Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-03-12

Office had been misinformed Of the
facts in the case and at the invita-.
ton OF Mr.. Smith and the board of
county commissioners announced
that he would be here on March IL
and the county would have but TO
employ one expert to assist him.
Thus the investigation will be made
and by bonded public officer of
this state who is thus made respon-
sible and not at cost of $50 day
either. On Wednesday morning
the matter came up again, the
county auditor made the remark
that the Minneapolis men should be
employed as the deputy public
examiner would not make the exam.
nation. Mr.. Long informed the
auditor that Mr.. Fountain had told
the board the day before that be
would be here on,the 18th inst and
he probably knew his own business.
Then Deputy Egeland appeared on
the scene aud he aud Mr. Long had
some words relating to the employ
ment Of the Minneapolis experts.
Mr.. Long told Mr.. Egeland he, as a
member Of the board of county com
missioners or in any other capacity,
had not delegated him (Egeland)
authority to hire any experts and
Egeland evidently depending on his
size (smalD or official courtesy to
prJtect him, called Mr.. Long liar,
The chairman of the board of county
commissioners very properly hit him.
Egeland Immediately cowed and
apologized, thus admitting he had
lied, Mr.. Long then went to jus,
tice Office and plead guilty and was
fined S. and costs. There has been
no hustling of stalwarts, or friends
of Mr.. Smith to head off, squelch or
delay an investigation of his Office.
Mr.. Smith courts investigation. The
stalwarts court investigation of every
Office in the court house. II there
is anything wrong in any of them
the people should know it, The
stalwarts have made mistakes in
placing men in public Office, but as
soon as made cognizant of the facts
they have done their best to right
matters. For instance the auditors
office. Manson Rexford was elected
as a stalwart. When S. I'll. Egeland,
yes this same man who is so busy
in securing investigations, was tried
in justice court AID bound over to
the circuit court on a charge of
assault with attempt to commit rape,
the stalwart republicans went to Mr..
Rexford and insisted that he employ
another deputy, that man under
such charge was not fit man to
occupy position in the court house
as deputy auditor or any other posi-
ton. Mr.. Rexford was waited upon
by banker, not resident OF Web
ster, who told him that if he could
not get another deputy he had bet
ter lock the Office up, but rather
than have him do that he would act
as his deputy. until he could get
some one. An old soldier from the
north end Of the county told him
that it was disgrace to decency to
keep such man in his Office and
that the fathers of the county would
not support party that would
nominate such a man. Such express
sions came from stalwarts all over
the county Mr.. Rexford was
obdurate, he kept Mr.. Egeland.
The stalwarts refused to nominate
him and MIR. Rexford and Mr.. Blegen.
went before the people of the county
directly upon that issue. There
never was a more popular man on
the insurgent ticket, Mr.. Rexford
had been an able AMI efficient officer,
personally he is a fine gentleman
and had a host of friends who hated
to see him insist upon keeping
man charged with crime in his
employ Mr.. Rexford and the
insurgente deserted the rest Of their
ticket to elect him and he was
defeated by large majority. The
stalwarts could not countenapce 4
criminal in public Office as a deputy
and the people by their vote put
their'seal Of approval upon the stall
waft decision. When Mr.. Blegen
was nominated, we are IN ! position
70 speak abthoritiveIy on the ques-
isz.-F ~ -..-.I1 40 talI.l etls ~ IA.