Senator John Smith, 1907 & 1908
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It’s a Landslide!
“Irish” John Smith elected State Senator
In November, 1906, the good people of District 14 elected one of their own to represent them in Pierre. John Smith, Irish immigrant and Civil War Veteran, served his district for two years as State Senator. John and his family left Ireland many years ago to escape poverty, and nearly 60% of voters elected him as their State Senator.
In today’s world millions of dollars are spent in campaign advertising. Even local elections are expensive to run; however, this was not the case in 1906. The election season was short, perhaps only a couple of months at most. In smoky backrooms party faithful drew up their slate of candidates. In October 1906 Democratic Party reps met in Pukwana and drew up their slate of candidates. John Smith was their choice for State Senator.
“Character” was important in those early elections? As one local newspaper said of John, “he was well acquainted in Brule County”. Nothing more needed to be said. We know him as both “Irish John Smith” and “Honest Irish John Smith”.
In
a State Capitol corridor hangs a picture of those who served in the 10th
legislative session. One of those pictured is John Smith of Brule
County. Many of us have seen this picture in Pierre, South Dakota. It
has been many years since I have seen this picture; however, the memory
of it still remains. John Smith gave his birth date as March 3, 1844.
Unfortunately we have not found John Smith’s voting record.
Important Milestones for the 10th Legislative Session
· The initiative and referendum approved. This was first used in 1908 when three referred laws were on the ballot.
· Butte County divided further. Harding County and Perkins County created.
· Legislation approved in 1907 exchanged Union County with the State of Nebraska when the main channel of the Missouri River was established as the boundary between South Dakota and Nebraska.
· Divorce laws changed from 6 months residence to 12 months residence.
· In 1908 the cornerstone of the new capitol building was laid. John Smith would have voted on money for the new building.
· Election Primary date changed to March.
· Passed legislation that allowed direct nomination of party delegates who would attend the national party conventions in June.
Prior to the elections, the Brule County Democratic caucus was held to select candidates and platforms This article talks about its outcome:
The Kimball Graphic and the Kimball Index Consolidated
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The Only Strictly Moral Newspaper in South Dakota
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Kimball, South Dakota, Friday, September 9, 1906
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CLATE TINAN
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Official Paper of the City and County
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Democratic County Convention
The Democratic county convention for the nomination of county officers was held at Pukwana Tuesday. In the absence of Chairman Willrodt, who was detained at home by illness, the convention was called to order by the secretary, C. G. LeBlonde. G. E. Mann of Chamberlain was made chairman of the convention and C. G. LeBlonde secretary. After the appointment of the usual committees, an adjournment was taken to 1 p.m.
The convention was addressed by Thos. Lyons of Vermillion, Democratic candidate for state superintendent of schools, in a rattling good speech, upon assembling after dinner.
The committee on credentials reported all precincts represented except America and Eagle, and on the motion of those townships were voted by Democrats present from the said precincts.
The convention passed a resolution empowering the County Central Committee fill any vacancies in the list of County officials nominated by the convention.
The committee on rules and order recommended that the nominations begin with county commissioners, followed by the constables and justices and the legislative ticket last, thus reversing the usual procedure. All the nominations were made unanimously, there being no opposition to the renomination of present encumbents of the county offices who were qualified for a second term. J. E. House declined a renomination for state’s attorney in the interest of harmony, and in so doing made a splendid talk. I. A. Weeks also declined a renomination for probate judge because of outside interests which take all his time. The commissioners were nominated by their respective districts. Here is the complete ticket:
State Senator – John Smith
Representatives – A. M. Goff, G. W. Brumbaugh
Treasurer – L. L. Henegar
Auditor – G. C. Duncan
Register of Deeds – F. H. LaVoy
State’s Attorney – W. J. Farmer
Sheriff – Ed. C. Healey
Clerk of Courts – C. A. Novotny
County Judge – Clark S. Rowe
Surveyor – F. H. Myer
Coroner – Dr. F. H. Stewart
Constables – J. H. Reback, J. S. Stewart, F. F. McLaughlin, J. W. Berry
Justices – H. C. Smith, M. C. Nolan, M. C. Felker, J. C. Whitenmeyer
Commissioner First District C. D. Tidrick.
