Voting controversy highlights March Plainsman’s Past

A look into the history of Huron again finds that as much as things change, they often stay very near the same.
In the March 30, 1886, edition of The Daily Huronite, what appears to be an opinion letter was printed right in the middle of the rest of the news of the day, and the subject was distrust with a recent election:
Don’t Repeat It!
It has always been known by parties who are interested that the election in the First ward last spring was not an honest one. Citizens of the ward who made the canvass before election were positive that there were not to exceed 125 legal votes in the ward; yet nearly a hundred (217) more were cast.
It was the intention to prosecute the illegal voters at the time. The investigation was proceeded with until eight illegal voters were discovered, and there were yet nearly fifty names on the list, with which no one of more than a half dozen of the best posted citizens of the ward and city were acquainted.
It was also discovered that the violators of the law were for the most part poor men with families, and who did not realize fully the extent of their crime, and the matter was dropped more on this account than any other.
The investigators were also inclined to believe that the judges of election, who took the following oath, “I do solemnly swear that I will perform the duties of judge, according to law and the best of my ability; that I will studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit and abuse in conducting the same,” were in a large measure to blame for the illegal voting.
This year it will be well for both the voters and the judges to observe the law, or they may find themselves in serious trouble. There is a large class of citizens in the city who are perfectly willing to submit to the voice of the majority, but who will not quietly yield the control of the city government, when it is in any manner obtained by fraudulent practices.
With bills in the state being signed to ensure credibility in elections, and a large bill in Congress being debated currently on the same topic, it seems the same topics return!
Also in that March 30 edition, there was a data sheet on the city of Huron, as the city was in 1886:
“Platted: May 10, 1881.
First building: April 30, 1880.
First religious service: May 6, 1880.
First train: June 25, 1880.
Population 3,500.
County seat of Beadle County, population 10,316.
Holly system of water works.
Only system drainage in the Territory.
Six churches – Methodist finest in Territory.
Excellent schools.
Headquarters Dakota Central Railway System – over 600 miles.
Finest depot in Dakota.
Three National and two private banks.
Financial centre of south-eastern Dakota.
Bank deposits over $400,000.
U.S. Depository.
U.S. Signal Office.
U.S. Land Office.
U.S. Surveyor General’s Office.
Office of the Commissioner of Immigration.
Office of Dakota Board of Agriculture.
Finest opera house in Dakota.
Two daily, five weekly, four monthly papers, and two book-binderies.
Manufacture flour, brick, sone, carbonated waters, cigars, carriages, and ornamental wood work.
Most Accessible City in all Dakota, according to the Bismark Tribune.”