosewandpIHy for the guberua-I
torial nomination has already been formally announced, will com
plicatc the situation remains to be seen. Mr. Hgan is a magnetic
There is a persistent rumor that Former Lieutenant Governor
Abel of Huron will also be in the field for the yovernorship. From
the standpoint Of the Norbeck candidacy, it would seem more de-
srabIe that Egan be actively i'll the race than to be lending the
weight Of his influence to another.
In the candidacy of both Egan and Abel, although they may not
be said to represent interests in common Mr., Norbeck will probably
all the elements opposed to the Rcdfeld gentleman, to encompass hist
But South Dakota has shown that a nomination is not necessar-
lily equivalent to an election. After the convcntion-then what?
Perhaps it may not be out of place to say that ii movement is already
under way, in which democratic managers arc the leading spirits,
to nominate a democrat for governor who will be able to command
" certain following within the republican party, as johnson rallied
1914, although from a different source; SO that neither of the leadI
ing elements within the party can lay claim t" unwavering loyalty
The element that in the main will lead the Norbeck fight in the
next primary was largely responsible for the throwing of the state
sition, including the Egan following, caused Governor Byrne to have
a close cal" at the polls the same year
The cry Of party loyalty, therefore, would not seem to rest
very heavily upon the shoulders Of the electorate. The element or
faction that shall first raise it in the next campaign will find itself in
the position Of the pot calling the kettle black.
1t is too early to forecast results in detail, but it is safe to say
that nobody (unlcSs it be Royal G. johnson for rongress) is out Of the
woods yet. A republican nomination, despite the tremendous repub-
lent to an an election elect " If President wilson should again lead e the demo-
cratic party there is no certainty that he win not carry South Dakota
publican nominee for governor will be under the handicap of the
Wilson personality with all the American sentiment adverse to war
lending him its loyal support, even though divided along party
If we were to hazard a guess, which we decline to do, we should
say that the man who wins the governorship in South Dakota in 1916
will know that he has been in a fight.