Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-05-28

Gibson had perpetrated against tn,
1 Norwegians in general and himself
in particular. He said that Jens
Peterson haze told him that in the
future he was to be cast out of the
meetings Of the Scandinavians Of the
county. He claimed the credit for
articles written from Lynn town
ship and signed by A Longfellow'
in which all the insurgents were shown
in their true light. He was always
citing his wonderful ability. His
present friends all said that he was
a trimmer of no ability and of less
integrity. The sequel has proven
that they never came nearer the
truth. He first violated his cam
paign promises and pledges ia
appointing his deputy. Appointing
the very man who had caused the
defeat Of his opponent Manson Rex
ford. Ills next step was barefaced
and wilfull falsehoods about nearly
every man who had spent his time
and money to secure his election.
The truth Of the whole matter was
that he knew that he had not sutfi-
cient ability to run the Office and
was afraid to attempt it with any
other man for deputy than the one
who was absolutely disgusting to
the voters Of Day county and one
who had caused the defeat of one of
the most popular and competent
men in the county. Blegen is an
incompetent, His conduct in the
Office since he was installed has
proven it. 1t was his knowledge of
his own worthlessness that he chose
the courre he has followed. He
chose his deputy because OF his own
inability. He then went to the box
ers and lied as to his reasons for
such appointment. He had fouled
his nest and knew that he could no
longer abide in it. He hoped by
lies and misrepresentation to gain
the support of the boxer organiza-
ton. His hopes were realized and
he was by them advertised as a
martyr and posed as such for them
to point to. He did not, however,
fool his deputy. The deputy knew
he was incompetent and, that being
so, was absolutely dependent upon
him. The first act OF the deputy
was to demand part of the audi
tors salary in addition to that
allowed the deputy. He got it.
The next act of the deputy was to
teach Blegen his place. You who
visited the auditors Office during the
first three months of Blegen's term
know the place he put him. Don't
you remember how Sig Egeland had
him sit ON the stool at the high
desk in the main Office with nothing
to do but smoke his pipe and look
of the window? After the first
three months Of training Sig had
Blegen sufficiently learned SO he per-
mitted him to 60 to the postoffice and
get the mail, carry the copy OF the
commissioners proceedings to the
printing Offices and run other minor
errands. Along in September last
he had got him sufficiently trained
SO as to permit him to sign the
county warrants instead of having
them all signed by G. E. Blegen,
county auditor, with rubber stamp
by S. H. Egeland, deputy. At the
December meeting the deputy had
gained sufficient confidence in the
success of his instruction OF the
county auditor that he permitted
him to sit at the county commits
sioner's table and take the minutes
of the meeting. Then the deputy
made up the assessment books for
the county for the present year and
instructed lady clerk in the Office
sufficiently SO as to keep the audi
tor from making any fatal errors.
Now it was drawing near election
time and If there was any possibility
of Blegen being renominated it
would be necessary for the deputy
to apparently resign his position and
step down and out. He did 80 but
informed Blegen that he would come
in nights and straighten him out
until after election time and see
that things ran along all right. As
u