The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-04-23
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ION In states or the northwest Is un-
der discussion, and credit in that line
is being given to w. s. Ulren, of Ore
gon, Lincoln Steffens taking up and
exploiting that individual as the father
of the move. Doane Robinson, of the
State Historical society has been do
ing a little investigating and finds
that Father Robert w. Hare, Of Aber-
deem. was pushing the cause of the
referendum in the early eighties, and
that III. L. Loucks as a leader In the
old Farmers Alliance move in Da-
kota Territory secured its adoption as
one of the policies of that organiza-
ton. That the initiative and referen-
dunn was adopted as part of the
constitutional law of South Dakota in
1898, and was not taken up in region
until 1902. and that the Oregon pro-
moters secured all their information
as to procedure and methods from
correspondence with South Dakota,
and Mr. Robinson insists that whatev-
er credit Is attached to the beginning
Of such legislation in the United States
should be given to the Dakotans who,
pushed ii before Oregon thought OF
such a move.
While the socialists are attacking
the primary law in its fee provisions
alone, the prohibitionists will attack
he law i'm so many places that IL sus-
aimed in all their contentious. the law
would be void in so great part, that
il would practically be out of COM
mission. At the last legislative ses-
sion specifically repealed the caucus
law, the prohibitionists In their con-
tcntion hold that there is no law in
regard to filing names of nominees
except that of 1903, and today at
tempted to file ticket under the pro-
visions Of the old law.
The record Of fires in the state for
the month of February and March are
not as numerous as they were for most
of the months last year. The list only
shows Al for the two months. The
largest number were started from de-
fective stoves or chimneys, with only
five in which gasoline is given as the
cause. Fifteen are charged to stoves
or chimneys, and two to carelessness
with hot ashes. Thirteen are given
from unknown causes, and the rest
are from explosions, electric wires and
prairie fires. None are reported from
carelessness with matches for the two
months.
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Contractor Olson, of the state capt
toll. says that IL will be some time yet
before the formal ceremony of the
laying of the corner stone of the build
ing. The stone contractors say Ii will
take two months to get the stone ready
90, tnx -l~t Il.
ceremony until some time in June. In
the meantime the laying of the Or
tonville cut stone is in progress, and
work will be pushed right along, leav-
ing it in shape for the proper placing
of the corner stone as soon as it can
be secured, and the arrangements
be completed for the ceremony.
The Presho people are very enthu-
siastic over their move for a vote on
county seat removal. They claim to
have total of 1850 names on their
petition asking for vote on removal
from Oacoma to Presho, with a vote of
1900 in the county at the last election.
They believe that their petition is not
only strong enough to assure the sub
mission of the question, but also as
sures them of enough votes to make
them the county seat when the votes
are counted after the election In No
vember.
Black Hills mining men. on their
way home from the Huron convention,
IN disclosing the mining situation, were
confident that the gold production of
the Black Hills this year would beat
ALL previous records for that section.
All the mines are being operated to
as full capacity as possible, and
number of new enterprises. which
have been in the prospective stage, are
now becoming producers, and will
help to increase the output The out
look for that section this year is most
encouraging In every way.
The Indians on Cheyenne River res
.rvation ware notified that 1t was not
necessary to send a special agent to
ook over the situation before taking
action toward opening a portion OF
their reservation, and strong party
at once left for Washington to present
their side of the case before final ac-
ton is taken by congress. They will
oppose the opening of the reserve but
are willing to give up the Schnasse
county section in the northwest corner
of the reserve.
The citation Of the opinion OF Attor-
ney General Pyle in regard to the
power of school boards to make con-
tracts beyond the terms of the indi-
vidual officers forming such board,
has called swarm of inquiries di-
rected at Attorney General Clark, as
to just what his holding is under the
present condition in South Dakota,
where most of the school boards are
cut off In their entirety by the pro-
visions of the last school law.
Gov. Crawford appointed A. A. Cot
ton, of Vermillion. member of the
state board of dental examiners; DIR.