Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-10-20

The matter of controversy relative to
the Office of superintendent of schools
of this county having caused consider
able talk and comment, and the writer
having been recently accused of per-
petrating fraud upon the voters of
this county by holding himself out to
the people as a candidate for the Office
of superintendent of schools upon the
republican ticket at the coming election
it would seem that statement of the
facts connected with this matter might
at this time not be amiss.
1t will be remembered that the
writer previous to the June primaries
in pursuance to numerous requests
coming from good people from the
various parts of this county. that he
become a candidate for superintendent
of schools, finally consented, caused
his nominating petition to be circulated
and filed. 1t will also be remembered
that shortly thereafter certain persons,
not friends of the writer, Immediately
had visions in which it was revealed to
them that the-writer was not eligible
to have his name on the ballot, and
they straightway felt called upon to
make known from the house tops this
wonderful revelation. They straight
way sought the aid of the circuit court
of this county by which they desired to
demonstrate that this vision, this
revelation, was not the ordinary kind
that vanishes into thin air, but was
something real and substantial. After
variety of proceedings before this
court it was finally decided that the
writer had right to have his name on
the primary ballot, and, accordingly,
his name was so placed. The primary
was held and he was nominated.
No sooner had this been accomplished
than these same persons, surcharged
with an over-abundance of wisdom,
with great JUNCTION declared that the
writer would not be eligible to have his
name on the ballot at the fall election.
This was diligently preached all over
the county, and to demonstrate that
they were right these same fellows
again undertook to conclusively prove
it by taking the matter to the highest
court in this state. + rior to the decis-
ion of the court they were all cock sure
that there was no opportunity for an
argument but that the writer would be
excluded from the right to have his
name on the ballot. History, however,
reveals that again were these vigilant
guardians of the public welfare most
woefully disappointed, for the supreme
court by its decision said that there
was nothing in their contention and
that the writer's name should be per-
mitted to go on the ballot. This for
the time being stunned these self
appointed guardians of the public to
the extent that they kept quiet for a
few days. They have, however, broken
loose and again we find them with a
mien of unqualified assurance stating
to the people of this county that eff
Hetley is elected he cannot qualify.
This is the third attempt of these fell
lows. They have repeatedly in the pest
stood up and assumed the role of pro-
phets and assured the people as to
what the future would bring forth. AS
often as they have prophesied just so
often it has proven that they did not
know what they were talking about, or
were wilfully classifying. These fellows
are the ones who want the public to
take their word, notwithstanding the
dilapidated condition of their past rec
ord for telling the truth.
In answer to these charges want to
say to the people of this county that
when / allowed my name to go before
the republican voters at the primaries
] was honest in the belief that had
right to do as l did, and that I pos
sessed the qualifications requisite under
the laws of this state to fill the position
for which, aspired. This / believe as
fully now as l ever did, and / further
want to say that should the electors of
this county, by their votes registered
on November 9Th, 1910, indicate that l
am their choice for superintendent of
schools of this county, that / have not,
after a careful investigation of the
matter, the slightest doubt about my
eligibility to qualify as superintendent
of schools of this county and to hold
the Office.
Respectfully,
i Fl Hetley