The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1922-03-03
OPENING OF STATE
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
GOV. McMASTER DELIVERS STIR
RING ADDRESSES In SOUTH
STATE TOWNS.

Sioux Falls, March 3.-Governor
w. HI. McMaster officially opened his
campaign for the gubernatorial NOM
ination yesterday with two address
es, one at Beresford in the afternoon
and the other at Centerville in the
evening. In both instances the
chief executive of South Dakota was
greeted with capacity audiences, tax
ing the auditoriums in which the
rallies were held
A stirring tribute to South Da-
kota's reconstruction governor was
paid at the little town of Beresford,
which had the honor of entertaining
the governor at his first campaign
speech of the present primary fight
against George w. Egan.
Over 400 people waited patiently
in bitter cold weather, while the gov
ernor was over an hour late for his
talk, due to train connections. The
theater was filled. Every seat con-
tanned an attentive listener. The
vestibule at the rear of the hall was
packed by men standing. Even the
small room used by the motion pic
ture operator contained men who
crowded toward the tiny window, ea-
ger to catch every word which Nc
Master uttered.
1t was the same story at Center
Vile. The hall was packed; every
seat was taken, and in the rear men
stood waiting for the message which
the head of the state administration
brought them.
A notable thing was the fact that
fair sprinkling of women was
found in both audiences, contrasting
to the days not long past, when wo-
man had no place in politics. Today
she is just as interested as man, and
the attentive way in which they lis
tened to the governor showed the in
terest is more than mere passing
whim or fad.
Both speeches were characteristic
ally McMaster. With his deliberate,
resonant voice filling the hall. the
governor answered the charges
which have been flung at him and
concisely showed the answer to all
accusations.
There was no oratorical bombast
no flinging of arms and shouting;
Just a clear matter-of-fact statement
of facts, substantiated by proof
Both audiences sat attentive through
the talks, which lasted more than
an hour each. The rooms were still
at all times. Men leaned forward
! to catch every word. 1t was case
of men who were eager to hear the
man who has led them in state gov
ernment for the past year and half
Covering a vast amount OF terri
tory in both his talks, Governor Nc
Master satisfactorily answered thu
accusations which have been hurled
| at him in the last three weeks of thu
campaign. Labelling many of thu
statements of his adversary as mali
ciously false, the governor reared
up on his hind feet" and answered
the accusations. He did 1t in a COO
manner, using biting sarcasm rathel
than elouent appeal. His statemen
of facts was accurate, and his idea
clearly expressed.
He dwelt for short time on thu
much discussed McDougall loan case
He showed three affidavits from
porminent citize ms Of Britton, de
claring the property to be worth II
the neighborhood of $4,000. HI
then showed that the land loan de
!. partment is authorized by law 7
make loan equal to so per cent o
the collateral, when the money goe
to ex-service men.
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