Early History of SD - 1894 This information appears in Chapter LXVI of "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904), pages 353-354 and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm CHAPTER LXVI ANOTHER YEAR OF DISASTER As if 1889 and 1890 had not been sufficient to try the souls of the strongest Dakotans, and sort out and drive away every man who did not possess the courage of a Christian martyr, presented to the people of the young state the poorest average crop yet produced. No locality was favored above another, but everywhere but little more than the return of seed was secured. Nevertheless there was no real destitution. Every section produced something and the previous experiences had taught the people not to place the sole dependence upon wheat. The live stock interest had been expanded, dairying was in vogue and the ever reliable hen contributed largely to keeping the wolf from the door. Out of these awful experiences of the early 'nineties came the wisdom and the methods which in ten years has made South Dakota one of the most reliable producers among the states and the first in production in proportion to effort expended. The revolution in methods dates from 1894. Then the agriculturist became convinced that methods however well adapted to Ohio or New York, were not the best for South Dakota, and he was not long in evolving the lines of operation, the kinds of crop, the method of preparing the Soil and planting the seed, which the conditions peculiar to South Dakota demanded. Since 1894 South Dakota farms have produced regularly and abundantly without one approach to failure. During this period a distressing factional trouble in the faculty of the Agricultural College at Brookings well nigh disrupted the school and became an issue in state politics. Even yet it is difficult to place the blame. It seemed to grow out of conflicting ambitions of otherwise good men, but who allowed themselves to forget the interests of the college in the personal rivalries. This bad condition was intensified by the dual board system provided by the constitution. That is, the board of regents held general jurisdiction, while the local board of trustees had special jurisdiction, and there was a constant conflict of authority and a working at cross purposes. The bad conditions continued until the abolition of the local boards by a constitutional amendment. The movement for the free coinage of silver which swept the west found many advocates in South Dakota, under the leadership of Senator Pettigrew. At this time the movement was receiving its first great popular attention and the sentiment of the people of all parties seemed to favor it. The Republican state convention met in Yankton August 20th and the position upon this topic was of first interest. A compromise platform was adopted declaring for the free coinage of the American product. Charles H. Sheldon was renominated for governor and Robert J. Gamble and John A. Pickler were selected as candidates for congress. The Populist convention met at Mitchell and nominated Isaac Howe for governor and the Democrats selected James A. Ward. Three constitutional amendments had been proposed by the previous legislature: Permitting county superintendents to serve more than two successive terms; for equal suffrage, and limiting the homestead exemption. Each was defeated, equal suffrage by 22,682 to 17,010. The Republican ticket prevailed by 40,401 to 26,598, Mr. Ward receiving but 8,756 votes. It should, in this connection, be noted that during all of this time of agricultural depression the gold mines of the Black Hills were turning out their golden harvest with uninterrupted regularity and annually increasing value. The vast number of men employed there were receiving the same high wages which have always prevailed in the Hills and have determined the wage rate in all of the mining states. Never has the advantage to the state of the mining interests been so apparent as at this juncture. The financial depression of the previous year was if anything augmented throughout 1894 and, together with the crop failure, utterly precluded anything in the form of public enterprise, building or other development. Conditions told perceptibly upon the state educational institutions, reducing the attendance. It was a time when in all of its activities and prospects South Dakota had struck the low water mark. There is a sublimity and pathos in the courage with which the pioneer struck out for better and higher things at this time, when discouragement lay heavy upon the land. They demonstrated that all things wait upon him who sticks.