Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-10-28
Comparison of the Records
of the Parties.
A GRAND SHOWING OF ECONOMY
Facts and Figures That Cannot Be
Denied-0ebt Creating and Dabt
Paying-Record for Voters.

Okobojo. S. D., Oct 11.-Special: The
populist campaign in western Sully
county was opened at this place Satur-
day night by Thomas II. Ayers, private
secretary OF Governor Lee. He was
greeted with large and interested au-
dience, which listened with the best Of
attention for two hours and half. The
fore part of the speech was devoted to
1t discussion of the silver question, the
referendum and the railroad issue, but
the most effective portion Of his address
was that which related to state finances.
In discussing this question, Mr.. Ayers
said:
South Dakota has been eighteen
months under partial populist admins
tration. The state lives; its credit has
not been ruined; its people have not
been affected with plague; its crops
have grown; it's flocks have increased.
and new home-builders are seeking its
borders. The prophets of evil who,
during the campaign of 1896 declared
that the election Of populist governor
would ruin the credit of the state are
put to rout. The credit of the state was
never so good. The demagogues who
declared that populist success would
frighten capital are confronted with the
living evidence of their lies. The CAL
amity howlers who swayed republican
audiences with the frightful picture Of
ruin to follow II populism gained con-
troll of the state have been convicted Of
the basest slander against this common
wealth. The postofflce editors, and
hired spell-binders who warned the peo-
pie against releasing public administra-
ton from the corrupt machine which
has up to the present moment disgraced
our state with robbery and rascality
would be put to shame if there were
any shame in them.
The populists come before the voters
this year asking a continuance of pow
er on the record they have made. They
are proud of the part they have had in
giving respectability and character to
public administration in this state for
the first time since its admission to the
union. They are not only willing but
eager to give an account of their eigh-
teen months stewardship. They have
no apologies to make; no crimes to con-
ceal, no raScalities to atone for or ex-
cuse. Their record is au open book, and
written on the first page in blazing let
ters are promises fulfilled" offices
faithfully administered, "rascals kick
ed OUT, taxes reduced, debts paid
up. With this record. which is the
best guarantee of future good behavior,
we ask for continuance OF power to
those we have in Office and complete
control OF the state government for the
purpose Of enacting other and better re-
forms.
THE EVIDENCE OF PERFORMANCE
AS the sovere;gns Of this state it is
your right and your duty to demand Of
US the proof Of our assertions. This
shall gladly furnish. The question is:
Has our administration OF affairs beer,
economical and business-like? Have
we paid the public debt and reduced
taxation? Have we saved you money ?
Let the facts answer. We had not been
In power year till the republican
newspapers inside and outside of the
state began to TEEN with statements eu-
logizing the financial management Of
the state treasury by Kirk G. Phillips
Feeling his way for a nomination for
governor and building platform year
In advance OF the election, Phillips re-
"A cd tyn xxyfth Arvp, ~1
gle-handed and alone, he had paid of
several hundred thousand dollars of
state debt created mainly by republican
theft and extravaganza. use the term
republican in no offensive sense. Since