Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-29
The Attack of Grigsby, ct
al al, on David Williams
Treasurer of the Old
Board of Regents, is
Only For Political
Capital.
THE TRUE FACTS In THE CASE.

DETER arguments TO sustain tneil
cause, they have entered upon {
course of dirty mud singing. One
Of the most glarlng and diabolica'
instances of this dirty mud-slingine
is in the attack of the Sioux Falls
Press of July 20 upon David Viii.
liams OF this city. In q column
article, bristling with falsehoodi
from beginning TO end, the Press
(as the paid tool of Grigsby) ac-
cuses Mr.. Williams with being q
defaulter in the sum Of about
$40, 900 as treasurer of the late
board of regeats of education.
Many good attorneys of the state
were of the opinion that the Gre
alton of the new board of regents
was an unconstitutional act. Even
the supreme court of the state, in
passing upon the temporary in.
junction in connection with the
regency, stated hat grave doubts
existed as to whether the constitu-
tional amendment under which the
new board was created had been
legally adopted. The legal status
Of either board was not certain
until q decision from the supreme
court settled the legal propositions
involved. A suit to test the con,
stit~utionality of the new board was
instituted IN the supreme court.
Uutil the final decision was render
ed in that suit, no one could fore.
tell the result. The institutions
under the charge of the board of
regents we're running and incurrIng
legitimate expense from day to day.
Teachers and other employees In
those institutions we're entitled to
their earnings. The old board of
regents used every exertion to
bring the suit to a speed hearing.
MOI so with the new board, or GER
tain members of the new board,
who were willing tools of Grigsby.
As the Press says "That move
was defeated by the alertness of
Attorney-General Grigsby." He
kept the matter from being heard
as long as possible. The teachers
and employees iii the educational
institutions we're entitled to their
pay. The old board Of regents
were a DE FAcTo board of regents
during the tendency of that suit in
the supreme court, and had a right
to transact the legitimate and law.
full business Of the board Of regents
until a decision was rendered. The
highest court of our land has es-
tablished the principle that a DE
FACTo officer, under such circum-
stances az exist in this regency
case, has a right to act and perform
the legal functions of the office
pending such a suit, In order and
to the end that the public and all
those interested may not suffer by
reason Of a "tie-up" in the Office,
pending the contest. The old
board Of regents approved the bills
of the teachers and others employ
ed in the schools under their charge
and warrants were drawn Oh Mr..
Williams, as treasurer, which he
paid just as he should have done,
under the circumstances. They
were drawn for the lawful and
running expenses of the
institutions under the control Of
The board of regents. Not one
sent did he pay out except for law
expense. II the new board of
regents had taken their offices last
they would have paid out
same money for the same pur-
poses. 1t seems TO hurt some one
hat Mr.. Williams paid out this
money and kept proper track of it.
The very day Mr.. Williams re-
notice Of the decision of the
'upreme court sustaining the new
he forwarded every cent Of
money aud all books pertaining to
he Office OF treasurer to his sue
essor, State Treasurer Phillips vt