The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-07-17
ACCUSES
RICHARDS OF BEING
A DECE|7FUL CUR"
The Democratic Nation
al Committeeman
Launches Attack.
PROMISED POWER
PROMISED POWER
Says Richards Told Him His
Primary Would Give Him
Power of Appointments.

Plankinton, S. D.-Smarting under
frequent criticisms by II. O. Richards
of Huron, author of the primary law
now upon the statute books of South
Dakota, that he was exceeding his
authority in endorsing applicants for
federal offices in South Dakota,
Thomas w. Taubman, of this city,
democratic national committeeman
for South Dakota, has bitterly at
tackled Mr.. Richards, whom he terms
a "deceitful cur The national COM
mitteeman further charges that MIR.
Richards is either Il crook or crazy.
In defense of his action in endorsing
candidates for federal places Mr..
Taubman has made public the follow
ing letter written by Mr.. Richards
under date of July 10, 1912.
MIR. Thomas Taubman, Plank
inton, S. ID. My Dear Sir: I wish
to call your attention to section No.
ia of the proposed primary law,
which is to be voted upon in Mo-
vember. If the democratic party
should be successful at the polls at
the general election, and the pro-
posed primary law should also be
adopted at this time, your position
as party national committeeman
becomes one of LEGAL power and
responsibility to determine official
party endorsements to appointive
offices in this state
Conference at Mitchell.
National Committeeman Taub-
man states further that at Mitchell
last April Mr.. Richards called at his
room in the interests of his prim-
airy law, and that during the con-
v%ersation which ensued Mr.. Rich
ards made the statement that the
democratic national committeeman
of this state, under the provisions
of his law had the power to make
all endorsements for federal APP
p~ointments.
When asked" said Mr.. Taub-
man, "about the section where the
whole state committee meets at
Pierre to make endorsements he eX-
planned that the national commit
tee had the power to fill all vacancies
as they occurred. and that. there
fore. there would be nothing for the
committee to do when it met Dec.
4 of each year.
Asked IL the Stale cOmHlltlec
could not make endorsements for the
future, the Hon. Dick replied: i
made that law on purpose to please
you fellows-the committee absol-
utely has no power to endorse until
a vacancy IL
II asked Mr.. Richards why he
put the state to the expense of pay,
ing the fare of the sixty odd com
mitteemen to Pierre when there was
absolutely nothing for them to dc
when they got there. Up to this
time ] have not received a reply
Now Mr.. Richards is telling tho
people Tom Taubman is exceeding
his authority in endorsing candidate:
for postoffices.'
National Committeeman Taubmai
concludes his attack by asking: "l'
Dick Richards on the square,"
1t is expected Mr.. Richards will
make a reply TO the attack of The
national committeeman, when the
people of the state will De entertain
ed by what promises to be one o
the most heated debates" pulled OF
in South Dakota for some time
National Committeeman Taubman il
noted for his fighting qualities and i
is not expected he will abandon thu
debate until his antagonist has beer
vanquished.