Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-10-15
The Kelley Contract
EDgg2IilDl Robbery (!
Free-Trader Kelley as a
ProtectiOnist.

S'g dcNpbcs COlSiu-
erabIe space in the last issue of the
Herald to defending his infamous
contract With Day County from
charges made on the stump by
Frank Sears. There was no inten-
ton on the part of this paper to
attack this contract. but as he sees
tit to drag into the CONTROVERSY
the Reporter and Farmer, charging
1T with stealing from the county,
it is but just that these charges
not only be met but counter-charges
preferred. The reading of his ar
tlcle alone shOnld convince every
thoughtful citizen that there is
something "r0tten in Denmark"
Mr.. Sears in his speech makes
the point That while Mr.. Kelley is
q free-trader, prescribing and ad-
vocating free trade for this country,
vet he demands the highest kind Of
protection for himself and his busl-
ness, illustrating the point by the
Kelley contract with the county.
Kellev admits this in his lame de-
fence by saving that he would not
allow the furnishing Of these goods
to be submitted to bids for the rea.
son that the other houses would
| undersell him. He goes on to state
what a large plant he has and how
anxious Webster people are to
drive him out and that his plant
had developed from outside sup
port. He walls that he gets little
or no support from the business
houses of Webster. Has he ever
done ANYTHING to deserve 1T !? Has
any man ever heard Kelley, either
in person or through his paper,
saw one good word for Webster or
for Day County !? On the contrary,
| he always uses his choice stock Of
vituperation in speaking OF the
| people of Webster. Egotlstlcal
and narrow. minded, his God is
Kelley and he imagInes that every
mans hand is raised to strike him,
when in fact it is his warped nature
full of hatred and jealousy which
auses him to see things in this
light. There is not a citizen OF
Day County but wishes Kelley sue
cess IN his business und ertakings,
but they do object to going down
in their pockets to pay e%xorbltant
taxes to support him in kid glove
style.
The history of the contract is as
follows While Mr.. Kelley was
getting the majority of the county
work. he was not satisfied and com
planned that Auditor Egeland was
giving orders to other statesmen
that he should have, so while his
hold on the commissioners was
supreme, It was necessary to clnch
Egsland. For this purpose, the
contract was called into being.
1t was presented to the board OF
county commissioners on April Z,
and within thirty minutes was
signed, sealed, and delivered.
While the contract proper is not a
yoluminous document, the SEIZED
ules made a part of the exhibit are
particularly so, and a proper under
standing Of them conld not be ar
rived ut in less than a half day OF
hard study, but Kelley assured the
board that they were all slgnt U
thew went. What more proof than
this is needed to show that Kelley
i the board of commissioners oil
Day County as charged The
figures we're not compared with lists
Of ether houses, but or Kelley's
simple assurance were adopted and
the taxpayer Of Day County was
sentenced to pay the freight for ont
real and Kelley WAS jnbilant.
Now a little as to figures. We
have in front of us the price lists OF
the houses complained of by Kelley
) as we'll rs the contract and SEIZED