Evening star., 1924-09-24
LAF0LLETTELEAD
IN s. D. TRACED TO
APATHY Of RIVALS
G. o. P. Drive Finally Starts
After State Candidates Get
Behind Coolidge.
DEFLATlON MEMORIES
HARD ON REPUBLICANS
Manipulation to Get Farmer Vote
Is Seen in Produce Price
Gains.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
Stsff Correspondent OF The Star.

SIOUX FALLS, September "a
South Dakota, if the election were to-
day, would cast it's electoral vote for
la Toilette and Wheeler. This. de-
spite the fact that the farmers are in
better condition than they have been
for years, and the added fact that the
Republican leaders, Gov. McMaster,
Senator Norbeclx and others, who have
maintained a mastery silence until
recently with regard to the national
ticket, now appear to have climbed on
the Coolidge Dawes band wagon.
The election. however, is not being
held today, and what will happen on
November 4, 1924, is still in a measure
q conundrum, largely SO because up
until now the campaign for the Re
publ;cans has been apathetic, to say
the least Leading Republicans and
the more common or garden variety
with whom l have talked in this State
admit they have hard row to hoe.
They are hopeful, however, that with
an intensive campaign they VIII be
able to swing South Dakota for Cool
idge. Hopeful is the word rather than
confident.
"It is time to stop pussy-footinS
and % get into this campaign whole
said He admitted that the candi-
dates for office. including the Gov
ernor, have been too much inclined
70 deal gently with the La Toilette
and F'armer-Labor supporters and
their proposals. The reports coming
from all parts of the State indicate
that La Toilette is very strong with
the farmers and with the laborine
men and women
Dawes Speech Gets Action.
When Gen. Dawes. the Republican
nominee for Vice President. delivered
a speech here recently for the first
time Gov. McMaster announced that
lie expected to support the Coolldge
and Dawes ticket. Also Senator Nor
beck in speech from the same plat
form, said he would support the
ticket Now both of these gentlemen
had supported Hiram Johnson for
the presidential nomination - ana
Hiram Johnson was running against
Coolidge as a Progressive. The fact
that these leaders have hung back
until so late has been a detriment TO
the Republican party and its chances
in the State, it is said. Furthermore,
the Endorsement given at the Dawes
meeting here by the governor was
not SO enthusiastic as to start con-
fiagration.
However, the Republicans have
been heartened consider ably by these
statements and hope that both Nc
Master and Norbeck will get into the
campaign in earnest now for the ma
tional ticket.
Price Rise Helps G. o. p.
The improvement in prices for
farm products has helped the sltua-
ton somewhat for the Republicans,
there can be no doubt. When man
has been in pain and the pain is
suddenly removed a tremendous feel
ing of relief surges through him. He
is content for the moment to leave
things alone. This is the feeling
that the Republicans are counting
on now that the farmers troubles
have been relieved. But the farm
ers, many of them are like children
who have been too close to the fire
and were burned. They are anxious
not to be burned again. And ~they
do not mean TO be, they say. if they
can help it.
IF the Coolidge administration is
responsible for the improved condl-
tions of the farmer one old farmer
remarked. why in heck didn't they
turn on the prosperity spigot two or
three years ago?"
This is the attitude of many. They
see better times, but they are not
convinced that better times are due
to the Republicans. The Non-Partisan
Ieaguers have preached so often in
this part of the country that prices
are manipulated by the interests and
the spectators that many of the
people take stock in the charges
being made by Wheeler that small
group of interests has inflated prices
temporarily just to get the farmer
vote for the Republicans. And if
the Republicans are going to win
they have got to eradicate that kind
of belief.
Democratic Chance Slight.
The race here is between the Re-
publicans and the independent pro-
gressives so far as the national cleo
tion is concerned. The Democrats
are making a show of strength for
Davis. but many of them admit there
is practically no chance of Davis and
Bryan carrying the State. In fact,
they are saying privately that many
of the progressive Republicans whom
they would like to see going
to the aid OF the Democratic party
are heading straight for the La Fol-
Iette camp, and. as the State has been
strongly Republican. it is only
through Republican votes that the
Democrats could hope to win.
Tho Republicans. on the other hand,
say that many of the progressive
Democrats are going to vote for La
Toilette, and claim, too, that some
Of the conservative Democrats will
support Coolidge. The sum total Of
tho progressive Republicans and the
progressive Democrats who will sup
port La Toilette will be very consid-
cradle.
Problem EconomIc.
The problem in South Dakota is not
only political but economic. This is
true of the situation in all the north
western States. But it applies par
ticularly to this State. The popula-
tion in South Oak kota is largely rural
or the $4,000 inhabitants, probably
only about 10000 live in cities of
5000 or over. The rest live in the
smaller towns, the villages and on
the farms. Agriculture is the great
industry So, when the farmers, who
had been on the crest of the wave,
were suddenly Debated" and farm
land values went to pot, many peo-
pie saw their savings swept away.
They were broke" Land values had
CONTINUED . Page 3. Column ~