Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-10-29
whyAs.opul..t Objects.
RAPID &rY, s. d.. Oct. 90. IS!

Il ~s..A 80 >S4e - ~ ASss ~Oos .os ACcss
| To the Editor of the Star:
have watched the present judicial
campaign with considerable interest
because have known both aspirants
for this high Office for seveaal years
and have watched the public career of
both more or less carefully during that
time. lam a populist, but more than
that l believe that independently of
party lines the personal character of a
judge should be looked at first and his
competency next. and both of these
before the question of whether he IS
my party man or not. For this reason
have contemplated for some time
the question of which of these two men
could with good conscience sup
port. and have become the object of
severe criticism by some of my popu-
listic friends as we'll as at the hands
of MIR. MCGEE himself because l hest
tated Mt all in supporting the candi-
date OF my party. have presented
my objections as best l could both to
my obiecting friends and to MIR. Nc
Gee himself, and my reasons have been
unanswered and therefore l am con-
vinced that it is my duty to make
known my reasons and justify my ac-
tion in refusing to accept MIR. McGee
as my choice.
Both of these gentlemen have been
before the nsople of this young state
in the capacity of office holders and
both are fairly we'll known; and it is
from their record as such officials,
coupled with my own personal knowl-
edge of the men, that I have come to
my conclusion.
Mr.. McGee's record in the senate is
anything but tlattering. He worked
and voted against the resubmission to
avote of the people of the prohibition
question in the face of the fact that he
represented district which was unal-
terably opposed on principle and in
practice to prohibition when he was
elected with the express understand
ing that his people wanted the ques-
tion voted upon again. He pretended
to oppose corporations, and particularss
ly the railroad corporations of the
state, but at the same time quietly
boasted to his immediate friends that
he never paid cash fare for ride out
of Rapid City all the time he was in
the senate and that his family also trav-
eled on IL pass at the same time. AZ
ter his term expired he again returned
to the senate and exerted himself as a
common lobbiest IN favor of measures
that did not tend to benefit the peo-
pie. He also voted for and supported
to the best of his ability bill to in
crease the salary of circuit Judge,
when at the same time he confessed
that the salary then paid was higher
than the average lawyer of the state
could earn: and now seeks to profit by
his own act to tho detriment of the
people; and he pretends to oppose any
measure which does not favor the peo
pie. He is supported in this campaign
by.only two attorneys at Rapid City and
it is.charged that Il mutual understand
ingeXists that he shall favor Mr. Wood
and Mr.. Smith in court. nor has he de-
MED that he is personally under tinan
cial obligations 10 MIR. Wood and has
promised to square the thing if felected
While it may be said that ii
would be an unworthy object fol
MIR. Wood TO support a mai
for SO high an office, vet Mr.. McGec
cannot be justified i'll such steps fol
his success. It is in the records of the
senate of which Mr. McGea was IL mem.
ber. and the newspapers throughout
the state will show that he openly, in
debate on the res,bmission question
stated in as many words that he did
t not regard pledges made before elec
, tion as binding. that they were like /;
platform of a railway car. that is. made
to get in on. but not to stand OH. He
has been publicly charged with this in
: this campaign and the papers have
quoted his language as reported al
thrt time, and have not seen it denied
!, either by Mr. McGee or any one else
1t is certain that if such a charge were
untrue man should move heaven and
u earth to clear his skirts of it.
My greatest objection to MIR. McGee
/. however, for the Office of circuit judge
: is his lack of qualifications to fill it.
r l believe it to be my duty in the in
o terest of my business, my family and
y good government to speak out, 70,
. =, others may not be SO we'll acquainted
. with these men as I am. and there
!, fore feel a responsibility in the matter
Il Yours Respectfully,
r A POPULIsT.
9 Teachers' Examination.