History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 93

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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It became clear during the summer and fall of 1891 that the state was wholly and absolutely under the political domination of the populists and that H. L. Loucks as its authorized head and front was the principal character to be reck- oned with by the republicans and democrats. At this time the populist move- ment swept the country. It cannot now be called a craze in the light of history. It was a movement, more or less in the dark, for relief from political conditions and in the end was sustained not only by the so-called reformers of that day, but by many of the oldest and most experienced politicians and public men in all the states. Ingalls was defeated in Kansas just as Moody was defeated in South Dakota. It was a revolt against political conditions ; a change was demanded but the populists themselves were more or less in doubt how improvement could be inaugurated. In South Dakota as in Kansas and Nebraska every farmer had a remedy-could point out the cause and prescribe the medicine that would cure. It was this state of affairs that brought out the answer of William Allen White to the question, "What's the matter with Kansas?" when he said in substance that every old grumbler in the state, whittling on a dry-goods box at some country cross-roads, knew more about finance than John Sherman. "That's what's the matter with Kansas," he declared. Much the same condition prevailed here. All could diagnose the disease, prescribe the remedy and were willing to be employed at fat wages as the state family physician. But the diseases was there deep in the vitals of every political and industrial organization; how to cure was the problem. All looked to the Farmers' Alliance, the populist party and H. L. Loucks. Even the democrats looked to Loucks, because in fusion alone could they expect official favors and political advancement. Loucks himself was at all times opposed to fusion, but yielded in order to humble the pride and lower the power of the republicans.

The South Dakota Republican Association was organized this year with John H. King as president and George D. Fischer as secretary. Its object was the formation of clubs throughout the state to strengthen the republican cause.

The contest for congressman to take John Gamble's seat was fought out be- tween Jolley (republican), Smith (independent), and Woods (democrat). The vote in November stood: Jolley, 17,614; Smith, 14.587; Woods, 7,188. This election again proved that a fusion of the independents or populists and the democrats would result in success and the defeat of the republicans. The ycar

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before when John R. Gamble had been elected the vote stood-Gamble (republi- can), 34,555; Leavitt (independent), 24,847; Clark (democrat), 17,582.

At once in the United States Senate, for political reasons, Mr. Pettigrew did what he could to defeat the aims and acts of Mr. Kyle. Partly through his efforts Mr. Kyle received no committee assignment and little recognition by the Senate as a whole. Neither the democrats nor the republicans showed him much consideration, because they desired him to commit himself to one side or the other before they could or would act. He was regarded as an independent with demo- cratic tendencies or leanings and it was some time before he finally decided on a definite course or line of procedure. No member of the Senate questioned his honesty, ability or right to be there; but all refused to show him special favors until he had shown his colors. The populists claimed that Pettigrew showed him discourtesy, but the latter denied it and pointed out that Kyle had been elected largely by democratic votes, had been a democrat in the past though not recently, and that therefore he was presumed to be a democrat. At first Mr. Kyle tried as a matter of fact to gain favor with both sides of the chamber; but he soon learned that this scheme would not work. He was really powerless until he had hoisted his political flag. At times there were sharp words between Kyle and Pettigrew and between Pettigrew and Peffer of Kansas, the populist senator. Mr. Kyle was often called an indecrat, implying that he was both an independent and a democrat.

Perhaps the most noticeable political circumstance of the early part of 1892 was the rapid growth of the free silver movement throughout the state. The Bland Silver Bill was before Congress and all members were in sedulous com- munication with their constituents to learn what was wanted or what was to be expected. Pettigrew went over heart and soul to the free silver movement. No doubt he induced thousands to desert the old parties at this juncture and join the free silver army. The Mckinley Tariff Bill was another important measure, but on this, as was to be expected, the old parties divided as before.

