The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-08
TALK with ST. JOHN.
THE PROHIBITION LEADER ON
VARIOUS LIVING ISSUES.

His Views on Prohibition Party Prospects
The Fight in Nebraska-Thc Mckinley
Tariff Bill-The Federal Elections Bill
Financ .OriginaI Package" g.
cision-Tle Farmers Movement and tile
Railroad Question.
The following intere sting interview
with Ex-Governor st. John on the VAR
u issues now before the people was had
by q 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
rnd Prohibition votes.
AS to the immediate prospects of the
Prohibition parts," eaid Gov. st. John,
I believe there never was a time in the
history of the country when political
shackles rested SO lightly upon the peo-
pie, and just now is the time when Pro-
hibi' ion 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 Thorn to our cause is to present to
them the truth.
My judgment is that we will poll o
sufficient number Of votes in Nebraska to
carry the prohibition amendment, but 1
doubt very much that they will be
counted"
THE M'KINLEY BILL AND THE TARIFF.
to the tariff question, I regard the
Mckinley bill as a most stupendous
scheme to rob the masses for the favored
few. If Mr.. Blaine has been correctly
reported touching commercial reciprocity
etween 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 a scheme, intended, as
it is, to be used for partisan purposes,
seriously menaces the safety of our Gov
eminent.
"We of the West believe in placing
gold and silver on an equality before the
law; that is to say, that a gold dollar and
tender for all debts, public and private,
lot otherwise provided for under the laws,
and we believe in the free and unrestricted
coinage of both metals, and We prop ose
to fight it out on that line if it takes a
lifetime"
THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE" MIDDLE.
The original package decision is solely
in the interest of the men who make
their living by selling liquors in violation
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 80 strongly
against it.
mo, I 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 SEN
ate, it will be used by ths politicians to
hold the deacons in line, and its defeat
in the House will appease the wrath of
the saloon will be expected to stand by
the old party just once more"
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 100, 900 miles; their net dividends
reach at least $500, 900, 900, and the mel
freight earnings for a single year would
absorb the value of all the wheat, oats,
rye, barley, and buckwheat grown in the
country, and still Leave q balance Of
$50, 900, 900 unpaid. Our merchant ma
rine carries over 1000, 900 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 a torch, and
whooping it up for high tariff Their
organizations throughout the country are
simply an os1ues. pzstes. sz:;2S: 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 IS only a gentle zephyr when
compared with the storm of farmers bal
lots under which they will be buried"