The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-09-15
TOCA ASPIRANT IN
MISSOURI FILES A
BIG DAMAGE SUIT
]. D. Shewalter, Senatorial
Candidate, Files Novel Action
at Law Against His
Enemies.

hdilSdS Slty, MO., Sept lf.-EAh
temporarily, at least, from the Missouri
senatorial race one trusty steed, Stone
wall. And now IL the purpose Of j. ID.
Shewalter, the Man on Horseback"
is not thwarted, the courts will take
cards in he many ided fight for the
democratic nomination for United
States senator of Missouri.
In the circuit court in Independence
Mr.. Shewalter has brought suit against
two Of his opponents. He charges
that a conspiracy has been formed to
prevent him from getting the nomina-
ton and all in violation of the rights
which the constitution Of the United
States guarantees to every citizen Of
this country. Along with David r..
Francis. of st. Louis, and ]. A. Reed, of
Kansas City, both seekers for the n
torial toga, Harry M. Ruby, formerly
chairman of the democratic state CEN
trail committee: HI. M. Johnson, the
present chairman; Nelson Mcleod,
Murray Carton and the st. Louis Re-
public are named as defendants in the
suit.
So He Stabbed His Steed.
Perhaps ii all came about because
campaigning on horseback permits OF
much time for thought and considera-
ton. Anyhow, Colonel Shewalter, after
logging over 700 miles Of rough Mis-
souri, roads, decided the Missouri sena-
torial game partook too much Of the
freeze out" nature. He left his steed
stabbed on a farm south of st. Louis,
took from the saddle bag his speeches,
and the notes he had gathered on his
travel and returned by railroad 10 Kan
sas City to invoke the urt TO defend
his constitutional rights.
Unlawful means, says the Man on
Horseback" in his petition, are being
taken to defeat his candidacy and keep
mis- democratic doctrine from the peo-
ole. And doesn't the constitution say
every male citizen Of more than 80
years of age, having lived in Missouri
more than 10 years. has a right to run
for the Senate IL he wants to? Well,
Colonel Shewalter says he wants to.
In February, the petition states,
Reed and Francis got together and de-
cided then and there to limit the sem
atorial race to their own ~cadidacies
and keep everybody else out Of it. I'm
fact" sets forth the petition in a most
emphatic manner, 1.-The plaintiff charges
that while the democratic party Is
opposed to all trusts and illegal COM
binations, the said parties formed
within the party, and with the coun-
tenance and assistance of a majority
Of It's state committee, a great po-
titical trust; that these other trusts are
commercial and can be controlled by
laws. but that the trust formed in
pursuance Of this conspiracy is far
greater and more Ubiquitous. for it had
for it's object the destruction of free
election itself, the corruption of tho
state and the turning over Of it's con-
stitution and laws
Mr.. Shewalter charges that Francis
went to New York m then to WASH
ington to obtain the aid Of the members
Of congress to his scheme. He alleges
that the st. Louis Republic, in mem
tioning the names Of the senatorial
candidates. refused to print his name,
but referred to him as another can
didate."
Forced to Campaign on Horseback.
Cut off from the press. Mr.. Shewalter
says he was forced to resort to a horse
back campaign to get his doctrine be-
fore the people. Even then. he says
the giant tentacles Of the conspiracy
were felt-the democratic county chair
men would not advertise his meetings.
B~ecause-well, here Is what the pc
tition says:
They, the defendants, well knowing
hat the plaintiff had the gift Of pow
er Of addressing large assemblages of
men and thus swaying and influencing
them by the discussion OF public ques-
tons and addressing their reason and
Judgment, and that thereby the plain
tiff would, If permitted. defeat their
corrupt conspiracy n overcome their
corrupt means e.
II haven't "A thing to say about this
suit" Mr.. Shewalter said when a WISH
tor called. Even then he was working
over a speech denouncing Francis's rec.
ord as governor. 1.-THE petition tells
everything. / intend to stand behind
every statement, every charge / have
made. / expect to fight it out in the
courts if 1t takes my last cent.
He'll Let the People Know.
THAT petition will be Il historic doc
ur2ent 1t will disclose even more
iniquitous corruption in Missouri than
he legislature scandals In Illinois. I
want the people to know how the
democratic party is being corrupted.
1 want them to know and ! have taken
this means to call it to their atten-
ton. l am ready now to begin my
case. l may not be elected senator
l don't care for myself. But / want to
save the democratic party INT the con-
stitution."