The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-09-22
VESSEY WILL
NOT DEBATE
REFUSES TO MEET DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE.
SOME POLITICAL GOSSIP
SIOUX FALLS MAN MAY BE NEXT
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

the only ripple ON the South Dakota
political sea this week was caused by
a challenge to joint debate issued by
Chauncey l.. Wood, nominee OF he
democrats for governor, to Governor
Robert S. Vessey, republican candidate.
Republicans are disposed to look
upon the challenge as a play to the
galleries. Some Of them do not hest
tate to say that inasmuch as the demo
cratic candidate for governor thus far
has failed to get ~ goodSized
crowds, he now wishes to make use
of the personal popularity Of Cover
nor Vessey by engaging the governor
in a joint debate and thus get an OPP
~portunity to talk to the crowds who
would turn out to hear the execu-
tive at any point in the state.
Mr.. Wood asks the governor to dis
cuss with him a proposed amendment
to the state constitution and three pro-
posed laws, two of which will be sub
Aii1IICu " liIS NoNSio VI oSaNh INV
at the election in November under the
referendum amendment to the state
constitution. The proposed amend
ment is designed to remove the limit
to the taxing power of the state. The
proposed laws are those giving the
governor the right to remove from
office men who may be dereict in the
performance of their duties, the law
for the reorganization Of the state
militia, and what is known IS the in
surance law, now in force.
However, the proposed amendment
and the two proposed laws have no
place in the republican platform upon
which Mr.. Wesley is making his cam
paign, and therefore there is no good
reason why he should consent to meet
Mr.. Wood or any other man The
voters themselves have every oppor-
tunity to familiarize themselves with
the features of the proposed amend
ment and laws,
The indications are that c. J. Morris,
a Sioux Falls attorney, will be elected
speaker of the lower house Of the leg
~islature. He was q member Of the
last session and was the progressive
republican floor leader, being chair
man of the judiciary committee.
Other candidates for the speaker
chin NAV ha mapf;onad from f;po To
time, but it is more than probable that
when the legislature %ven no 9th
er republican candidate will be in the
field and that Mr.. Morris will be elect
ed speaker by unanimous vote.
NJ. J.. CLANCY, of Clay county, speak
er at the last session, is not a candi-
date for reelection this year.
Following the banquet in Sioux Falls
to Theodore Roosevelt on the occasion
IOf his recent visit to Sioux Falls.
sources evidently hostile to the re
election of Congressman Charles II.
Burke circulated the report that he
was sulking in his ten and had taken
no part in the entertainment of the
former president. 1t was even stated
that Congressman Burke had not come
to Sioux Falls for the purpose of par
ticipating in the reception to Colonel
Roosevelt.
These reports must have originated
elsewhere than in Sioux Falls, for the
facts in the case are that Congress
man Burke was in Sioux Falls on the
occasion of the visit of Colonel Roose
welt and aided in entertaining the
distinguished visitor. At the banquet
Congressman Burke occupied a seat
at the speakers table but a short dis
lance from the guest of honor.
The last vestige Of opposition on the
part of some few radical progressive
republicans to the re election OF Con
gresham Martin and Burke has DIS
appeared, and the republicans of South
Dakota are mor united than at any
time since the commencement OF the
factional fight Ave or six years ago.
This gratifying condition, from the
republican standpoint, is due to the
fact that the congressional and state
ticket is made up of both p~rogressives
and stalwart republicans, and the vot-
ers of the two factions have buried
the Ratchet and will line up solidly
in support of the party ticket at the
election in November.
There was but little discord even
prior to the visit to the state of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, but his publicly ex-
pressed wish for the reelection of
Congressman Burke and Martin and
Governor Vessey swept away the last
bit Of opposition and the republican
voters, regardless of their factional diff
~ferences OF the past, will stand shoul-
der to shoulder and in November win
1.-THE old-time victory