Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-08-13

art OF printing was discovered, then
IN proportion as it be true, our re-
'ponsibility to the people increases.
Our support comes very largely from
the farmers, indeed even our adver-
Using patronage, depends largely up
on the circulation our papers have
among farmers; and the more thor
oughly we analyze the subject, the
more we shall become satisfied that
our newspaper projects would end in
hopeless failure, but for the support |
of that class of men whom our pen
pictures have induced to leave their
homes and their friends in
the east and settle here. To the
men whose brawny arms are
Transforming Dakota's great sea OF
prairie into cultivated farms and YER
dant groves, and supporting by their
frugal industry the enterprising vii
lagos and thriving cities that dot all
its surface; to these sons of toll to
whose generous support we are in
debted for the continued existence
and prosperity of our several news
paper enterprises, we owe a debt of
honest effort to encourage and defend
them that will not be liquidated so
long as the relation Of editor and pa
iron continue to exist. 1t follows
then that it is right and proper, nay
more, our highest duty at our annual
convocations TO consider what re-
forms are necessary and what inn
portant legislation, if any, the safety
and well being of the people, and es-
pecially of the farmers of this COM
monwealth demand; and when it shall
happen as it often will, that a major
ity of us shall agree as to any meas
ure of Importance affecting the ma
terial interest of the people we repre-
sent, let AS in annual convention as
sembled, by resolution determine
what our action shall be and with
united front begin the work of edu-
eating the people on such subject and
thus lead them to early and success
full action. If we have any editors
who are unwilling for any reason &c
array themselves ON the side of the
farmers, mechanics and laborers and
against the robberies and oppressive
, exactions have referred to, let the
fact be known and so far as Their
; newspaper enterprises are concern
ed il were better "a milestone wer,
, hung about their neck and they cas-
) into the sea-" they would be of few
, days and full of trouble.
Combination of numbers and ag
5 gregation of capital is the mania o
7 our country and our times. Corpor
D atoms exist elsewhere, and have 3eel
, known from early antiquity; but il
3 no other country have they been ere
r ated for such variety of purposes
, or clothed with such extraordinar,
r powers. All the great interests o
r the country agriculture alone ex
cepted-are managed by corporations
3 and of late corporations have beer
I consolidating their capital and prop
I, erty, or combining for their mutua
: advantage, so as to prevent competi
/ ton; until lines of railroad reachin.
d from ocean to ocean are are CONTROL
: ed by a few individuals; our tele
v graph companies have been consoli
: dated into two or three mammoth cor
: porations, and the same is true of ex
: press companies. The absence o
5 any combination or co operation
3 among agriculturists has made then
I to great extent prey to the power
' full corporations aud combination o
i corporations controlling rival ant
2 conflicting interests.
!. Governments are clothed witt
q sovereign powers. held in trust, to b
q exercised only for the benefit of til
: people at large. Every franchis
granted to corporation, and ever,
favor bestowed upon particula
3 class, from which no compensgtin;
!, advantage results to the community
Q is an act of injustice to the people
e This general proposition will be ad
] mitted by all, bnt it frequently i
I lost sight of in adjusting the detail
of legislation. III to create railroa,
/, corporation, for instance, and confe
upon it certain privileges and power
: will result in the building of rail
9 road to be operated upon such prin
ciples as to be beneficial to the com
munity at large, then the people, il
! this benefit receive a compensation
. for the franchise granted TO the cor
poration. But il franchises are 81
8 improvidently showered upon rail
; road corporation as to enable it Il
: plumber and Cypress the people, thel
q the people not only receive no com