Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-11-04
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The County Auditse Genes Back 1t Hts
fraducors.

49, OOo0J SoO4eOS VVoVO A4WOA ~ AAsO
fraducors.
The ring organ last week had II
scurrilous attack on Henry Gardner,
charging him with being the cause
of John Gray's failure to get his Ger.
tifcate Of nomination fled in time.
To attack Mr.. Gardner was the only
way the independent ring had to
cover up its filthy acts relative to
Mr.. Gray, but Mr.. Gardner, in a
letter printed below, comes back at
the gang with the facts. 1t is in.
deed n scathing arraignment of the
independent party, and in the light
Of the recent deals and questionable
acts of the leaders it is very inter-
esting reading. Gardner tells some
tales out Of school, and shows in
good plain English why he vas not
kept in the inner circles. Other
men will have the same experience
if they ever come up for Office in
that party and try to be honest.
Two years ago Mr.. Gardner entered
the auditors Office, believing that the
independent party, of which he was
a member, intended to honestly adj
minister the affairs Of the county,
but he had scarcely been there two
months until the ring began certain
things lie could not as an honest
man countenance. He rebelled and
the ring then attempted to have
him ousted. Gardner would not
join them in their expensive at
tempts to smirch the characters of
former officers by expensive invest.
ig%ations; neither would he make
false figures to carry out their aims.
For these reasons they had no use
for him. Voters can spend a few
moments profitably reading Mr..
Gardeners letter, because he tells
only straight facts, and. being on
the inside, knows about what he is
talking. The following is his scati,.
ing arraignment of the %indepen-
dent ring:
TO The FARMERS AND TAx-PAY-
ERs Or UNION County:
You have undoubtedly read the
malicious slanderous abuse that the
miserable dirty low lived mouth
piece of the Court House Ring pub
lished last week about ne. His ar
ticle is u base lie and proves on the
face Of it that the Court House Ring
did not want the maj they nomina-
ted to be elected. There was one
hundred or more democratic votes
they could not catch with Mr.. Gray,
hence the true cause Of the failure
to file his certificate. l can prove
that | offered to file his certificate
the next day ifthechairman and sec
rotary oftheconvention would make
an affidavit showing the reason why
they had failed to file the certificate
in time, but they would not do SO;
therefore am not to blame for any
thing they have sought to charge me
with. But the Internal Court House
Ring deemed it necessary under the
circumstance to curse some n in
order to hide their devlish scheme
so Gas usual) Gardner must be made
the scape goat Of their iniquities.
Oh, l tell you friends, u politics
are rotten to the very core. Two
years ago l supposed, MS did all the
farmers of this county, that we
would have an honest aad upright
county government for the next two
years, but the officers were scarcely
sworn in before they did the very
thing they promised the people
they would not do-formed a political
ring aud because l refused to join
them they sought Immediately to
throw me out Of office and they kept
up the fight ever since; but | have
come out best so far. at least and our
county is in better financial condi-
ton to day than it was two years
ago and your rate Of taxation is less
this year thar it has been for the
past eight years. Now l was a far
mer before l was elected to fill this
Office and expect to move right back
on the farm when l am done with
it. therefore | have no other interest
than that of a farmer; therefore
while in office l am determined to
use my utmost energies for the re-
duction of ,ax"tion and practice the
strictest economy in the county's
disbursements. If you consider my
principles are right, brother farmers,
you will stand bv me on election
day regardless of what others may
say. The political bosses have
placed three men on the ticket in
the hope of dividing your votes and
placing a man in Office that will act
as a tool for their cursed political
ring. The management Of the audi
tors office is one gilmore importance
to the tax payers than any other Of
fee in the county. Owing to the
large amount of work in my Office
that requires my undivided atten-
ton it is impossible for me to can
vas the county this fail, besides l
consider it d%isgraceful for an officer
to electioneer for a reelection. The
people know whether he has done
his duty or not; il not he is not
worthy of a continuance in Office
at Leaf that is my opinion of the
matter.
HENRY GARDNER.