The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-02-18
LITTLE TALK OF
JOHNSON PROBE
FETTIGREW'S ALLEGATION OF
MISUSE OF FUNDS BY SEN
ATOR ELECT CAUSES
LITTLE STIR.

Sioux Falls, S. D.-19ecent init
nations in Washington dispatches
TO the effect hat ex-senator Petit
grew, of South Dakota. was endeavor
Ing to have an investigation made OF
the election of f. S. johnson, demo-
cratic United States s~enator-elect
from South Dakota, who will take
his seat on March 4, have apparently
attracted little attention in South
Dakota outside of members OF a
small faction of democrats hostile to
Mr.. johnson and among some repub-
licans who have not recovered from
the shock caused by the election of
a democrat to the United States SEN
ate from the republican state of
South Dakota,
Friends of the United Senator-el-
ect are outspoken in their belief that
the action of ex-senator Pettigrew
in seeking to have the election of Mr..
Johnson investigated on the ground
that undue use of money was made,
is due solely to personal animosity
against Senator-Elect Johnson, grow
ing out of the fight in 1912 for the
election OF delegates to the democrat
~ lldliOildl SOINcilllOil. lHCS POillt
out that at that time ex-senator Pet
tigrew posed as a democrat and
worked early and late for a delega-
ton from South Dakota which would
favor the nomination of Champ Clark
as the democratic standard-bearer in
the national campaign. Senator-Elect
johnson and his friends favored the
nomination of Woodrow Wilson, and
captured the delegation from South
Dakota to the national convention.
They claim that ex-senator Pettigrew
has never forgiven this defeat.
NJ. NJ. Bennett, of Yankton, a
warm personal friend of Senatorial
ect johnson, in discussing the effort
now being made by ex-senator Pet
tigrew gives utterance to the follow
ing as showing the views of the
Johnson supporters with reference to
the attempt to have Mr.. Johnson's
election investigated:
LAS far as Mr.. Johnson's election
is concerned, the means employed to
bring it about were above reproach
so far as | am ware and, II anyone
has a suspicion to the contrary, he
shohld investigate it to his hearts
content. Mr.. johnson is net avcrsf
to having the conduct of the cam
paign gone into thoroughly.
What money al spent was use1
for legitimate purposes, much OF II
being paid out for advrtising space
in newspapers at regular commercial
rates. Mr.. Johnson was not prlvl-
legged to send out his campaign plea
to every voter of the state at gov
eminent expense, as was his oppoh-
ent, MI. Burke, SO he was compelled
to nav for such circulariZing out OF
his own pocket.
"No support was purchased, either
with money or offices, as Pettigrew
and some of his sympathizers aver,
and the only thing that the latter
can hope to gain by their cutlery Is
Ito throw the faint of suspicion on a
man who has had the courage tc
fight them to a successful finish, lof
his convictions.
Black Hills Congressional District
A recent dispatch from Deadwood
contained interesting information
in reference to the congressional slt-
! uation in the Third or Black Hllls
district, with reference to next years
battle in the district for congress,
which will open during the closing
days of the coming summer.
1t was intimated in the dispatch
that John G. Bart;ne, of Lyman coun-
tv. who had been one OF the repub-
lican candidates for nomination to
congress from the district at the
primary election last year. would
probably not be a candidate for con
gress next year if Judge William VIII
Hanson, of the state circuit court OF
the Gregory county dls-
trict, decided to become Il candidate
the inference conveyed in the dis.
patch being that Mr.. Bartine would
not oppose Judge Williamson.
Information received from a trust
worthy source in the Third distrlc,
lis to the effect that Judge Bartine
would not stand aside for Judge VIII
Hanson, and his friends believe tina,
he again will be an active candidate
for the congressional nomination on
the republican ticket. They point Cut
.that at the primary election last yea
The carried every county j N the eas'
half of the district, including inc
counties of Lyman, Trip, Mellette
Gregory. Dewey and Perkins, II II
is believed this fact would have great
weight in inducing him to enter tht
field for congress next year shoule
no decide to again become an active
..,I;l,to Ha