The delegate convention of the state democracy was held at Yankton late in May, 1892. H. F. Fellows served as temporary chairman ; the temporary officers were made permanent. Bartlett Tripp, William Van Epps, A. W. Mullen, P. W. Wickham, John A. Boller, Peter Couchman, D. W. Flick and William R. Steele were elected delegates to the Democratic National Convention to be held at Chicago. Judge Tripp was made chairman of the delegation. A motion to instruct the delegation to support Maris Taylor of Huron for the South Dakota member of the Democratic National Committee was laid on the table. At this convention Peter Couchman was called the "Grand Old Man of South Dakota Democracy." The platform adopted reaffirmed the principles of the democratic party ; opposed sumptuary legislation; favored tariff reform; denounced the republican national administration; endorsed the doctrine that a public office is a public trust ; expressed faith in the wisdom and patriotism of Grover Cleveland ; and declared the belief that the best interests and honor of the state demanded that it should be represented at the World's Fair, Chicago. A movement in the convention to recommend Mr. Cleveland for renomination to the presidency was defeated. The convention really favored Mr. Boies of Iowa for that honor. All candidates for delegates in the convention, who favored Mr. Cleveland's

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

renomination, were defeated. It had become known that Mr. Cleveland was not a free silver man.

The delegate convention of the state prohibition party assembled at Water- town June 10th. The platform declared the liquor traffic the foe of civilization, the enemy of popular government and a public nuisance; endorsed woman suffrage; favored national control of railway and telegraph lines; declared that foreign immigration depressed wages and caused discontent ; opposed the owner- ship of land by aliens ; favored one day's rest in seven ; denounced speculation in food products; commended just pensions to Union soldiers; upheld the public school system; declared that the democratic and republican parties were respon- sible for the woes that afflicted the nation; endorsed protection and was silent on the silver question. Delegates to the national convention were nominated.

The independent state convention was held at Redfield June 2Ist, with Henry S. Volkman as temporary chairman. There was a large attendance and much enthusiasm. Loucks and Hassell were the principal speakers. It was about this time that Father Hair said that it might be necessary for the laboring men to use dynamite to overcome the plutocrats and corporations. This statement was referred to in the convention. Van Osdel, Smith and Howe were candidates for the nomination for governor. It was noted that many candidates had out their political lightning rods. After a sharp contest the following ticket was named: Governor, A. L. Van Osdel ; lieutenant-governor, M. M. Price ; secretary of state, C. G. Morgan ; treasurer, P. O. Peterson ; attorney-general, W. H. Curtis ; auditor, G. W. Evarts ; Congress, Larden and Kelly. Their platform was similar to that of the year before. The fact that they placed a full ticket in the field was accepted as partial proof that they would oppose fusion with the democrats. The nomination of General Weaver for the presidency met the approval of the independents.

The republican state convention met at Madison, July 21st, with Robert J. Gamble as temporary chairman and Colonel Silsby as permanent chairman. Sen- ator Pettigrew to a large degree dominated this body. Sheldon, Winslow, Taylor, Clough and Dollard were out for the gubernatorial nomination. After a close contest Sheldon won, though Winslow came close to victory at one time. The winner, C. H. Sheldon, was a farmer who had come to the territory in 1887 and was prominent and well liked. The other nominees were: C. N. Herreid, lieu- tenant-governor; Thomas Thorson, secretary of state; W. W. Taylor, treasurer; J. E. Hipple, auditor ; Coe I. Crawford, attorney-general; Cortez Salmon, state school superintendent ; Thomas H. Ruth, commissioner of school and public lands; Walter McKay, superintendent of labor statistics; congressmen, J. A. Pickler and W. V. Lucas ; presidential electors, George A. Silsby, John Brothers, C. J. Buell, George W. Kingsbury. The platform accepted the national party principles ; endorsed the administration of Governor Mellette; favored the double monetary standard; opposed all legislation hostile to the working classes; de- plored the conflict between labor and capital; predicted better times under the Mckinley tariff ; denounced the plank in the people's party platform that declared the country was on the verge of moral, political and material ruin ; favored reci- procity ; opposed speculation in agricultural products ; commended the manage- ment of the affairs of the General Land Office in securing titles for the settlers ; pledged suitable pensions for soldiers ; advocated a thorough revision of taxation

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in South Dakota; recommended better roads; demanded a registration law and the proper protection of the ballot; favored a postal telegraph and a postal sav- ings bank; recommended a reduction of express rates; favored the election of railroad commissioners by vote of the people, with power to establish local passenger and freight rates, and asked for such regulation of the state railroads as would insure absolute equality to all patrons. The renomination of President Harrison met the approval of South Dakota republicans.

