The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-04-23
ELECTIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Galveston Plan Goes Into Effect at
Sioux Falls,

Sioux Falls, s. D., April 20.-Special
to The News: Regular annual NUM-
cipal elections are being held today
South Dakota. One of the most i'm
portant of these elections is being held
in Sioux Falls, which as the result of
the election will pass under the Gal
vestion form of city government and
the mayor and four commissioners to
be elected today will displace the pres
ent mayor and the twelve aldermen
who compose the city council.
Sioux Falls will therefore be the
first city in South Dakota to be gov
erned under the commission plan, and
the success or failure of the plan here
will be the determining factor in
whether or not other cities in the
state will adopt the plan. Under the
commission plan of city government
the mayor will receive salary Of
81 200 per year, while the four COM
missiorers will each receive a salary
of 5000 per annum.
The law contains recall provision,
which provides that upon petition of
Is per cent Of the qualified voters the
election of successor to the com.
missioner sought to be removed can
be brought before the voters at a spe-
cial election. If the incumbent re-
'ceives a majority of the votes cast at
the special election he shall continue
in office without the necessity of
again qualifying as commissioner.
In the event that the incumbent fails
to receive the highest number of
votes, the person receiving the highest
number shall qualify within ten days
after receiving notification of his cleo
ton, and in case of his failure to quail
fly the office shall be declared vacant.
The mayor and commissioners, before
assuming the duties of their positions.
will be required to furnish bonds in
the sum of $4,000 each for the faithful
performance of their duties.
Among the cities in addition "a
Sioux Falls which are holding their
annual municipal elections today are
the following: Madison, Mitchell, Mt. |
Vernon, Garretson, Clear Lake. Ar
lour, Britton, Lead, Lennox, Arlington,
Scotland, Miller, Milbank, Groton,
Bookings, Bridgewater, Elan
dreau, Salem, Aberdeen, Webster,
Alexandria, Redfeld, Center
vile, Elk Point, Deadwood, Woon-
socket, Beresfofd, Spearfish, Hot
Springs, Washington Springs, Avon,
Elkton, Faulkton Tyndall,
Wagner, Chamberlain, Geddes, Rapid
City, Fort Pierre, Sisseston, Doland,
Vermillion, Springfield, Plankinton,
Parker, Volga, Lake Preston, White
Lake, Dallas, Pierre. DeSmet, Bryant,
Murdo, Frankfort, Clark, Gettysburg,
Mellette and Gregory.
In only two of the above towns, so
Tar as has been observed, have oppos-
ing democratic and republican party
tickets been placed in the field
These two towns are Chamberlain and
Webster. In the other cities nonparti-
san tickets have been placed in the
field, and the contests are being
waged purely upon local issues. In
a great majority of the cities the lie
snse question is the overshadowing
issue. In many of the cities there has
been hot fight over this question,
and the closing days of the campaign
have been distinguished by the ac-
-ivity of the opposing saloon and anti
saloon forces. Both have carried on
aggressive fights and expect to win
in a number of closely con-
tested towns.
In addition to electing city officers
for the coming year, in a number OF
be cities other questions, such as issu-
ing bonds, will be submitted to the
voters at the regular elections. The
special questions to be voted upon
are as follows:
At Faulkton, bonds in the sum Of
$4,000 for the construction of