Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-08
A TALK WITH ST. JOHN
THE PROHIBITION LEADER ON
VARIOUS LIVING ISSUES.

with Ex-Governor St. John on the vari-
GUS issues now before the people was had
by reporter for the New York Voice. A
point of special interest at this time is the
Governors views on the original pack.
age" situation. He does not believe
Congress intends to pass any measure OF
relief, but thinks it is simply playing With
the question in the interest of both liquor
and Prohibition votes.
"As to the immediate prospects of the
Prohibition party" said Gov. st. John,
history of the country when political
shackles rested SO lightly upon the peo-
pie, and just now is the time whom Pro-
hibition party work ought to be pushed
vigorously. The people are ready and
willing to listen. They are getting rid of
their prejudices, and all that is needed to
win them to our cause is to present to
them the truth.
My judgment is that We will poll
sufficient number of votes in Nebraska to
carry the prohibition amendment, but I
doubt very much that they will be
counted"
As to the tariff question, regard the
Mckinley bill as most stupendous
scheme to rob the masses for the favored
few. If Mr.. Blaine has been correctly
reported touching commercial reciprocity
between our Government and South
America, he is right and the people are
with him on that proposition.
In my Judgment no individual should
ever be given the power to perpetuate
himself in Office, nor should any political
party ever pass a law which would enable
it to perpetuate its power. But such is
the aim and object Of the Federal cleo
tions bill. Such scheme, intended, as
it is, to be used for partisan purposes,
seriously menaces the safety of our Gov
eminent
eve of the West believe in placing
gold and silver on an equality before the
law; that is to soy, that gold dollar and
a silver dollar shall be equally legal
tender for all debts, public and private,
not otherwise provided for under the laws,
and we believe in the free and unrestricted
coinage of both metals, and we propose
to fight it out on that line if it takes q
lifetime"
THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE" MIDDLE.
The original package decision is solely
in the interest of the men who make
of the laws of the States. It is without
foundation in justice or in common sense,
and it cannot long Withstand the tide of
public opinion which has set SO strongly
against it:
No, don't think the House of Repre-
sentatives is likely to pass the Wilson
bill or any other measure along that line.
The Wilson bill having passed the Sem
ate, it will be used by the politicians to
hold the deacons in line, and it's defeat
in the House will appease the wrath Of
the saloon will be expected to stan by
the old marty in st Onca mora y
FARMERS WAKING UP.
Notwithstanding the cry that the far
mer has been protected under our tariff
system, the truth is the acreage value of
the cereals produced in this country has
gradually declined, until to-day the
farmer receives only one-third Of what
his crop brought him in 1867. In the
meantime the railways have increased
over 100000 miles; their net dividends
reach at least $500, 000,O 600, and the net
freight earnings for single year would
rye, barley, and buckwheat grown in the
country, and still leave balance of
$l0,O0O,00O unpaid. Our merchant ma
rine carries over 100000 tons less per
annum now than it did thirty years ago,
when we had not half the present popu-
lation. Under this condition of things
the farmers are getting their eyes open.
You no longer see them wearing an oil.
cloth cape and carrying torch, and
whooping it up for high tariff Their
organizations throughout the country are
simply an earnest protest against the sys-
tenn which has plastered their homes with
mortgages, loaded them down with fnan-
cial burdens they are unable to bear, and
threatens to rob thousands of them of
their homes.
Politically speaking, after the Novem-
Der elections the average politician will
regard what we have heretofore called a
cyclone as only a gentle zephyr when
compared with the storm of farmers bal.
lots under which they will be buried"
The Prol,ibitionists' Opportunity in ILL.,
The three State conventions, Republi-
can Democratic, and Prohibition. have
met and placed tilor candidates in the
field TO, State Croasurer, State Superin-
tcndant of school, md three Trustees
oF the State University. Neither the
Prohlbi1ionists nor the Republicans
nominated candidate for United States
Senator. The Prohibition platform is
one of the strongest ever presented to
the people of the State, and the Prohibi-
tionists were never in better fighting
trim.
Should the Legislature be as evenly
balanced as it was in 1884 which is az