The campaign of 1892 was one of the most strenuous in the history of the state. The attacks of the independents or populists on the methods and policies of the old parties opened all questions to inspection and placed before the people the real issues of that eventful year. It was a schoolhouse campaign, fought with intense earnestness and relentless pursuit and violent personal assaults. The ablest men of all four parties in the field took the stump and the people, more than ever before, turned out to hear the revolutionary issues discussed and to see the old political propaganda shattered and desecrated.

The question of fusion between the independents and the democrats was duly considered by both and was finally turned down, each maintaining and supporting a full ticket.

At the democratic state convention at Chamberlain September Ist, W. J. Quigley served at temporary chairman. His reference to Cleveland as the "unequalled statesman, honest and faithful patriot" was roundly applauded; he opposed fusion. The convention adjourned but reassembled as committee of the whole and discussed fusion. It was favored by such men as Bartlett Tripp, Colonel Steele, Colonel Shea, and Judge Brown, all of whom addressed the con- vention on the subject. It was finally resolved "that this convention place in nomination a full state ticket and presidential electors and that it be left optional with the state central committee to take out what portion of it they deem proper for the best interest of democracy." This was well understood to be an oppor- tunity for the establishment of fusion if it could be done advantageously to the democracy. Messrs. Quigley, Van Epps and Freudenfeld opposed fusion. A plank in the platform was as follows: "We are in favor of a resubmission to a vote of the people of article 24 of the constitution relating to prohibition. Until constitutional prohibition is repealed we advocate such a modification of the present prohibitory law as will best promote the welfare and good morals of our people. There was sharp opposition to this plank, but it was adopted with practical unanimity. A vote to reconsider was defeated and an appeal from the decision of the chair was made, but he was emphatically sustained. A resolution against the use of Pinkerton detectives in labor strikes was adopted. Tariff reform was vigorously demanded. The convention was ominously silent on the silver question. The following ticket was named: Governor, Peter Couchman; lieutenant governor, S. A. Ramsey; secretary of state, George Culver; treasurer, J. L. Norris ; attorney general, H. C. Walsh; auditor, J. E. Zieback ; commissioner of school and public lands, Anthony Keller; superintend- ent of labor and statistics, T. W. Leary ; superintendents of schools, D. S. Stiles ; congressmen, Chauncey Wood and L. E. Whicher; presidential electors, John Burke, Charles Kieth, L. S. Morgan and John Lefabre.

The prohibition state convention was held September 14th, among the dele- gates being four women. F. J. Walsh was chosen chairman. Among the lead-

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

ing speakers were Rowe, Fielder, Keene, Burdick and Palmer. Over the course to be pursued part of the convention bolted, withdrew, but returned and bolted again. M. B. Alexander was nominated for governor; other candidates were named. The platform favored prohibition, equal suffrage, equal pay to the sexes, free coinage of silver, tax on foreign importations, Government control of corporations, national Sunday law and resistance to resubmission.

It should be noted that in 1891 the republicans were divided into two fac- tions, one led by Senator Pettigrew and the other by Governor Mellette. The division was caused in a large measure by the question of an equitable division of the state officers. Senators Pettigrew and Moody agreed with Governor Mellette to secure the appointment of Mr. Edgerton to the United States district judgeship if he would withdraw from the race for the United State senatorship. To this agreement they were rigidly held by Governor Mellette, who went to Washington and threatened to make public the whole matter unless the appoint- ment of Edgerton as federal judge was secured and confirmed. Much ill feeling was engendered. Edgerton finally received the appointment, was confirmed and entered upon the discharge of his duties. Moody and Pettigrew were thus left free for the Senate. But the question of state patronage disposal arose between Senator Pettigrew and President Harrison which in part led the former into open hostility to the administration. No doubt the free silver doctrine of Petti- grew contributed to this difference. It thus came about that in 1892 Governor Mellette and his friends were in favor of the renomination of President Harri- son, while Pettigrew and his friends opposed it. Although the delegates to the republican national convention were told to support the renomination of General Harrison, they were influenced by Senator Pettigrew through technicalities to cast their votes against such renomination-all except two, and hence were regarded by the Mellette faction as having betrayed their trust. A. B. Kittredge became national committeeman and J. M. Green, chairman of the state committee.

