Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-03-31
SHALL RICHARDS RUN STATE
If Insurgents win Richards will
Boss the Job.

The Pierre Capital-J Journal asks:
"Shall Dick Richards Run the State of
South Dakota?" and then proceeds to
give several reasons why he should not.
In part it says:
Fright here we wish to go on record
say we do not believe any one man in
the state should by his Il, me- my
myself attitude become single ruler.
Men who will serve under such dicta-
tor and leader are not safe public serv-
ants. When man gets such hallucina-
tons that he is 1t, the Whole Thing, it
is dangerous to have him at large. The
Huron meeting was called by men from
several counties, but it was dictated by
one man. THAI one man has filled col
umns of newspapers the past year with
denunciations of Governor Vessey and
Senator Crawford in particular Ad-
hitting he was right, so far as an ar
gument is concerned, the result of that
conference shows the man to be a dam
gerous advertisement for the state.
There was a contest as to the manner
of conducting their campaign. An ordi-
nary businesslike system was proposed
on one hand, and on the other the ques-
ton simply was: "Shall Dick Richards
run it," and Dick won. Dick has lots
of money, He has past that we do
not care to recall to those who do not
know his failings But he won and is
the whole thing in South Dakota-if the
people name any insurgents at the June
primaries.
"Do we want our state, as a state,
to have the people over the country
ask: What's the matter with South
Dakota?' because an individual with
such egotism and fanatical fancies as
Dick Richards entertains, is recognized
as state leader? Hardly.
This newspaper has been opposed
to the insurgents for many reasons, but
now we are more opposed to them be-
cause it shows an awful weakness in
men to place in a prominent position
such man because he has money. It'll
sad commentary on the mental calibre
of our citizenship when such thing
transpires in gathering that includes
in its deliberations the chief executive
of the state, state officials, the head of
our educational system, bankers, pub
fishers and men who are supposed to be
sane and capable of managing public
affairs. That Crawford should win, or
Vessey should win, or any stalwart be
defeated is not subject that should
discount the intelligence of the people
half so much as it would to have the
world learn that man whose egotism
is monumental and his tyranical instinct
so personal as are those of Dick Rich
ards, was a successful dictator in the
political life of the state.
Mr.. Richards has been cajoled By
stalwart influences as he should not
have been. He imagines he is the one
citizen all men and parties must look
to. Instead, he should be an object Of
pity.
During the last session of the legisla-
ture he appeared with a bank bill he
wanted the legislature to pass. He
talked to the committee sanely for some
time, then started off with a rambling
talk about the multiple of 33.
1t is a pity the insurgents have not
sense enough to mind their own affairs.
1t is pity this spectacle is in the state.
1t is pity we are supposed to be devoid
of sound or careful leaders in a large
political faction in the state. The thing
to cure this is to vote against an insur-
gent or Richards rooter every time you
see his name in June"