The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-03-01
BOWEL ACCUSED
BY Brinker of Attempting to
Bride Political Aspect
of the Trouble

of the Office of the commissioner Of
school and public lands il consideration
of one hundred dollars which be Il
claimed to have incurred in campaign
expenses was a portion of the testi
mony Of f. f. Brinker, the deposed
land commissioner before the investi
eating committee. He stated that he
had opposed Bowell's denomination,
and that Bowel asked this amount tC
defray the expenses of the campaign
which he would net otherwise have
had. He also stated that Bowel had
finally offered to drop the matter and
stop all attempts at Investigations for
$50, but that they had made an
amicable settlement without any cash
consideration.
Section 1873 of the penal code states
that solicitation of a bride by a legis.
~latoris an offenss punishable by not
more than 10 years Imprisonment or a
fine of S., 900 or both.
In spite of the apparent glee of the
reR~ctionaries at the findings of the COM
mittee which investigated the Office
Of the commissioner of school and
public lands, the investigation will.
beyond a doubt, rebound to the credit
of the progressive republicans and
particularly to the administration of
Governor Byrne.
1t was the governor who first sug-
gested the investigation to the attorney
general ard that official presented the
facts to the committee, with the result
that Brinker resigned from Office, paid
Lack money into the state treasury and
was later arrested on a criminal charge.
The Anderson committee is composed
of a set of very able men and iJ has
gone after things in a most business
like manner, with Representative
Chrlstopherson of Sioux Falls conduct
ing the examinations of the witnesses
and acting as attorney for the com
mittee. The immediate results of the
committees work are evidences of the
manner in which the committee is pro-
ceeding.
The democrats and r%eactionaries
claim credit for whipping the progress
sives into line with the Russell resolu-
tion in the senate. This resolution was
defeated by the Anderson resolution
under which the committee was ap-
pointed. The Russell resolution was
purely and simply a political move, as
the author of the resolution did not
want the committee to report to the
lartoI,N,ra hr,A rynnfaI 70 1o1n ~ pannrkc
for the purpose of making political
capital of them.
A fair comparison Of Investigations
conducted by the democrats and the
republicans may be seen in the work of
the Morgan committee whfoh was APP
pointed to investigate into the charges
that state employees and officials had
received two salaries. This committee
is democratic and has been at work
for several weeks, but so far has
failed to disclose anything of a start
ling or sensational nature, while the
Anderson committee in the few days
it has been at work has started a real
house cleaning. Later developments
may give opportunity for an even better
comparison.
That the Investigation will not close
with the inquiry into Drinkers Office
has been intinated by members of
the committee and the governor stated
yesterday that in view of the develop
ments, he would urge the legislature
to continue the investigation of state
departments after the session has
closed and to make reports to him.
A probab BILE plan will be to have expert
accountants appointed to put in a
month or as much time as necessary to
go through the books Of the various de-
psrtments and to then have the com
mittee meet to go over the reports of
the accountants and to conduct the
Investigation along lines suggested by
the nature of the reports.
Such a plan. while not made for
political effect because it lie in accord
with the administration program of
cleaning up matters, will rob the
democrats of much thunder and will
ALEC leave the reactionaries in a sad
predicament.
Referring further to the political
aspect, il seems worth while to point
out that. under the primary system
which has been in vogue in the past,
no party or state organization has been
responsible for the initiation Of the in
dividual candidates., this being sub.
mitted direc ly to the people and de-
cided by them. While f. f. Brinker
posed as a progressive republican, he
showed an active interest IN promot-
ing the candidacy of Frank Glassner
for secretary of state. Glassner was
formerly connected with Drinkers
office and was one of the candidates
branded 20. H." ut the state meeting
of stalwarts held in Mitchell just be-
fore the election last fall.
In testifying before the investigating
committee, Frank Glassner stated that
he had no knowledge of any ''inside
deal" between Brinker and the auto.
mobile driver. although he (Glassner)
had sometimes paid the driver his
salary In courIency.
Grauel also referred, in his evidence,
to payments made to him by Glassner
and one particular incident is a part OF
the record. GIauel testified that most
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