The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-23
SEN. URDAHL'S REPLY
TO AN OPEN LETTER ISSUED BY
SECRETARY OF STATE
GLASNER,
Senate

Pierre, 5. D., Jan. FL. 1915.
Hon. Frank Glasner, Ex-Secretary of
State, Tyndall, 8. d.
Dear Sir: / have the honor of re-
ceiving your open letter addressed to
me In reference to "A plain state
ment Of facts regarding conditions
at the capitol" and have read the
same with considerable interest and
amusement, and I am unable to see
how the matter referred to In your
letter should concern me personally.
Believing, however, that the people
of our state are taking a vital inter
est In all matters pertaining to our
state government, / presume that 1t
becomes my duty to supplement, with
additional facts, a few of the state
ments made by the ex-secretary of
state. Nor do / write this with a
spirit of malice. The ex-secretary
has never yet given me cause to treat
him unkindly. IL 1t has become my
duty to reveal some OF the shortcom-
ings of a person who has attempted
to fill a place of public trust and fail
ed, l am doing 1t with sincere pity
for the man.
In his letter, Mr.. Glasner conveys
the impression that any comments |
may have made on the secretary of
states office under his administra-
ton were made with the purpose of
~discrediting him and his stalwart
friends. When, as a member OF the
house in 1913, l undertook to expose
a few evils that had crept into some
| Of the departments of our state gov
eminent, l took upon myself hat
disagreeable duty with the n single
purpose Of bringing about a condi-
| ton that would make 1t impossible
for a person, dishonesty inclined, to
violate his public trust. This is also
true in reference to my connection
with the exposure of the former sec
Rotary of states office, though most
Of the facts In this instance were
brought to light by Representative
Thompson of Minnehaha and Baldwin
of Lake, and the ex-secretary should
have shown his courtesy to these gen
tlemen by giving them full credit for
their splendid services.
Already two years ago, while a
member of the house, l was well
aware Of the loose and wasteful man
ner In which the secretary OF state
office was being conducted, and par
Iticularly in reference to the manage
ment Of the capitol building and
grounds. Other problems that CON
sidered of even greater Importance
attracted my attention at that time,
and for that reason | let the matter
rest. When l returned this year as 2
member OF the senate, / Immediately
took up the work OF preparing a BIZ
providing for the management of the
capitol building and grounds to b.
placed with the governor acting ex
ofhcio through a deputy selected To-
that purpose. The purpose OF tn
proposed legislation is TO centraliz'
the responsibility In n person
whose official position places him II
constant touch with the people, an
whom the people will be able to holC
responsible at the polls.
To show the necessity of a radica
change in the management OF thu
capitol building, / wish to call atten
ton to the report OF the former sec
rotary of state filed with the senate
and found on pages 60-62 of The
Senate Journal. From this report !
will be seen that the last Legislature
appropriated $4,000 for the car
md upkeeping of the capitol build
ing and grounds for the two year
ending July i, 1915. The same re
) port shows that in addition to the
-s5O.0OO our present legislature vii
be called upon to vote a deficienc,
appropriation Of approximately SIS,
loco. making the cost OF heating tn
| building, of caring for the building
nd grounds and a few necessary sup
plies run up to $4,000 for the tive
years.
/ When a member OF the Legislature
7 meets face to face with such stu
, pendous deficiency in one single de
partment, is there a single either
within our state who will blame hin
for making an attempt to find tn
Icause? Under such circumstances ar
we not tempted TO question our Owl
ability of self government?
When Mr.. Glasner charges In
! governor of being back of the sai'
Proposed legislation, and that tn
Governor is acting from the siniste
: motive of grasping for power and pc
, ~llitical influence, he is stating an un
: truth. The fact is, that while | In
f formed the governor in reference U
: my bill, I never consulted him in tn
, matter and he has never had
chance to express his approval or dis
z %approyal of the said bill which is nov
: under consideration in the senate.
i 1t may be asked, why not place tn
I control with the board OF capito
} commission in place of a deputy su
perintendent of the capitol buildin'
and grounds, with the governor a
, ex-oficio superintendent and respon
! sible head? The capitol commission
, consists of FIVE members. Who woul'
ever think of placing his business, oil
: or small, with FIVE equally RESPONSE
8 BILE managers and expect a prom o
ECONOMY? Boards or bureaus mad
I'm of ex-ofhcio members, have Il
roorly avorv instance DrOVed q yer,