Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1890-09-26

Register of deeds. w. H. WILKINSON.
Superintendent. ). H. B. LUND.
Coroner. DIR. F. P. SMITH.
Surveyor. WALLACE CURTIS.
Commer's. 2nd Dist. {. JOHN SCHOEN.
THE CONVENTION. Is.
The democrats had pretty day for
their comfy convention Saturday, but
the attendance was very slim and the in
terest manifested meagcr. Only about
half the townships were represented in
the convention and only about twenty
delegates were present. Doctor: Smith, Of
Canton called the convention to order 1t
half past three o'clock and stated the pur-
pose Of the convention by reading the
call.
On motion Of J. B. Bertrand, Of Can.
ton, A. A. Friesmon. of Lennox, was se-
lected as temporary chairman. On taking
the chair Mr.. Friesmon expressed his re-
gret at the selection made but said he
would fill the position to the best of his
ability. on straight democratic principles,
although this was his first attempt in .
place Of this kind.
DR.. Smith nominated w. H. Curtis, of
Lennox for temporary secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Bertrand the chair
appointed E. Norton, J. B. Bertrand and
B. T. Sundvold as committee on Gre
dentials.
DR.. F. P. Smith, Steve Jones and p. H.
Dewitt were appointed a committee on
resolutions.
The committee on credentials reported
delegations from Perry, Lynn, Delaware.
Lincoln, Canton City. Canton township,
Fairview and Dayton, precincts entitled to
seats in the convention.
Mr.. Lund of LaValley was admitted
as delegate from that township by vote
of the convention.
| The temporary organization was on
motion of Mr.. Bertrand, made permanent.
but at the request of Mr.. Friesmon, the
temporary chairman, Mr.. E. Norton was
made permanent chairman
After taking the chair, Mr., Norton was
called upon for speech. He said that
somehow or other he had got it into his
head that the republican party was not
what they represented themselves to be.
They claimed that for thirty years this
country had been animated with endless
prosperity, but the condition of the farm
ers proved otherwise. He pointed to
republican Misrepresentation in Iowa
where that party claimed that the mort
gage Indebtedness amounted to only 4
per cent while an examination Of the re-
cords had proven their Indebtedness to be
over 30 per cent. About the same pro-
portion of truth was found in all their
statements. Every body knew, said he,
that farmers were oppressed What
causes it? The iniquitous tariff is one
important cause. Let the monopolics of
trusts and combinations among manu-
facturers be broken up by the reduction
of the tariff to a revenue basis and the
farmers would come nearer to getting
their share of the profits. Jim Blaine
advocated reciprocity for South America
but if it is any good for us in South
America it is good in every quarter of the
earth. He denounced the repblicans for
attempting to amend the constitution
permitting them to run the state in debt
$500, 900 more. More economy needed.
Mr.. Bertrand made speech in
which he strongly advocated more united
action among the democrats of this coun-
ty. If this could be had, in two years
more, Lincoln county would 60 democrat
ic. This fall the democrats would poll
500 votes and the Independents 600,
which would leave the republicans scarce
ly 800 votes.
Mr.. Curtis said that at least one third
of the enemy's strength had been reduc-
ed by the loss of the independents and if
the democrats would pull off their coats
and work, they would carry the county at
the next election.
The committee on resolutions reported
the following platform which was receiv-
eel with applause and adopted:
| Resolved. That we. the members of the demo-
| cratic party of Lincoln county South Dakota
| reatirm our adhesion to the national democra-
| tic platform of 1888:
That we favor tariff for revenue only:
That We are in favor Of an economical admin
| istration of osr national and state affairs and
favor free and fair election by secret ballot; /;
| That we are in favor of a resubmission of the