The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-05-30
JOHNSON SPEAKS IN
BEHALF UF BYRNt
ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARGES
THAT EGAN MOULD lNAUG-
URATE AN EZRA OF LAW
LESSNESS IN THE
STATE.

attorney genera spoke nere laSt
night in behalf OF the candidacy OF
Lieutenant Governor Byrne and in
answer to the campaign of George
w. Egan.
He stated that George w. Egan's
statement to the effect that South
Dakota had expended Sill ,000.0 90 to
enact a passenger rate law and not a
dollar to pass freight law, is not
true. He said the state has spent a
large sum of money in securing the
physical valuation of the railroads
for the purpose of taxation IL that
after that physical valuation had
been made and the railroads assess
had made a difference in the amount
of property taxable. each year, from
1905 to 1911, in this state OF $780,
251.66. 1t was a good thing to spend
$4,000 to get at the real taxable
value of railroads so that the rail-
roads may be compelled to pay their
real portion of taxes. "Egan made the
statement about the passenger rate
cases either through malacc or lg-
norance," said Mr.. johnson. ANY at
torney or Judge will tell you that,
if YOU are good jurors, You Will not
believe any OF the testimony of a
witness unless you believe all OF it.
The testimony must be all true or
none of it true
Mr.. johnson charged that the elec-
ton OF Mr.. Egan would be the inaug-
uration of a reign of lawlessness in
South Dakota, from the TACT that
George w. Egan made an open bid
for law-breaking in the Black Hills.
In most OF the cities of the Black
Hills the public gambling halls rave
been closed and the wheels which
were for years openly run in VIOLA
ton of the law no longer whirl. Such
gambling as is yet carried on is in
quiet seclusion. The former all night
saloons no longer exist and the Sun
day and 8 o'clock closing laws are
we'll obeyed. The social evil has been
made much less offensive and dcstru-
ctive. Many undesirable citizens have
gone and others will be compelled
to &c. When Egan spoke in the BLACK
Hills Il few weeks age he stated that
the people of Deadwood should not be
rcqui:ed to obey any state law not
in accord with local sentiment and
would not interfere with the local
violation of the law. He asserted THAT,
if the people of Deadwood saw fit to
permit Sunday theaters, Sunday base
ball for profit, all night poolhalls and
other violations of the state laws,
they should be permitted to do so
Mr.. johnson denounced such an atti-
tude as being d menace to good gov
ernment and declared that the cleo
: ton of a man OF that type would be
Il statewide calamity.
Mr.. Johnson then named some OF
i, the progressive and remedial legisla'
ton which has been enacted by the
Progressives of South Dakota; tho
anti-pass law, the anti-lobby law. the
anti-corporation law, which compel
i, led the lumber trusts to let the inde'
pendent dealers alone, the double
damage law, which comDells rail
: roads to settle any personal lnJur!
case within sixty days after the cas-
f. has been decided in court or pa
double damages asked, the freigh
rates and passenger rate laws, TN
express rate law, by which there ha
- been a reduction in express rate
Il throughout the state of 80 IL to .
; per cent. Most of this legislation va
/, introduced by Frank NJ. Byrne. tn
j, present Lieutenant Governor and can
didate for COVE nor, and the rest @
it had his active support
Mr.. johnson stated that Mr.. Ega
was the champion chameleon of Sout
y, Dakota, being able to change his co
to suit any local condition. "Whc
c at HOT springs ME-. iESdu Ciedlcu tE
D impression that, if he is elected COVE
nor. he will see thai vast sums al
appropriation for the Soldiers Hon
but that the appropriations for 1nst
buttons in the other parts OF the :ta'
q will be curtained. When in 3roo!
wings he creates the impression that
elected governor, he will approp@lh
ss vast sums for the benefit of h agr
cultural college, but that he viii! RI
:, down the total amount of approprl
&c lions by c%urtailing them at some
:, the state normals. When at Sps
he creates the impression that he w
N abolish the Spearfish normal. al
when at some other normal in5ti'.
ofi ion he reverses the operation. He st,
,.sl es to the old soldiers in the home
of Hot Springs that # | am elected &c