The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-05-24

satisfaction Of his colleagues and
the occupants Of the galleries III
the house of representatives manl
times, and notably SO on April
9th, when Mr.. Burke closed an
address by giving his hearers some
information concerning the Second
district of South Dakota and It's
people, and his attitude, as a
representative toward his constl-
%tuents, as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, since | have been
il member OF this house | have
been elected al large, aud therefore
have represented in part, the whole
state OF South Dakota. 1t is Il
large state. with varied interests,
and in the neWer PORTIONS 1t has
been necessary to secure much
legislation for its development.
We have had the question OF open
ing up the Indian reservations,
|legislating for "A large Indian popu-
l%ation. amending the homestead
law. in the interest Of inviting I'M
migration and making it easier for
the settlers; legislation for recla-
nation. forest reservations, and
many other matters that required
attention, which haze made our
duties harder than that OF the
average member Of this house who
represents Il compact. Old-settled
district. Under the new appOr-
tionment we will gain one member,
so that after this congress we Y i'll
be represented by three members
Of this house.
The state has been divided into
three congressional districts, and
if it should be my good fortune to
again be elected | will in the next
congress represent the Second dis
trict, being ell that part Of the
state east of the Missouri river and
north Of a line from the river on
the south side Of Hughes and other
counties east thereof to the Mime.
sofa line. 1t will readily be appre-
ciated that as the representative of
this district | will be able to de-
vote my time largely to the inter
ests of the people of that district,
and can accomplish more for that
part Of the state than | have here
tofore. This district is strictly an
agricultural enc, and | may say
that there is probably no district
in the United States that possesses
more uniform and productive land
than this. 1t is settled by an in
telligent and progressive people,
and | think | am safe in saying
that there is probably less ~illiteracy
among the people than in most of
the congressional districts of the
country. AS before stated, the
people are engaged very largely in
farming. There are no large cities
in the district, but there are pros
porous ana enterprising small
and cities. We have rural
free delivery very generally
throughout the district; also rural
telephones and, in fact the conven-
fences that may be found in any of
our eastern states. These people
are well informed and they usually
know what they want. | may say
that they were very much opposed
Canadian reciprocity and are
still, and when | opposed the
proposition in the last congress
and again opposed it in this special
session of this congress and voted
against it | was rejecting the SEN
timent of the overwhelming ma
of the people in the Sec
0nd congressional district in my
1t has always been my purpose
since being a member of this house.
to try and represent the sentiment
Of the majority of my constituents
upon all public questions, and
| remain a member | shall
continue to serve their interests,
ways considering their welfare