The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1898-11-04

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purposes the facts, and endeavors to
have the voters of Dawson county
believe that while / was register OF
deeds that I robbed the county OF
clerk hire, which should have paid
from my salary. It would indeed make
interesting reading for the voters OF
this county if the Gazette should
publish the amount of money it re-
lceived from the county since 1889, and
the amount received by it's editor, e. s.
Johnston, as salary, and as direct per-
quisites OF the office Of county judge Of
this county. Will he do so? Well, l
think not Yetit would be the proper
thing, as he is again q candidate for
the same Office. Itis true he may say
that his salary is fixed by law, and
what he receives in addition thereto is
for probate notices published in his pa
| per, of which he has q monopoly, does
not come from the county, but from in
dividuals. This is true as to the receipts
Of the Office Of register of deeds; they
come not from the county but from
individuals. In reference to the
Iextravagance in the purchase Of sup
plies for said office during the time l
held the same, will say that only those
books which were needed in the Office
were purchased, and they are now
upon the shelves in said Office and some
of them are being used by the present
register. Before / left the office in
January 1895, / informed Mr.. Easton,
my successor, that there we're some
records needed. He then requested
me to purchase them, which did. 1
presume that am charged up with
this purchase, while my successors
administration has the benefit of the
same. BY referring back to the COM
par alive statement, it will readily be
seen that the supplies for the three last
mentioned years would not amount to
as much as for the frst period, because
the work of the Office averaged s597.37
less yearly.
The three young ladies referred to by
the Gazette have all held responsible
positions. Miss Nc Donald having held
. good position in Sioux City which
she was compelled to resign on account
of i'll health. The other two Miss
Russ and Miss Hubbard, are trusted
bookkeepers and hold very responsible
positions. They were each competent
to express an opinion as to the neces.
sity of clerk in the office of the
register OF deeds, and no one but the
Gazette would question their honesty,
and, by the way, the fathers OF two Out
of three have supported and did then
support the populist ticket.
Will the Gazette, or any elector, nc
matter what his politics may be, say
thatthe work OF the Office can be con.
Quoted with the same amount of work
4 when it was over 81 per cent. larger
than it has been for the last three
years? Is the Gazette editor HONEST
enough to admit that it takes more
supplies and books to perform 81, 100 OF
worth of business yearly in that office
than IL does to do 81 10000 worth
yearly?
In conclusion will say that all aft
davits made in reference to the need O.
. clerk in my office came from men O
all political parties, and that they knew
what they were saying is proven by the
fact that the present register of deedl
has had clerk during his terms O
Office, and has performed nearly s6OO.Ol
4 less business each year, than that pei
formed by the register during the thre,
years preceding 1895. trust that th'
electors of this county will consider
we'll the facts in reference to clerk hir,
! and ascertain whether or not they hav
the facts all before them before the,
) make up their jud gment thereon.
4 ]. e. WELLS.
p November 3, 1898.
In the above Mr.. Wells refers to tn
affidavit made by A. r. Groenke, tn
present candidate for the register {
deeds on the populist ticket, who i
January, 1893, made the followin
affidavit concerning the help require
in the register Of deeds office:
A. r. Groenke being duly swor
J. says: That he is acquainted with th
J, work required to be done in the offic
OF register of deeds, having bee
deputy for several months in anothe
county. Says that having business i
the register Of deeds Office in Daviso
8 county, S. D., nearly every day lookin
0 up titles, ETC., and being acquainte
. with the amount of work required /
run the office and keep it in prope
9 shape says: That in his opinion no or
# person can perform the duties of th
d Office promptly and accurately so as {
accommodate the people and get tt
work out In reasonable length
: time. A. r. GROENKE
3 Subscribed and sworn to before n
o this 9th day of January, 1893.
q j. K. SMITH, Notary Public.
y What does Mr.. Groenke propose
8 do about clerk hire in the light of IL
q above affidavit? And, further, wb
/, did the Gazette omit publishing M