The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-08
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1889.
MANITOBA VS. DAKOTA.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Editore Of PIONEER EXPRESS,

MANITOBA VS. DAKOTA.
COMMUNICATION.
Editors Of PIoN FER EXPRESS.
Permit me 10 point out, that though
you have given me considerable notice
in your last issue. you have not answer.
ed the only points Of any consequence.
lst. / quoted from the New York
Herald, reports made OIL the representa-
ton of your own people, showing how
your poorer settlers are plundered by
scalpes, by courtesy, called bankers,
and asked you TO contradict them if un-
true. You acknowledge having yourself
copied that report with criticism or con-
tradiction. But you now quote for my
information, the usury laws of Dakota, to
prove to me that no more than ten
per cent interest is allowed. am pretty
well acquainted with Dakota and know
as we'll rs yourself that in commissions
and charges, generally taken out Of the
money the day it is loaned. the usury
can be and is piled up to from 80 to 100
per cent per annum, in spite of these
laws. Your readers also know the same
thing.
2nd. quoted the Tribune report and
still believe there was good deal OF
truth in it. The Tribune sent out a man
Of its own to see whether the denial
from Fargo of previous report was &C.
curate. This man had no interest in
telling anything but the truth, while it
was tie business Of the officer who fol-
lowed him to let down the thing as easy
as possible. But that is 10 funeral of
mine, whichever was right. You say l
published the report three weeks after
it had been officially disprovcd. Tie
Tribune published it OH january 18th.
l printed it ten days after. How many
days did the officer take in contralicting
it? This is an arithmetical question and
easily settled.
3rd. l made very short comment OH
it. The thing, as you say was in com.
ment. Why not publish, all said that
your readers may see exactly what IL
bitter enemy of Dakota am.
4th. Isend you samples of what l,
myself, say how about the farmers of
Dakota. l only use agains. sou what
your OWL Witnesses have said and what
you have reported in your own columns.
9th. ! did not wish TO intrude upon
OF criticise your notice of me. 1t would
have been discourteous in me to take no
notice OF your criticism, after you had
expressly INVITED me TO come along and
get licked.
9th. l am "agin" scalpers every time
and every where. am yours. &c,
| EDITOR OF NoR'wE>r FARMER.
In the above letter the editor of the
Nor'west Farmer still insists that the
points of discussion are usury and
starvation in Dakota. We showed in
late issue that only small part of
the Indebtedness of Dakota farmers
could be paying more than ten per
cent interest, because the bulk of such
indebtedness consisted of farm loans
and machine notes. Also we stated
that the starvation" in Walsh coun-
ty had been shown to lie gross exager.
ations, with no more foundation than
can he found in hundreds of other 10.
calities.
The editor of the farmer still calls
these "facts," the true issue, which
means that it is question of vcracity
between lis. And which is right we
will leave our readers to Judge. The
issue we took with the editor of the
Farmer is this:
LIST. That the extracts lie copied
were not trne.
ond. That even if partially true,
that it caused unfair differences to be
drawn.
Srd. That the editor of the Nor.
west was not so much after "scalpers
everywhere" as to prove to his Cana.
dian readers that dakota was 10
paradise" and by natural inference
that Manitoba was the only true and
original garden in which grew the
tree of knowledge, and anyone read.
ing his extracts and comments was
bound to come to such conclusions, or
doubt the EDITORS knowledge or vera.
city.
Perhaps the editor of the Nor'west
thinks this conclusion too broad. but
if bad stories are repeated about an.
other. and it is stated, that "he is not
as good as he might be- there is only
one conclusion to he drawn us to the
motives of the author.
In general connection with this sub.
ject, we copy the following telegram,
and will say, that for downright mean
ness in traducing this country. the
Dominion Government take the lead.
and it is no wonder that its press fol.
lows in its footsteps:
OTTAWA, Ont, Feb. 2Sth:-Thc interi-
or department has issued the following
report: ut is well known fact that in
addition to the disadvantages under
which the territory Of Dakota is placed
on account of the frequent and fatal
billiards. which visit it during the WIN
ter season, and the cyclones to which it
is subjected in summer, the absence of
a fair supply Of wood, for purposes Of
fuel, forms serious drawback to its sue
cessful settlement. For some years past
settlers in that territory have been accus-
toned to gupplement their inatlenuate