The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-11-28
correspondence.
Letter from an cold Timer"
SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. ID, 1880

Letter from an cold Timer"
SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. Is, 1880
To THE EDITOR OF THE GRAPHIC
Speaking of elections and -things, lie
me extend congratulations to those O.
my old Dakota friends who came out OF
the winning side in the recent unpleas
antness. I would be glad to have then
assemble en- masse at the Kimball arte'
sian we'll and take o rousing bumper al
my expense. Those who get left are wei.
come to as much Of my sympathy as they
can carry, and if that isn't enough they
can bring along their wheelbarrows
Sympathy is a great thing in cases Of
this kind, and its cheapness recommends
it.
From all I can learn, you South Dako-
ia people must have had a good deal of a
picnic during the recent campaign. A
three-cornered race, with a neck and neck
finish, never fails to cause excitement,
and a well-matched running event like
the heat between Pierre and Huron u.s.
ually arouses more or less enthusiasm;
so taking it ali around you must have
had your moneys worth Of fun. By the
way, now that the down-trodden farmers
have demonstrated their strength 1 sup
pose that the BARRIERS receive frequent
calls for hayseed from customers who
find it handy to pose as tillers Of the soil.
No doubt Captain Curtiss and a lot more
of the old warehouses have had their meat
axes converted into plough shares ere
this.
Talking Of travelling always re-
minds me of Rome. And the subject
of farmers in politics calls to mind a
case that came under my notice several
years ago while reporting the proceedings
of the Wisconsin legislature for a Mil
waukee paper. A bill had been intro
duced by the Hon. Joshua Underwood,
who had been ruthlesslg called from his
rural retreat during husking time to rep
resent 4 Of the backwoods districts,
providing for a state dog tax. 1t was a
high tariff measure, and was intended to
have the effect of decimating the canine
poulation Of the state, especially in the
rural regions. When the bill came be-
fore the House for discussion it was the
cause of q warm debate. Statistics were
read giving the number and increase Of
dogs in the state during the previous de-
cade, also showing the amount of dam
age done by the animals in the way of
s%heap-killing, etcetera. Being regarded
Is a farmers measure" Of course it
received attention from the leath-
ery-lunged orators on the floor,
and those who had previously been ignor-
ant Of the relative values Of dog-skins
and sheep-pelts were thoroughly enlight-
ened. Finally, after about four eonsecu-
tive hours Of chin work had been wasted
the debate, n of the members remarked
that he would like to hear something on
the subject from the author of the bill.
With characteristic modesty and appar-
ent reluctance the Hon. Mr.. Underwood
assumed a perpendicular attitude and
while %nervously picking the burrs from
his whiskers, remarked: I'm dead set
on seein' this bill go through, cause we
a eat sheep, but We can't eat d0gs!'
And then he sat down again, amidst such
a prolonged outburst Of applause that the
bill was forgotten in tho uproar and was
never heard Of afterwards. 1t was JOSH
first. last and only effort in a legislative
way, but he was commcndably brief and
to the point.
This story is not intended to cast q re-
Election on the ability of farmers as law
makers, but is related simply as a study
in human nature. To my way of think
ing it would be far better for the country
If fifty per cent. Of the members Of our
Legislative bodies were taken from the
agricultural class, the remainder being
drawn from the ranks of representative
business men and property owners. The
too common practice Of depending upon
professional politicians for u law max
ers has a tendency to fill the legislative
halls with a horde of scheming spoils-
hunters whose chief qualification is the
gift Of CAB and whose principal aim in
life is to draw their salaries and get as
much Doodle as possible from corpora
tons seeking the enactment of cut-throat
laws. A body composed of sturdy, SEN
sible farmers and business men, persons
directly concerned in the effects Of legis-
lation, would be likely to attend to the
peoples interests with a degree Of indus
try and fidelity to duty that would be re-
freshtng to witness in this age of politi-
cal corruption and official ~rottenness.
Again l nm reminded. A couple of
years ago, while connected with a San
Francisco paper, l was detailed to attend
the legislative session at Sacramento and
write up" the doings Of the high and
mighty statesmen there assembled. Talk
about Doodle, plumber, and piracy on the
high seasl Why, bless your soul, il the
shades Of Boss Tweed and Captain Kidd
could look in on the workings OF the band
OF vampires which takes possession of
C~alifornia's capital at biennial intervals
they would go back into oblivion and
kick themselves during the rest OF etern-
ity from envy Of the superior methods and
opportunities of these latter-day robbers.
The average California law-maker would
regard it as an objectionable breach of
the code of Legislative ethics to advocate
or vote for a measure without having
ham inforvioxuod hy fho mor,hnro =,