The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-11-10
REPUBLICANS WIN ALL BUT
THREE OFFICES IN COUNTY

Election day in Mellettc county was
bright, crisp day, and just little
chill in the atmosphere. A fairly
good vote was pollcd, and as far as
we know everything passed off quiet
ly.
Circuit Judge Burch last Friday
rendered a decision denying writ
of mGndamus, which proposed to com
pei the Cedarbutte registration board
to register a number Of Indians which
the Beard had refused to do. The
mandamus proceedings were initiated
BY the Democrats. After the Judges
decision, states attorney Kell notified
every election board in the county of
the decision and explained It's effect,
and warned the boards to live up to
tie iudce 5 opinion. a large number
OF Indian votes were challenged as a
consequence of this ruling, but prac
ticallv AN challenged votes were sworn
in. This question of whether or not
the Indian has a legal right to vote
has been a mooted question at practic-
ally every election held in the county
since the opening. 1t is a question
that should have been definitely set
tied long years ago, and it is to be
hoped that as a result Of this years
election. and the large number of chal-
lenged votes that were finally sworn III
and cast, that the matter will be taken
to the court Of last resort. II the
Indian has a legal right to vote under
our laws, he should have it. If he has
not the right under the law to vote he
should not be allowed to vote, and
should be prosecuted for fraudulent
voting, the same as any white man
would be under similar circumstances.
At any rate, it is a question that
should be definitely settled, and we
know of no better time to do it than
right now. and it should be taken to
the highest court in the land.
The result of election in this coun-
ty was very satisfactory as who
The maiorities Of the Republican can
didates are as follows:
Williamson, for congress, carries
the county by So; McMaster, for gov
ernor, is winner in Melktte county by
%; Olson. for representative, goes out
cf Melctte county with ma ajority Of
81; Smith, for treasurer, is elected
by a majority Of As; Sheriff Bum is
reelected by the handsome majority
Of 245; Cordell is returned to reg
lister of deeds Office by aiority of
90; Strain is reelected clerk of
courts by 80 majority, and Helen
Fridy, for county superintendent, has
majority of l65 over her opponent; ;
Simon Fridy, for assessor, has q
majority of 81 Mr. Putnam, of Nor
ris, was elected county commissioner
from the third district by good
majority, replacing the present Demo
cratic member Of the board.
The Democrats get this consolation
out of last Tuesdays result: They
elect Kerlin auditor by majority of
1872; Hutchinson, states attorney, by
majority of 146, and elect Kimball
commissioner Of the first district by
about fifty majority.
Although this was an off year, the
Democrats made no gains in the
number Of officers they elected two
years ago, and this year the Repub-
licans get the treasurer and the Demo
Gratis get auditor. Two years ago the
Democrats got county superintendent,
and this year the Republicans capture
the superintendent 5 job, but lose the
states attorneys office to the Demo
Gratis The Republicans lose the coun-
tv commissioner in this, the first dist
rict, and gain the commissioner in the
third district.
Taken all in all, the result Of Tues
DAYS battle of ballots was quite sat
- ofory thank Won