The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-03
SCALP OF AN ENEMY
SOUTH DAKOTA SOLONS FORCE
PERSON OUT OF HIS JOB.
Bitter fractional Quarrel End in Bounc-
ing of One Man From Authorship
of Interior Department; He Is Sue
ceeded By Howard c. Shober, Lieu
tenant Governor; Caustic Remarks
of One Who Has Resigned.
Especial 90 The Free Press.1


Washington, Dec. IA bitter fac
tional quarrel among the republicans
of South Dakota is responsible for
the resignation of Robert S. Pierson
auditor of the interior department.
He is succeeded by Howard c. Sho-
ber lieutenant governor of South
Dakota, Mr.. Pierson, the retiring au-
ditor, is also from South Dakota.
While Mr. Pierson does not directly
say that his resignation was asked
circles that the two South Dakota
Senators. Robert j. Gamble and Coe
I. Crawford, were determined to get
his scalp. The resignation of Mr..
Pierson, politically forced, was due en-
tirely to political reasons. 1t involves
an interesting story, dating back a
dozen years. National as well as
state politics was concerned in the
case.
Some Caustic Remarks
In discussing his retirement. Mr..
Person INDUCED in some caustic re-
marks regarding certain South Da-
kota statesmen, and now that he is no
longer in office, it is expected that he
will cause a considerable commotion
in the national capital, as well as in
the republican camps of his home state.
Mr.. Pierson said for publication:
"For several months past the presi-
dent has been greatly embarrassed by
a political situation in which / am
factor. Since his Inauguration the
two senators from South Dakota have
been persistently demanding my Off
cial decapitation for political reasons,
although all of us profess to be re-
publicans. I have decided to relieve the
president from further embarrassment
incident to the industry of the sena-
tors from my home state in demand
ing my separation from the service. 1t
is needless to say that hereafter | shall
enjoy freedom of expression and
action in public and political affairs
which has been denied me in the past"
Competent for the Place.
In the efforts made by the South
Dakota senator's to force Mr.. Pierson
out of the government service no
question was raised as to his official
fitness. As a matter of fact some of
his superior officers had declared that
he was equal to the best auditor I'M
der the treasury department, and
others had gone so far as to say that
he was the very best man that had
ever filled the office of auditor.
Senator Crawford was particularly
incensed against Mr.. Pierson on ac-
count of incidents involving party po-
litical affairs in South Dakota which
eliminated in the campaign of Sena-
tor Crawford to succeed Albert B
Kittredge, also republican, whom
Crawford defeated in a primary cleo.
ton. Senator Gamble who had been
at swords points with Mr.. Kittredge
during their service in the senate
joined forces with Senator Crawford
and ever since the advent of the Taft
administration they have been per.
sistent in importuning President Taft
to put Mr.. Person out and appoint il
his place one of their own partisans.
! The appointment of Lieutenant Gov
ernor, Shober is very satisfactory to the
Crawford Gamble republican faction
in South Dakota for Mr.. Shober has
been bitter enemy of Mr.. Kittredgt
and has attacked him numerically il
the columns of his newspapers. One
of the expressions which Mr.. Shobel
applied to the Kittredge men wa
machine whelp."