Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1894-10-26
I'M al uIuSu ~ -SSA~ ~
ALMOST
4 CRIME.
4 Bold Republican Scheme to Defeat
the Will Of the People.
It Required Mandamus Proceedings
Before Judge Jones to Complete
the Peoples Ticket.
The People Surprised and Indignant
at this Southern STYLE Of
Politics.

POIltltS.
On Saturday October 13, the County
Central Committee Of the peoples party
met and formally proceeded to nominate
men to fill the vacancies on the Peoples
Party ticket. which the county Conven.
tion had instructed the Committee to do.
J. s. Hatlestad for states Attorney. S. B.
Averill for county Judge, DR.. V. Z. Will.
son for Coroner, and w. II. Curtis fol
Surveyor.
After all the papers had been completed
and signed, the writer, as Chairman OF
the County Central Committee, in com.
pany with p. G. Parke, as a witness,
proceeded to the Auditons office and filed
the nominations made by the convention
and committee. Auditor Fowles, after
looking over the certificate required to file
the names put on the ticket by the COM
mittee said he thought he would have to
consult the states attorney, but we in
formed HIM that If he would look over
the election law in relation TO filling va
cancies he would find section that
covered the case completely. He did SO
and after reading part of Il Section, he
said: THAT covers the case, that's all
right" We informed him that we were
glad everything was all right. and that
the name was peoples Party" We
have had considerable trouble with the
Auditor heretofore, and because Of his
evident desire to play the part OF bitter
partisan rather than as Il county official
After being satisfied that Mr.. Fow!es had
accepted the papers as being correct Mr..
Parke and the writer left the Office. Not
the least suspicion existed in our minds
but that everything was all right, until
Thursday morning of last week when
Judge Kennedy informed the writer that
the Auditor had informed him that he
would not LUZ the four names, Messrs
Hattlestad, Averill, Wilson and Curtis
on the peoples ballot, aud to make the
matter more damnabte, this bold attempt
10 rob the people of their rights was not
made public until it was TOO late to file
the names 10y pelition. The Southern
tactics Of the plotters soon got noised
about, and men Of alt political opinions
denounced it as an outrage and bold
attempt to rob freemen of their rights as
American citizens. Three Of the four
names refused place on the ticket were
democrats, and the democrats regarded
the stab as aimed at them, because they
refused to nominate Il county ticket. AT
any rate the news spread rapidly and in
dignation was expressed in bitter Ian
guage. Judge Kennedy. in behalf Of ohe
peoples party. prepared for mandamus
proceedings before Judge Jones, holding
court in Canton. The case come up last
Saturday morning, and the Court render
ed sn opinion after dinner. The Court
reviewed the case briefly with referance
to authorities cited by Judge Kennedy
and spoke of the Australian ballot law rs
being made for the purpose Of protecting
the voter in his rights AMI giving him the
protecblon of secret ballot. This law.
he said. was not intended to deprive any
man Of his rights, and after making it
clear that a convention had right to
delegate IT'S authority to 4 central commit
tee, he ordered County Auditor Fowles to
place the names on the regular ticket.
AT this trouble and expense could have
been saved had Auditor Fowies notified
the peoples party central committee in
time 10 lave put the names on by petition.
If the Auditor had honestly wanted an
opinion and could not get it in time, he
was in duty bound to notify the commit
Tee or file the names according to law.
TO protect the puritv( ?)of the law to pass
uC SOuhf IIuub Will huO"iCuSC UCiOIC
him that he might get an opinion against
placing the names on the ticket. without
giving the people chance to protect
heir vested rights. No such notice was
yiven. Not even whisper was whis-
,ered outside of the charmed circle that
t had decided to make the bold attempt |
o rob the people Of their rights. There
could have been NO Just ground for crin-
ism had the Auditor given the people
he same right 10 protect their interests
hat he demanded for himself. The
auditor never indicated at any time but
What the nominations as filed were all
1ght. and for him to tell us when 1t was
90 late to file by petition. that the names
ould not { on the ticket. leaves no doubt
n the mind Of anv honest man the motive
hat prompted this bold attempt to rob
nen Of the dearest right under the consti-
u,ion. The people will answer at tn"
'olls.
The Advocate last week did John
taphenson peOple'S candidate for cnunfv