The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-01-20

N lO
BILE which are now appointiye by
these high officials.
81 am asking the people Of this
state to make me governor and about
my success I have neither doubt nor
question, but I am not asking them
to delegate to me o any other man
those rights and privileges which be-
long to them. I shall be proud, in
deed, If elected, to exercise the pre-
rogative and perform the duties Of
that high Office and l shall be content
to leave with the people the respon-
sibility for the acts and conduct Of
other men.
There is one Office provided for
under the laws of South Dakota the
corrupting influence of which cannot
be measured except by that great
horoscope which has for it's field of
observation the beginning and the
end of all things. That Office is APP
pointive and is always filled by a de-
voted and special henchman Of the
governor, who is termed the Insur-
ance Commissioner of this state.
Into his hands is committed the
responsible position of shaping sen-
timent to prolong the life Of his
chief at the public crib. He is at the
head of the most powerful corrupt
ing influence and the greatest graft
that was ever tolerated since Catilino
%conspired and Caesar fought. He has
for distribution during the two years
of his office not less than $4,000
worth Of insurance statements to 30
published in the newspapers Of this
state. The insurance commissiopsr
names the newspapers and To
amount to be given to each. He haA
for his standard but one principle.
and that Il the loyalty and fidelity Of
the paper to the Standardization. e
. Newspaper opposes the administra-
ton OF criticises its conduct 1t loses
its seat at the banquet table prepared
by the commissioner Of insurance. II.
on the other hand, an editor Il loud
in his applause. criticizes nothing, but
shuts his eyes and swallows al,
worms or single nails, the size Of
his piece Of pie is increased and he
is accepted with open arms and per-
mitted to observe the Utmost work
ings of the political machine.
81 would make the Office Of in-
a commissioner elective, SO
that official might be free and inde-
pendent of all other officers and re-
sponsible for his conduct only to the
will of the people.
81 am opposed to the publication
of insurance statements and consider
the same a graft, pure and simple.
which is and must be paid for by the
people who hold the policies in the
companies. But if the insurance
statements are to be published, there
can be but n object and purpose
OF their publication. and that is to
give notice to the people.
Il would therefore by law make
the distribution of all insurance
statements impartial among all the
papers of the state in direct proper
ton to their circulation and without
regard to party politics or political
a%ffiliation.
"You will readily see that such q
law would defeat the purpose of the
political boss and would make all
newspapers free and independent to
speak the truth without danger of
ter.
In order that the people may have
a direct check on corrupt county Of
ficials and be assured of faithful SER
vice, l am in favor Of enacting into
law in this state the recall principle
as it is invoked under the commits
sion plan of city government. maxi
ing the same apply to all county ofh-
Gals, thus giving the people separate
and distinct power from the judi
ciary to remove corrupt county Of
icers.
"The recall principle has been
tried and tested and found to 10
one of the grandest instruments for
the protection Of the interests Of the
people and to enforce Official integ.
rity, that has been devised since gov
eminent was instituted among 9
With a provision Of the Law on our
statute books that any officials who
failed or neglected to do his duty,