Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-04-16
HON. JOHN L. BROWNE
Staiwart Republican Candidate For GOV.
ernor Accepts Home Endorse ment,
Refutes ISLANDERS and states
His p ositions

MS n oSfkfOuS
Hon. John l.. Browne of Aberdeen,
for several terms speaker of the South
Dakota house and now stalwart re-
publican candidate for governor, was
warmly endorsed by the Brown county
republican convention for This position.
In spsech gratefully acknowledging
Itnis slrong home endorsement, Mr.,
Browne took occasion to reply to some
CRITICISMS that have been made on his
record. That our readers may hear
him ia his own behalf we have re-
produced this speech below, which Is
worthy of a careful perusal
Me. Chairman and gentlemen OF
Sthe conventions: | beg just moment
Ror two of your time before your final
ad djournment to enable me TO express
as best | may nv great appreciation OF
the honor you do me in the resolution
you have passed regarding my caudi-
dacy.
I'VE have now reached the parting
of the way. This, under our new
election lave, will doubtless be the
last county convention for four years
and perhaps longer. This is my only
opportunity to make any grateful
Acknowledgement to the republicans
OF Brown county, in convention as
embled, for their uniform ana COZ
tinued confidence and support. Should
your action be endorsed by the re-
publican voters of the state it will be
will owe my election, and should the
verdict be an adverse one | will have
the pleasant recollection of that sup
port and will prize it higi err than
would the offer itself, If obtained with
out your friendship and assistance.
NAILS INsURGENT CANARDS.
Gentleman, I have already been
Igreatly honored, beyond my deserts,
by you, and the modest laurels that
have come TO me In my legislative
career can bring and lay ut your
feet, for IL is TO you | owe them. They
have been honestly won aud honorably
won, and they have been chiefly priced
by me on account of the pleasure ard
satisfaction they have seemed to give
TO my friends al home.
4 ia this connection want to speak
to you u moment of the charges that
seem to be circulated broadcast throug h
out the state, that | was simply the
creature of the railroads, that they
made me what l was and in turn that
was their affect seryan their willing
tool This seems to be in some re-
spects a campaign of abuse and sland7r
and have not deemed IL worth while
to dignity these falsehoods and mis-
statements by attention or denial, bu
! do want my neig hbors and friends t.
know that such charges are absolutei,
false and without foundation.
II want to say To you right he RI
+ and now, gentleman, that there never
) was elected speaker of the South
| Dakota egislature or any other legis
lature SO entirely and completely free
aud clear fcom any obligation, prope
or improper. to any railroad com pan
or other corporation Or individual, a
was. This doubtless sounds like
+ very broad statement, but it Is absolute
" ly true.
t ''My first election As speaker was q
II the time of the capital remove
movement and my fret offers of sup
port came from the removal combin
which consisted of the representative
e of Redaeld and Huron and Mitchell
= and all the conditions they imposes
% and promises asked for we're that the
D. should simply have square deal an
d fair play and that committees shoul
d not be constituted against them.
I'd They were confident they had tn
"a votes; all they asked WAS the oppol
IL tunity to count them. The accedin
~ TO such conditions was not only res
= eonable, lut manifestly proper. So.
u AlL6C Tie dAuOuuCCMCuS VI NY S"uA
10 dacy, | was rendered and receive
.. the support of the Pierge member al
b. Itcould and did assure him of equali
It. lair and impartial Treatment Mind yo
RI that at this time three out of the fot
cities engaged In the contest wer
Northwestern towns and the matte
had not then become the fight be twee
the Northwestern and Milwaukee raj
-, roads it afterwards did when narrowe
IN down TO Pierre and Mitchell.
IT, RAILROADS AGAINST HIM
Il s'Whht railroad influence there WI
=, exerted in that election was actual
against me, for the western agent
lis the Northwestern went TO Pierre wi,
VS. the avOwed intention of defeatir
tn Browne for speaker. But he cou
accomplish nothing and abandone
:. the task. Let me say here that eyel
Ie- Representative of the contestants
that memorable fight was my war