Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-28
AN EVIL RECORD.

1t would be possible to go IN for great length citing acts of Mr.. Lee as
governor which would merely strengthen and extend the impression created
by the record given above. But that record is sufficiently severe. 1t stands
out in letters Of fire compelling attention from the honest Taxpayers of this
state. 1t demonstrates that the man who rode into Office on a wave of reform
sentiment is utterly unfit to be the governor of great state.
1t shows that he came to the governors seat a professional lobbyist who
had been willing to barter any principle to gain a personal pecuniary end.
That he employed the most nefarious means to bride and bundize through
the legislature schemes fol the personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF himself and his
friends.
That he used his veto power not to improve the legislation of the state,
hut to vent his personal spite, pay for votes he had bought and to punish
honest legislators who refused to sell their consciences to him.
That he filed his apointye Offices with men whom he knew to be utterly
unworthy of trust. but who were pledged to support his personal aspirations
That after starting in response to universal public demand to prosecuntc
q Republican delinquent official he suddenly dropped the prosecution because
he found that his own appointge was likewise delinquent.
That he retained the latter in Office for months after his criminal practices
we're made public and dismissed him only in order to get possession Of pat
ronage for use in bribtng newspapers.
That while fully appraised that one OF his appointces was q defaulter and
had naerantly violated the law he shielded him from prosecution o' w
public reprobation and still protects him iphis defahaion.
That he tried to force the attorney general to give q wrongful opinion to
permit money to be illegally taken from the treasury by his strikers.
That he openly violated the law and srossl yabused honoEed officers In re-
organizing the militia. .
That he turned Out a honored veteran and citizen of this state from the
who happened to be his personal friend.
That he grossly libeled another honorcd citizen and brave soldier be-
cause he refused to father the governors illicit schemes.
That he attempted to lie out of this and several of the preceding ofenscs
but was forced later to admit the falsty Of his defense.
That to vent his spite upon one man he grossly insuNed a regimen u
brave soldiers o n their way to defend the country's flag.
That he attempted to ruin the states credit by repudfating It's bonds 0 a
tcchnicadty. .
That he attempted to make a railroad assessment which he knew the
courts would declare illegal. while escaping his own taxes through a false ah-
davn.
And that he supported his family for months at a state institution at the
public expense and to the inconvenience and suffering Of the aged and inhrm
Veterans for whom the quarters had been provided.
This is the record of tho business governor" This the action of the man
whom the people Of South Dakota are asked to endorse by a reelection. The
governor of tho commonwealth has little to do with the administration of the
state ua ia largely figure head. But Governor Lee has succeeded in his
two cars of office in showing himself to be interruptions, dishonest. narrow.
vindicive. unruthtul. reckless of the states money or its credit and devoted
only to working his personal schemes and to fauenng his personal friends
on the public funds. And no one has yet been able to show wherein in n APP
pointment o in oe department his administration has been of benefit to the
state.