Commissioner Third District – Jos. Woodraska
Commissioner Fifth District – Louis Richards
RESOLUTIONS
The Democratic party of Brule County, in convention assembled, hereby reaffirm its allegiances to the principles of justice and liberty, and the God-given rights of the individual upon which our reconstitution was founded.
We recognize that the time has come in the growth of this Republic when the question must be settled whether the individual shall have the benefits and opportunities given him by the tenets of a Democratic form of government or be stifled and crushed by the creation of greater favoritism than that which the Republican party has already showered upon the arrogant and obnoxious monopolies and trusts now cursing the land.
In short, we believe in, and call upon all true Democrats to uphold, maintain and support the platform adopted by the last Democratic convention in South Dakota, and commend its declarations, to those of the Republican party who, dissatisfied with the trust and boss rule in their own party, have sought to steal the livery of Democracy to win the support of the masses and the favor of the independent voter.
We point with pride to the splendid record of the Democratic party in Brule County – to which the party at large in the state ever turns with inspiration and pride – to the efficient services of its county officials, and especially to the economy, fairness and excellent business ability always exhibited by the Democratic board of county commissioners.
We instruct the Democratic representatives from Brule County in both houses of the legislative assembly, should they be elected, to vote first, last and all the time for a Democrat for United States Senator, and to use their best efforts for the enactment of an effective primary law.
We congratulate President Roosevelt for knowing a good thing when he sees it – the teachings of Democracy for a hundred years – and with no small satisfaction point to the fact that at last our matchless leader and tribune, William Jennings Bryan, is fast coming to his own – the esteem and admiration, not only of his immediate followers, but of all good and true men over the civilized world.
There's always a "bad loser"
The Chamberlain Register
November 6, 1906
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The Ship Subsidy Defeated Bradley!
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Press reporter. Henry Bradley shouldn’t take it as a personal defeat. Henry is a might fine fellow but the people of Brule county didn’t propose to stand for a man for United States senator who will vote for ship subsidies. And then too, Irish John Smith is an old timer in Brule county – a farmer, and well acquainted.
Just think of such balderdash as the above put by Wentzy to try to throw people off as to the real cause of the defeat of Henry Bradley for state senator on the republican ticket. Anybody knows that the ship subsidy has about as much to do with his defeat as the Panama canal bill. The fact of the matter is that the defeat of Mr. Bradley is one of the results of Mr. Wentzy’s visits to Sioux Falls confer with “leading republicans.” Of course, it may have been a “lapsus penna” on the part of the Argus-Leader reporter, but subsequent events prove conclusively that it was the truth. The republicans who worked with Mr. Wentzy and his crowd to defeat Mr. Bradley are not the kind of republicans who would be deterred from voting for Mr. Bradley because Mr. Gamble voted for the ship subsidy; their own patron saint, Mr. Kittredge, did the same thing. They are of the kind who were ready to enter into any combination to beat Senator Gamble for re-election and the Gov. Crawford’s hands with a legislature that was unfavorable to him and the reforms advocated in the state platform.
If Wentzy continues with the rest of the defeated republican candidates a he has begun with Mr. Bradley, it is altogether likely that by another two years he will be ready to write for them a splendid hypocritical political panegyric as did this fall for the republican candidates defeated two years ago.
On Being a Democrat...
from John Smith's perspective
Irish John Smith was one of the few Democrats in the state senate during the 10th legislative session. The Republicans held the majority of available seats during 1907 and 1908:
- 38 Republicans
- 7 Democrats
Irish John was once asked why he became a Democrat:
"When I signed up for citizenship, a man asked me which political party I wanted to join - Republican or Democrat. I then asked him a question - which party is bigger? And he said, "Republicans, of course." I then told him I wanted to be a Democrat "because I like a good fight."
The Chamberlain Register
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November __, 1906
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The following is the estimated unofficial majorities of the successful candidates in Brule county: Stransky, gov., 77, Smith, Senator, 184, Goff, rep. 93, Brumbaugh, rep., 31, Drury, county judge, 126, Novotny, clerk of the courts, 71, Healey, sheriff 245, Henegar, treasurer, 242, Duncan, auditor, 159, House, state’s attorney, plurality over Farmer, 370, LaVoy, register of deeds 105; the democratic commissioners are elected with the possible exception of Tidrick, the vote between him and Patrick Henry being so close that it will take the official count to settle it, The board meets as a canvassing board next Tuesday when the official county will be made.
