Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1888-03-01
THE UNION LABOR PARTY.

day, as required OF a newspaper, necessi.
sarily prohibits it entering into the dis
cussion OF any subject in fnli. or advance
a logical line OF argument in detail, such
as characterizes q public speech-else the
exclusion of all other things demanded by
its varied constituency. speaker re-
quires the time, which represented in
space would amount to several columns.
to exhaust his arguments and illustrations
on a specific point. The newspaper man
must SO summarize and condense his ar
guments as to be at serious disadvantage
when compared with either the speaker
or writer who attempts to concentrate
public attention upon the particular
hobby he may be riding. This preface is
necessary to q few comments on the
Union Labor party and its doctrine. A
thorough discu ,sion in one issue beink
literally impossible we must content our
self with brief reference to the various
phases from time to time,
The old greenback fallacy is the ground
work ard central base upon which the
union labor platform is built, the union
laLor part of it being in the various
clauses tensering assistance to the op-
pressed of all mankind. 1t will be noticed
With what avidity all old greenback ers rec
ognize this groundwork and rally around
the standard without regard to Its coloring.
The platform makes very good promises
as do 9th old parties. One is entitled to
as much credence as an other. in the alb
sence Of proof One clause in the plat
form says the means of transportation
should be owned and controlled by the
govern ment- adding to the despotisn OF
the party in power to forever hold the
reins of government by the use of official
patronage is deplored elsewhere
in the platform. The clause demanding
that soldiers should be paid the difference
between gold and greenbacks at the time
of the war is sminently proper, but will
catch very small proportion of the old
soldiers, because the past actions OF the
Republicans is better evidence where their
interests lie than the mere promises of any
party. But il would be singular platform
which confined no good whatever, even
though hampered by glazing inconsist-
encies; also absurd to state the party has
no mission. This agitation, we hope, will
result in the leading parties more strenu.
ously advocating q few Of Its practical
claims, bring the leaders nearer the peo-
pie, and impress more arongly upon them
the wants of the people. This accom-.
plished the new party's mission is ended
To imagine. as do some Of the local lead
ers. that it will sweep the earth like a
whirlwind, revolutionize the existing state
OF things, and finally go ringing down
the corridors of time" as the grandes
achievement Of man is equally absurd.
The TRADE Of Hon. Jesse Harper in Nil
Ter last week made great many yer!
weary; others were Disguised by his us'
Of improper language more, probably
we're for the moment entertained by hi
fund OF anecdote. However, We concsd,
there is some wheat even in oil his cbaff
On the railroad question the gentleman Il
evidently at home, and when he. claims, :,
q estern audience that the railroads ar,
robbing the country by demanding inter
est on watered stock, he strikes a popula
chord. Mr.. II. is open to the same charg
he prefers against other speakers and th
press, namely, that they neglect to sa,
anything about many important point
concerning subjects under discussion
| The gentleman claimed that the purchas
ing power of products of to-day vas muci
less than twenty odd years ago, ant
tabor far less remunerative. To max,
pat illustration he said then fifteen bush
els of wheat paid $50 worth of taxes, an,
to- day it took over 40 bushels to accom-
plish the sane results. He not onl.
failed to state that to-day 10 or NOR
bushels of wheat coald be produce wit
the same labor as that required for /
bushels at the former period, but he ais
ignored further comparison of the pur
chasing power of wheat then aud now
For instance he forgot to mention that a
the time he cites one bushel of whea
only paid for yards of calico. wherea
to-day twice that number Of Yards may b
had for one bushel of wheat.
As far as the party in this county is con
cerned it may be active for season bu
will finally be laid to rest in the oblivio
surrounding myriad of other side issue
which have prevailed in the past. Som
OF the leaders may even succeed in ridin
into office upon a wave Of dissatisfaction
among farmers with the existing local de
pre- ssion in financial affairs. But W
hardly think they will, because this de
pression-largely exaggerated-is so pal
pably due to the customary reyerses of
new country.
We want the county Offices filled will
capable men above all other considera
tions. But so long as they can be foun
in the Republican ranks we are content
remain in that grand old party Of manifsl
purpose. plod along in peace. and devot
our mite Of ability to the material growt
OF Hand county rather than be carrie
away by each succeeding excitement o
economic measures, which are at best bu
short lived policies.