Evening star., 1923-12-16
HOT FIGHTS OPEN
|NSOUTH DAKOTA
Johnson-C Coolidge, McAdoo-
Ford and Sterling -McMas-
ter Contests On.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to Tho Star.
SIOUX FALLS. s. D., December Is.
South Dakota may not cut much
figure In the outcome of the contest
for President OF the United States at
the election in November of next
year, but during the coming 100 days
national attention will be attracted
to 1t because of the battle royal
which will be waged between Nc
Adoo and Ford forces on the demo-
cratic side, and the Coolidge and
Hiram Johnson supporters on the re-
publican side, for a victory at the
The primary election In South Da-
kota- coming so early and at a time
when things will be shaping up for
the presidential battle throughout
the United States, Is expected to! show
the drift of sentiment in the demo-
cratic ranks as between McAdoo and
Ford and in the republican ranks as
between the Coolidge and Hiram
Johnson sentiment.
While the Coolidge supporters IN
South Dakota obtained a majority
Endorsement of President Coolidge at
the state proposal meeting held De-
cember 4, the supporters of Senator
Hiram Johnson will not abide by the
result of the state convention, but
will make a fight to secure major
ity of the republican votes for Sena-
tor Johnson at the March primary
election. Should they succeed, the
South Dakota delegates to the re-
publican national convention would
be bound, under the state law, to vote
at least three times in the national
convention for Hiram Johnson, when
they would be free to vote for any
presidential candidate they wished to
support other than Senator Johnson,
should the first three votes show that
Johnson could not be nominated to
the presidency.
Senator Johnson, realizing the i'm
portance OF victory in South Dakota,
will como TO South Dakota well be-
fore the primary election in March
and make q series OF addresses.
Tho supporters Of President Cool
idge in the meantime will not be in
active, and express confidence that q
ma jority of the republican voters at
the March primary election will in
dorse the action of the republican
state proposal meeting.
Much the same situation exists in
South Dakota as between the demo-
Gratis who favor McAdoo and those
who favor Henry Ford as the demo-
cratic candidate for President. The
majority democrats indorsed McAdoo
at tnelr Stdt6 proposal meeting, Wnlle
the minority stands for the nomina-
ton of Henry Ford The two fac
tions will wage an aggressive battle
with the object OF winning a victory
at the March primary.
In addition to the battle over pres
idential candidates the republicans OF
South Dakota also will. during the
campaign eliminating in the primary
election in March, stage q hot fight
over the United States Senatorship.
Senator Thomas Sterling Is q candi-
date for denomination by the repub-
licans. The republican state proposal
meeting by a majority OF less than
5000 out of q total vote OF nearly
$4,000 cast by, the delegates to the
convention indorsed the candidacy of
Gov. W.. H. MoMaster for the United
States senatorship.
Supporters of Senator Sterling
charge that the full force OF state
patronage was utilised against their
candidate.
That there will be a battle royal
between supporters OF Senator Ster-
ling and Gov. McMaster only second
in Importance to that between sup
porters OF President Coolidge and
Hiram johnson is assured. Gov. Nc
Master declared for Hiram johnson
for President, while Senator Sterling
is g strong supporter. Of President
ALFRED BuRKHoIDER