“RUN HIM IN!” “LOCK HIM UP!”

This was the fate of McIntosh’s Friends at Morristown on Election Day

The most high-handed and absolutely unlawful election ever conducted in South Dakota took place in Morristown precinct on election day. Unless one favored Morristown he did not stand a “ghost of a show.” Voters who were considered as being favorable to McIntosh were put in jail the instant they offered to act as witnesses for some other person whose vote had been challenged. Wm. Bennett and Jos. Erz of Watauga, were taken to jail because of this grave offense and the editor of this paper was locked up on general principles. Messrs. Bennett and Erz were marched to Morristown’s fine new steel cages (which are undoubtedly yet unpaid for ) shortly after noon. At about 2:15 the writer was taken to the mighty steel cages. Upon entering the “town hall” we observed Bennett and Erz playing “pitch.” The thought of a sociable game of cards to while the weary hours away flashed through our mind, but alas! the “special” officers locked us in a cage “all by our lonesome.” Great preparations were made for our comfort and by the manner in which a stove, some coal and bedding was brought would outwardly make it appear that we were “ there for keeps.” About the time preparations had been completed and the pomp and ceremony of the occasion had been exhausted, the authorities (of which there were several) came and let the gentlemen loose with the admonition to “go down the side street and leave town.” Mr. Bennett inquired as to the possible fate of the writer, but was solemnly informed that “We will keep him awhile!” But finally it was decided best to turn us loose. After partaking of some of Morristown’s famous “round steak” and a few accessories the writer made tracks to a freight train that happened to be in the yards and came to the permanent county seat of Corson County.
In fact, the people of that little burg-which has not experienced any perceptible growth since last winter-conducted themselves in a manner of a bunch of frenzied demons-with the all apparent exception that every one of them is individually too cowardly to take an even show with a man. While such treatment is somewhat exasperating, when one stops to consider their desperate condition it is not at all surprising. They have made pretenses and promises to homesteaders which they have failed to fulfill. Their own neighbors have lost confidence in them, and there is great dissension among them. Many have reluctantly spent everything they have in an attempt to get the county seat and certain failure in business stares them in the face. Under the circumstances one is inclined to be charitable and not add to their mental misery. But to say the least, the entire proceeding was about the most amusing thing which has ever happened in this country.

Taken from Corson County Chief-November 9, 1910