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

in proportion as it be true, our re-
sponsibility to the people increases.
Our support comes very largely from
the farmers, indeed even our adyer-
Using patronage, depends largely up
on the circulation our papers have
among farmers; and the more thor
onghly 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 enterprisiug 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 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
conversations TO consider what re-
forms are necessary and what inn
portant Legislation, if any, the safety
and web being of the people, aud es-
pecially of the farmers of this COM
monwealth demand; and when it shall
happen as it often will, that major
ity OF us shall agree as to any meas.
ure OF importance affecting the ma
teriai interest of the people we repre-
sent, let us 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. III we have any editors
who are unwilling for any reason to
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 it were better "a milestone were
hung about their neck and they cast
into the sea-" they would be of few
days aud fun of trouble.
Combination of numbers and ag-
gregation of capital is the mania Of
our country and orr times Corpor-
atoms exist elsewhere, and have been
known from early antiquity; bui in
no other country have they been Gre
ated for such variety Of purposes,
or clothed with such extraordinary
powers. All the great interests of
the country agriculture alone ex,
cepted are managed by corporations,
and of late corporations have been
consolidating their capital and prop
erty, or combining for their mutual
advantage, SO as to prevent COMPETE
ton; until lines of railroad reaching
from ocean to ocean are are controll-
ed by a few individuals; our tele-
graph companies have been CONSOLE
dated into two or three mammoth cor
porations, and the same is true of ex-
press companies. The absence Of
any combination or co operation
among agriculturists has made them
to great extent prey to the power
full corporations and combination OF
corporations controlling rival and
conflicting interests.
Governments sre clothed with
sovereign powers. held in trust, to be
exercised only for the benefit of the
people at large. Every franchise
granted to corporation, and every
favor bestowed upon a particular
class, from which no compessatins
advantage results to the community,
is an act OF injustice to the people.
This general proposition will he ad-
mitted by all, but it frequently is
lost sight Of in adjusting the details
OF Legislation. III to create railroad
for instance, and confer
upon it certain privileges and powers
will result in the building of rail
road to be operated upon such prin-
ciples as to be beneficial to the COM
munity at large, then the people, in |
this benefit receive a compensation
for the franchise granted to the cor /
poration. But il franchises are so |
lmprovidently showered upon a rail
road corporation as to enable it to
plumber and Cypress the people, then