The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-18
ReuubIican Ecunumy,

EpIToR UMoN-Tllere has been com
siderable harping among our republican
friends concerning the election bills pre-
eented Tor payment of the expenses OF
booths and other supplies rendered
necessary by the Australian method OF
voting. The independents weregenerally
made to shoulder the responsibility by
having the honor OF being superintend-
ents thrust upon them. ! actediin that
capacity Tor Hill City precinct, knowing
well thatit was a trap set for the pur-
pose OF giving the commissioners an OPP
portunity to make a grand s~laughtering
OF Neutrality-suspicious., and it may interest
your readers and the public generally to
know the facts, and | am writing that
all may Judge as to whether it is repub-
lican economy or malicious persecution
on the part OF the county auditor and
the board ofcommlssioners thatprompt-
ed them to act as they have,
Shortly after being notified OF my APP
pointment I met Ray Smith ntown and
asked him if the board would furnish the
booths. lie answered that they would
not do so. They failing to do SO, it was
clearly my duty to do it, and l did the
only thing could, viz. bought lumber
and mails at market price and hired a
first class carpenter at $3.50 per day,
giving him instructions as to how l
wanted the booths built. Where it was
possible l did business with arepublican,
always informing him in advance that
he must look to the county Tor his pay,
and showing that section Of the law
which says how such expenses shall be
provided for, Both clerks were rcpubli-
cans ard the on,y inp ependent enrolled
was myself. l made a charge OF four
olla Tor experimenting the business
and 1T was worth all that 70 ne tt be
in a position where | could be sure that
we would have an honest election and il
meyer get paid by the board I will feel
paid IN the satisfaction it gives me to
know that there was not u single vote
challenged and that Henry w. Smith
got a plurality.
1t ft.l to my lot to take the returns to
Rapid, and Just the minute ct inside
the door to the auditors oI4icc the crow
begun" No one had | dropped the
cold, clammy hand OF brother Uriah
Hep than he mildly %insinuated that the
bill for judges and clerks was very large
and he requested HE to alter it. in
f,,,~ol I,;~, 4l,,4 a.. LII -..- -j.
work OF one of my republican clerks and
"dlvil an alter" would | make. Obiec-
tions were Their in order from Uriah
on the other bills which I had O.. KID.
1he Miners Union hail charged too
much rent, the carpenters bill was too
high, Hulst and Prices bill was out of
all reason, even the paper OF lacks might
have been bought for five cents instead
OF ten. Up to this time | had been under
the impression that the county auditor
was a kind OF clerk, but l realized then
and there that Uriah had wiggled himself
the seat OF the chief dictator and
was a man to be feared. / humbly
his pardon and told him that |
had made the grievous. mistake OF think
ing that he was Il public servant and a !
clerk. l thought that my apology had
appeased the wrath of the once humble
Irah but | was greatly mistaken. Ny
poor b:l was made Conspicuous and |
mauc Conspicuous toO-tnc hardest
punishment that could be inflicted on
ono yrlNn ,trn.,l, ,,,,,,I- o.. ,.>,, I-,,,,.
| do. l was used as a "Frightiul ex-
ample by Mr.. Gossage to show what
independent economy .yye"la lead 10
should they eNe"sct control.
l wHs next surprised to learn that the
Honorable country dads had awarded
4snc twenty-seven dollars for seyen per-
fmanent booths. Ihad put in no such
bill but thinking that Uriah might lie
relenting l huinbly wrote to have the
warrant forwarded, enclosing IL stamp
Tor the purpose. The great Uriah CON
descended to reply, saying, that il ]
wOuld sign a receipt promising to store
the seven booths-thlt being half nail
fol-and would guarantee not to allow
them to shrink or swell for a year, that
he would condesend to send the warran1
if behaved myself for the future and il
ap. $. he added, thatl would find my
stamp which | had sent inclosed, itlook
ed as though it had been used. In which
surInlse Urah you are perfectly correct
it has been my per capita circulation foI
nearly a year. l have bought a house
to store the booths in and as soon as J
can make it air and water tight | will
complete thh job Of being Supt. Of ticct.
ions for Hill City and draw cards.
j.. }. RAFFERTY,.