The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1911-04-14
FIGHT GROWS.HOT
in DEADWOOD.

Deadwood, April S.-Another sen.
sation in the bitter strife waged here
for the past four months between the
reform forces under the leadership of
Z. l.. Sem and the Civic League and
those who opposed changed condi-
tions was written here with the alleg-
ed exposure of Sem by two of the
newspapers who haye been opposing
him.
The alleged exposure involved acts
of indiscretion on the part of Sem
toward his girl stenographer, and Gre
ated a sensation throughout this por-
ton of the Black Hills. Friends in
stantly took up the challenge and de-
clared the publication OF the articles
a malicious attempt to ruin Senn and
stop the reform wave, but later devel-
opments have turned public opinion
against Semi.
For months Sem has been fighting
relentlessly in his newspaper here
agsinst vice conditions, exporting some
facts that resulted in the visit Of At
torney General johnson in February
and the closing Of dance halls and
lessening of conditions. In retalia-
ton, an outstanding mortgage against
his paper was called in and with diff
ficulty met and both sides used every
weapon that would avail in the attack.
Finally the Deadwood Pioneer
Times and Lead Daily Call published
articles charging openly that Sem
had been guilty of attempting to kiss
his stenographer in his private office
in the Gilmore hotel. The father of
the girl to whom she told her stor,I,
soon spread it about town and the
girl was taken to the office of the
states attorney but declined to sign
any affidavit, declaring that Sem had
been guilty of only indiscreet conduct
toward her and that she would not
prosecute. The states attorney at
once wired for Attorney General John
son to come to Deadwood and inves-
tigate the case and announces that
should the latter determine upon any
prosecution, it will be pushed.
In his own PAPER Sem declares edi-
torially "Thes. papers have been
upholding the lawless vice of Dead
wood and opposing the efforts of the
Telegram for cleaner city. 1t is to
be expected that they would make
the most of such an opportunity at a
time when public sentiment is threat
ening to overthrow in the city cleo
tion the interests behind which the
vice of Deadwood had been entrenched
ut is obvious that this is not the
proper place for the editor Of She
Telegram to make his defense. All he
cares to say now is to assure his
friends that he has not been guilty of
any criminal act or attempted Grim
inal act. All other explanations are
deferred at this time.
Sem is widely known throughout
the state politically and owns string
of newspapers through South Dakota.
His failure to make a more determin-
ed denial of the charges against him
has alienated many of his former ad
mirers. HIS opponents ct once p!a
carded the town with cards bearing
the inscription Give me kiss, Pm
so lonesome,n words alleged to have
been used by Sem to the girl. ~
In the issue of the Daily Telegram
of the 18th Sem emphatically denies
being guilty of the charges brought
against him and states that unless the
papers that published the stories re-
tract them in their next issues he win
begin proceeding for criminal libel
and give the matter an airing in the
courts. The states attorney will have
a case brought against him for sland-
er if Sem can get hold of the tele-
gram that was sent to the Attorney
General,