The Dickinson press., 1889-02-02
The Herd Law.

%llrrits of repeating tin" herd laws so
far us to make it lawful for stockmen
to get the benefit of the prairies. hay
and straw stacks. corr fields. etc. for
five months. from Dee. LIST to May LIST.
1t is self evident that there is no JUS
tice. and can be none in such Il law.
Most of our farmers came here. with
little OF no means to fence against
the aggressions of roaming stock. yet
most of them are in Il fair way to
have IL comfortable home OH IL good
farm of their own. with the neceSSa-
rieS and comforts of life. such men
could not have succeeded without the
herd law to protect their crops. and
without its protection few. if any.
would have ventmred on the hazard.
Gus enterprise of bringing our fertile
pralrics under cultivation, and now
when they are beginning to get COM
fortably situated to have all stock
turned loose to eat them out for five
months of the year without any posi-
hility of obtaining legal redress, would
be an act of injustice unworthy of Il
Dakota legislature and would certain
ly cause great distress to many of our
most worthy pioneers. n few of the
wealthy stockmen might he benefited,
if allowed to contiscatc the hard earn-
ingS of men that are poor, but far
more worthy than the avaricious
men who would rob them. There
are many worthy intelligent men here
with small means and large families
to support who would be compelled
to leave their improved homestc7ds
if such a law is passed. They can
control their own small herds. hut
would he unable to guard their hay
and fodder against the aggressions of
roaming stock and there are compare.
lively few of our farmers who are
able to do SO, very few have barns to
house their corn and hay, and and Il
few only have thus far been able to
build Il fence around their stacks.
Many of our farmers do not get their
corn gathered till Dee. and it is we'll
known that our spring seeding usually
commences in March, while corn is
often planted the first Of April, when
gardening is commenced. This is Il
part of the stockmcn's game to de-
populate this grand country of farm
ers that are struggling to make homes
for their families, where they can
support them and give them the
comforts of life. The laws promised
them protection, but now Il few
men are trying to get the
law repealed that induced most
of oum hard working, worthy pioneers
to come out and improve this noble
country. Blackstone says: that Il
law not founded in justice, is null and
Void The repeal of our herd law
for five months i'm the year is SO out
ragconsly unjust that it reflects great
discrcdit on any and all selfish men
who get up and sign petitions for it's
repeal. | have talked with several of
my meighbors about it aud all take
the same view of this question and it
is very doubtful if there is an honest
fair minded man in the county that
would wish to see our herd law made
less stringent, if he will take the time
to calmly reflect upon the conscqucn-
ces. Perhaps ! have said enough,
but much more can be said and | beg
indulgence to add Il few more lines.
We have now II most excellent, law
abiding community las far as my ac-
quaintancc gors) among our farmers,
all of whom are excellent %ncighbors,
willing to live and let live, and freely
help those who are unfortunate, but
let herds of stock he turned loose (by
law to devour their living and the
living of their little children, and
those who are we'll disposed and law
abiding will most surely be aroused
in self defence. Such Il law would he
regarded us an outrageous violation
of their rights to be protected by the
law that induced them to come out
and make this Countrywide poor mans
paradise. just and good laws are in
tended to protect the weak againS'
the strong, hut the repeal or change
proposed in our herd laws is evident
ly intended to enable the strong to
trainple down and crush the small
farmers. such Il law would be Sc
manifrstly unjust that our supreme
court would set it aside, but our pool
farmers have not the means to carry
their wrongs to the supreme court tt
have them redressed: and what woult
he the probable consequence. Doe:
anyone suppose our farmers would
tamtly submit to be robbed of theil
cllildren's food and support, and make
no effort to defend themselves! The
man who thinks 50. does not know
them. The stockmen l. sowing The
wind and will reap the whirl wint
if they succeed. For the honor o
Dakota. it is to be hoped they vii
fail in their unjust effort.
S. PELToN.