Although the democrats and the populists did not openly fuse at the state convention, such fusion was adopted and carried into effect in nearly every county of the state and was in the end practically adopted on the state ticket through private or personal understanding. Among the distinguished speakers were J. C. Burroughs, W. B. Allison, J. P. Dolliver, Bartlett Tripp, Judge Brown, Colonel Steele, H. C. Walsh, Senator Pettigrew, Senator Kyle, Rev. W. Fielder, M. B. Alexander, H. S. Green, C. I. Crawford, C. H. Sheldon, J. A. Pickler, W. V. Lucas, William Lardner, A. L. Van Osdel, General Weaver, W. H. Curtis, H. L. Loucks, Alonzo Wardall, Gen. H. R. Pease, G. C. Moody, C. L. Wood and Mrs. Lease of Kansas.

At the November election, 1892, the republican electors received 34,888 votes ; democratic electors, 9,081 ; populists, 26,512. For governor, Sheldon, republican, received 33,414; Souchman, democrat, 14,472; Van Osdel, independent, 22,524. The whole state republican ticket was elected by about the same plurality. Republican congressmen were chosen. Cleveland was elected and Harrison defeated. Senator Pettigrew ascribed the defeat of the latter to his unpopularity. The republicans celebrated state success and the democrats, national success. It was admitted that on the national ticket the tariff question cut no important figure.

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In April, 1893, Bartlett Tripp was appointed minister to Austria-Hungary by President Cleveland, succeeding Col. Fred Grant. In the summer this year the free silver advocates of the state met and elected delegates to the free silver convention in Chicago. Montana appealed to all the western states particularly to support free silver. This question was growing in importance all the time during the early '90s. Pickler and Lucas, in August, voted for free silver on the basis of 16 to I. In explanation of his vote the latter said he did so because his free silver constituents of the Black Hills had asked him to do so. Others stated that this answer was unsatisfactory because he had been elected by the whole state, which was perhaps opposed to free silver. But it was shown that the republican party of the state had declared for bimetalism, which meant free' silver and free gold at the same time.

The contest for seats on the Supreme Court bench in 1893 was without excitement or extraordinary event. Corson, Kellam and Bennett, republicans, were easily elected. Haney and Aiken opposed Kellam, and A. W. Burt, John F. Dillon and S. H. Kennedy opposed Bennett. In this campaign it was noted that the populists brought out and analyzed every case that had been decided against the farmers by the Supreme Court. Their object was to show that the Supreme Court did not give the farmers the justice prescribed by the constitution. They failed to convince the court of public opinion that their case was just and so lost. Fairbanks, Mckinley and Potter were the populists candidates and Wood, Stodard and Hinckley, the democratic candidates. The highest vote of each party was: Republican, 21,048; independent, 12,903; democratic, 7,683. The Wilson Tariff Bill, a democratic measure, was prominently before the citizens this year.

At the populist convention, held at Mitchell June 12, 1894, Robert Buchanan officiated as chairman. The delegates assembled in the famous corn palace and among them were 104 old soldiers. There was a spirited if not acrimonious contest for the control of the convention. At first Buchanan received the favor of the delegates, and it was clear that at one time he might have received the nomination for governor, but he displeased or disappointed a number of the members and Mr. Loucks assumed control. Then E. B. Meredith was the favorite for governorship, because it was declared that back of him was the whole prohibition vote of the state; but when prohibition was turned coldly down Mr. Meredith went down also. Finally Isaac Howe secured control of the convention and kept it. The following ticket was named : Governor, Isaac Howe; lieutenant-governor, S. H. Bronson; secretary of state, J. K. Johnson ; auditor, E. B. Reed: treasurer, H. B. Wynn; attorney general, Mr. Null; state school superintendent, Mr. Falling; commissioner of lands, H. P. Smith, railroad com- missioners, F. M. McNaughton, J. E. Holter and C. W. Cockern. The platform accepted the Omaha convention principles ; demanded that coal lands should be owned by the Government; asked that state schools be divorced from politics ; opposed the sale of any more school lands; favored the assessment of mortgages to the holders thereof and the exemption of a like amount from the assessment of the mortgagor; advocated legislation for the protection of mining, railway and manufacturing employes and for their indemnification if injured; favored nationalization of liquor traffic control beginning with state control under the existing constitution without profit to the state; demanded that voters be given

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

absolute control of all legislation by means of the initiative and referendum; declared that all honorably discharged soldiers of the Union Army be granted a pension and all widows of soldiers be given $12 per month; and condemned the reckless and extravagant mismanagement of the existing state government. Senator Kyle, a populist, voted for free lumber and against free sugar, while the populist state convention refused to adopt a resolution declaring in favor of free lumber and free sugar. Pettigrew voted against free lumber. The populists favored woman suffrage. It was about this time that Senator Pettigrew delivered his famous speech on the tariff question in the Senate. He favored protection and the free coinage of silver.

