The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-11-28
I'll DAKOTA. SATURDAY. NOV. %, 1896.
THE REPUBLICANS CALLED.

~ NAM a AAN M - ~ AAx1
THE REPUBLICANS CALLED.
An Open Challenge to substantiate
Charges of Crookedness in the Re
cent Election.
To THE Editor OF THE ARGUS LEADER:
For some time we have been noticing
in your editorial columns charges to the
effect that the Bryan forces inllis state
had cOlonizeu in Lawrence aud Union
counties. You give no figures, except to
state III general way that more votes
We're cast than lle Republican state
committee had figured in their poll OF
these counties. You make the naked
charge that there was colonization with
out giving any detailed facts which
could be either denied or admitted. This
is serious charge. Ii it is true the
guilty parties ought to be prosecuted 10
the uttcrmost and an example made. The
good name Of our state has been suffi-
GENTLY disgraced during the past two
years as Your own news and editorial
columns show, without being further
disgraced. II tho charge you make is
untrue aud not supported by the facts
you ought clleerfully retract it,. II yon
have any factSor figures OF specific or
tangible nature you ought to give them.
In the meanwhile submit some figures
for the perusal Of your readers. As a
rule figures are very uninternsting aud
dry reading. In this instance, however,
it Is believed that they will bc fouml to
be quite the reverse. Ii You will turn to
the little pamphlet entitled Census Re
port Of South Dakota for 1885," authen-
ticated BY S. A. Wheeler, the present
commissioner Of labor statistics and
census, a Republican Office holder, and
who should therefore ba authority on
which you could rely, you will find tNat
in that Ynry recent publication he gives
the voting population" of Lawrence
county as 6,291. Now if there was any
colonization in Lawrence the total vote
cast for presidential electors in that
county should be greater than this num-
ber; on the contrary it is less. Sworn
copies OF the official canvass of that
county are in oGr possession and show
that Woods, the head of the Republican
electoral ticket, received 2,2l0 and Lason
the head OF the Bryan electoral ticket
received 2,9O5 votes in Lawrence county,
OR total OF 5,115 votes cast for presi-
DENTAL electors III the county. Deduct
ing the total vote cast from the voting
population OF the county as shown by
Wheeler census, it is fund that MIR.
Wheeler credits that County with 1,t79
more votes than were cast This does
not bear the ear-lnarks OF colonization.
Turn to Union c>u,lty where you
charge such gross violation of the law.
Mr.. Wheeler's statement as to the "yot-
ing population Of that county shows
that in 1895 it had a voting population
OF 1884. III that county Moods received
1921 votes, he being the head of the Re-
publican electoral ticket, aud Lason, the
head of the Bryan electoral ticket. re-
ceived l,401 votes, or total of 2,7SS.
This is lS6 votes loss than the voting
population accorded to Union county by
the Republican officials who prepared
and authenticated this above mentioned
| Census Report of South Dakota for
1885,"
Kindly permit us make this sugges-
tiOn. The courts are open and it is the
duty OF every good citizen to institute
criminal prosecutions against anyone
who is Anilty OF Illegally voting in the
state of South Dakota II you know Of
any facts on which convictlen or even
an indictment could be found it is
your duty as a citizen Of this state to
bring the guilty parties into court by
the proper process.
| We make one further suggestion. A
copy Of every letter written during the
campaign either by the chairman or Sec
retarY of either OF the three committees
supporting the Bryan electors has been
retained, the original Of every letter re-
ceiyed has also been retained On file, aud
a copy Of every telegram received has
been retained and is on file, book ac-
count Of every penny received for de-
fraying the expenses OF the campaign
has been kept and an itemized state.
ment of every dollar of disbursements
has been made. We make this PROPOSE
tion. If the managers OF the Republi-
can campaign will accept the PROPOSE
tlon the public will know just how much
money was expended OH either side and
what it was for. We will prepare a
sworn statement OF every dollar re-
ceiyed and disbursed and will place it
in the hands of a committee of reput-
1 able citizens at any time that the man
ayers of the opposition will do the same
thing and will also place N the hands
Of that committee every single letter re-
ceiyel, a copy Of every letter sent, every
telegram r.rtiy la'a copy OF every
telegram sent by each pntl every mem.
Der OF tho three cC.amittees. We are
not only willing to do this, but we in
vite the other side to join with us ani
make a sworn statement of all moneys
received and disbursed. and sworr
statement that all letters and kilograms
received or sent BY them are submitted
and we will do the same thing and th'
public will then be in possession of the
facts. We had no free railroad transpor
to bring in voters. Will the other sid,
make the same statement2 In the in
terest Of fairness and for the public goo,
either this proposition should be accept.
ed or the charges lnad1 in an indefinite
} and intangible way that great fraud
| were pnmmiftpd chnnld hn xyithdro up