Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-04-05
Help Well BestoWed

The people of these cities never did
better than when they came forward
with quick and ample generosity in re-
sponse to the appeal Of Coy. Miller Of
North Dakota. The assistance that he
asked was not charity it was a simple
business proposition that he put be-
fore our people, the object of which
was to provide for the farmers of the
state sufficient supply of seed wheat
on the security of the coming crop.
This appeal had double force, be-
caues it was made necessary and urgent
by the tactics Of the lottery com Animation
in tho late legislature. 1t was the
scheme of lottery advocates to use the
necessities of North Dakota for their
opportunity. They knew well enough
that the bald lottery scheme, advanced
without excuse or apology would be
condemned and rejected on sight. 1t
was only the financial necessities Of the
state, gowing out of the partial crop
failure of last season, that made any
one regard the glittering bait. When
even this was rejected, they planned a
bolder raid. They knew that the
farmers of the state must have assistance
in obtaining seed wheat for their spring
work. They knew that the legislature
was excepted to provide ways and
means. And. having majority at their
control, they secured the appointment
Of their seed wheat commission COM
posed oftheir own members. Then in
stead of attempting any business ar
rangement, they once more offered the
lottery bill as the alternative of destitu-
ton for the farmer. This being again
rejected, they deliberately declined to
do anything, resigned their places when
it was too late to appoint successors, and
left the people of the state to the distress
which they hoped would turn popular
opinion in favor of the lottery plan by
another year. This vas probably the
most inhuman and disgraceful feature Of
the whole lottery plot. For it proposed
to undo the fortunes of an entire COM
monwealth, and bring absolute ruin on
| thousands of its citizens in order to COM
pei them to admit the infamous lottery
business to the shelter and sanction of
their laws.
Fortunately the people found here, as
they did in the legislative proceedings,
that they had friend and protector
of their honor and their interets in the
executive Of the state. The same firm
will and determined purpose that stood
between the lottery combine and its de-
sires stood also between the people and
the misfortune that it was sought to
bring upon them. Gov. Miller lost no
time in perfecting an arrange ment with
the elevator companies for an ample
supply ofseed wheat, to be advanced to
the farmers at fixed price, required
only a money guarantee for its repay
ment. And for this guarantee he ap-
piled to the people whose interest are
most actively enlisted on her side in
her contest with the agents of the lot
terry ring. We have right to be proud
of the response that was made to his ap-
peal. Minneapolis guaranteed $4,000,
and over $8S,000 were subscribed in St..
Paul within twenty-four hours of the
first solicitation. There is no need to
accept the offered aid of Chicago, and
the people of North Dakota can snap
their finger at the charity, which the
lottery company offered in exchange
for public decentralization and national
disgrace. Never was there an appeal
more worthy a liberal response by our
people, and never was such an appeal
more promptly or nobly met. The
farmers of North Dakota are now pro-
vided for during the coming season, and
a good crop will set them on their feet
again and well on the way to prosperity.
We congratulate them upon the SYM
pathy, 80 substantially shown, which
their unequal contest with the lottery
combination has aroused. Their friends
stood by them bravely, the lottery
scheme is buried forever, and they are
started on the road to the prosperity
which they have earned, and which
nothing but the cruelest misfortune
from the elements, can deny them
Pioneer Press.