The republican state convention, held at Yankton August 22, 1894, met in a large tent which seated 1,100 persons besides the delegates. W. B. Sterling was chosen temporary chairman and C. S. Palmer, permanent chairman. Among the prominent persons present were ex-Gov. Newton Edwards, ex-Gov. A. J. Funk, ex-Congressman W. A. Burleigh, ex-Chief Justice P. A. Shannon, ex-Associate Justice G. G. Bennett, ex-Associate Justice C. S. Palmer, Gov. Charles H. Sheldon, ex-Congressman O. S. Gifford, Congressman J. A. Pickler and Congressman W. V. Lucas. Mrs. Simmons of the woman suffrage move- ment was given a seat on the platform. Nominating speeches were limited to five minutes. Robert J. Gamble and J. A. Pickler were nominated for Congress. The majority of the state ticket were renominated by acclamation, as follows : Governor, C. H. Sheldon; lieutenant-governor, C. N. Herreid; secretary of state, Thomas Thorson; auditor, John E. Hipple; treasurer, Kirk G. Phillips; attorney general, Coe I. Crawford; state school superintendent, Mr. Crane; land commissioner, J. L. Lockhart ; labor commissioner, S. A. Wheeler ; railroad commissioners, John R. Brennon, A. Johnston and Frank Conklin. A telegram from Washington that President Cleveland had refused to sign the Wilson Tariff Bill, a democratic measure, was received by the convention with a tumult of ecstasy and applause. The platform advocated protection to American industries ; favored reciprocity ; deplored the existing contest between labor and capital; denounced the agitation of demagogs; asked for an improvement of the immigration laws to keep out the pauper and criminal classes; favored the use of both gold and silver on the basis of 16 to I-bimetalism; promised such legislation as would thwart the dangerous power of the trusts and similar combines and prevent the aggressions of capital accumulations ; declared it to be a duty to foster and encourage agriculture, mining, manufacturing and other commercial home interests; demanded protection from unjust freight rates ; favored a continuance of the benefits to the old soldiers; and congratulated the state on the admirable administration of Governor Sheldon.

It was afterward declared that the Taylor defalcation was known to the leaders of this convention, but was kept from the other members and from the people. It was further said that the convention committee had much trouble to secure a worthy man who was willing to accept the nomination for state treasurer to succeed Mr. Taylor, but finally Kirk G. Phillips, who it was affirmed was told nothing of the defalcation, was induced to accept. Herreid was a member of the committee on resolutions; so was E. W. Caldwell. Herreid drafted the 16 to I silver plank in this platform, but it was considerably altered by Mr. Caldwell and was adopted in its changed form.

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At the democratic state convention of September 5th the following ticket was named: Governor, James A. Ward; lieutenant governor, B. M. Tunley ; secretary of state, J. L. Norris; auditor, D. F. Burkholder; treasurer, R. A. Mather; attorney general, S. W. Teesh; land commissioner, Jasper Fergen ; railroad commissioners, John Scollard, J. L. Thompson, W. J. Casson (by the decisive vote of 234 to 165 the convention refused to fuse with the populists in the nomination of congressmen) ; congressmen, Robert J. Connor and W A. Lynch. Solomon Two Stars, a Sisseton Indian, was present, claiming to be a delegate from his county. He made a speech in which he presented his claims and said that he could neither read nor write. A republican newspaper said that after he had made this admission his credentials to the democratic state con- vention were deemed sufficient and he was accordingly seated. Fusion was easily defeated and a full ticket was decided upon. In the platform the delegates endorsed Cleveland's administration, except his course on the soldiers' pension bill; declared for absolute free trade; opposed legislation on the tariff problem ; advocated the single gold standard; endorsed the income tax; favored pensions for ex-soldiers; demanded the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people; favored irrigation legislation; promised resubmission of the pro- hibition clause of the constitution; asked to have members of corporations, trusts and combinations excluded from Congress ; objected to railroad passes for public officials. Free silver was defeated by the vote of 2531/2 to 1411/2.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 93

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146