Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1912-05-16
.E:GAN AT
P IE||:: { R R E
More Than One Thousand People
Hear the Next Governor Of
South Dakota
LARGEST MEETING EVER HELD
Hearty Reception Given Sioux Falls
Manly Open Hearted Citizens
Of the Capital City
(From Pierre copitoI JournaD

(From Pierre copito JournaD
Two years ago when George W.
Egan made a speech in the opera
house in this city it was g. common
subject of conversation for some time
as to the large number of people who
were out to hear him, but the meeting
held last night by the same speaker in
the same hall eclipsed by far that Of
two years ago, and in fact no gather
ing has ever packed the opera house
SO full except, perhaps, the meeting
of Eugene Debs who held forth in the
same place when candidate for presi-
dent four years ago.
Mr.. Egan, who arrived in the city
yesterday morning, showed evidences
of a hard campaign, but nevertheless
this experience did not detract from
his making most successful appear.
ance in the capital city last night.
Shortly after 8 o'clock the speaker
of the evening entered the opera
house with G. w. Humphrey Of this
city and J. H. Johnson Of Ft. Pierre,
both of whom were class mates Of Mr.:
Egan in the state University Of Iowa.
Although the house was well filed
when the party entered the crowd kept
coming until the rear part Of the room
was crowded by men and women
standing.
Eli Mr.. johnson appeared before the
audience d spoke for son1e te'sass, ,r
fifteen minutes chiefly on the subject
of Mr.. Egan's personality, his progress
sive and persistent manner and told
of many experiences of the speaker
of the evening during college life. He
dwelt on the subject for fully quarter
of an hour relating frequent exper-
ineces in which the candidate for gov
ernor was always shown up as making
good, whether in class exercises, athr
letic meets or society organizations.
Mr.. Johnson paid high tribute to
the ability and stability of the candi-
date from Sioux Falls. Following
him Mr.. Humphrey spoke for two or
three minutes and then Mr.. Egan
took the platform receiving hearty
response in the way of applause as he
came before his hearers. He very
graciously referred to the kindly treat
ment given him here two years ago
and the endorsement given him at the
polls, and then stated that he was
pleased to receive SO hearty a recep-
ton as it was his intention to come to
Pierre in January, 1918, and make this
his home as governor of the state.
Mr.. Egan did not deal in any abuse
of anybody during his entire talk and
this was somewhat disappointing per-
haps to number of people who were
perhaps hoping that he would appear
ridiculous, neither did he take any
time in telling of his experiences as
a citizen and attorney since coming
to the state. His talk was chiefly an
arraignment and Indictment of the
state administrations during the past
six years, and in this he made good
from start to finish. and the frequent
/ prolonged applause, which was given
the speaker, showed that his talk was
not only appreciated. but coincided in
by his listeners Mr.. Egan used the
little black book, or volume two Of
the state auditors report for 1912 as
4 his text box, and the sermon that he
+ gave the tax payers was something
more convincing than the general re-
rival meeting Of any church or politi-
cal Management.
The fact that South Dakota as q
state inherited debt Of s800.0o0 from
territorial days with an assessment
roll Of less than 500 ,o0O,0 900 was d
\ topic that justified him in scoring the
raformer coterie for plunging the state
a million dollars in debt during the
past six yeara when there was over
& 5000, 900, 900 Bile property en- which
to raise revenue by direct taxation.
G In early stat hood days beginning with
1893 state bonds were paid on every
saar when the tax levy was but two
mills with only an occasional de1c.
iency causing the entire b adesl debt