Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-10-22
THE "HOWL" pIsSSECcTED.
The Calamity Platform Shown up in its
True Light. to the Delight of
q Custer Audienc.
The Parson Repudiates the Independ.
ent Platform. and Makes
One for Himself.

One for Himself.
The following challenge appeared in
the Mail of Saturday, October 10Th. ad-
dressed to the editor Of the CHRONICLE,
and signed by Rev. J. Vincent Willis, to
whom the citizens of Custer need no
introduction
/ understand you are very anxious TO
pit Republican against an Independent.
! will meet any man you viii! present in
the Custer court house, from Mckinley
down. Now, honor bright" il you
cause wiped out" and yokr f,r9y glo-
rified before a Custer audience, bring
on your Wiper. early. Caution Don't
"yaller dog" Bring on a foeman wor-
thy Of my steel, Custer public being the
judge.
The editor Of the CHRONICLE is not
aware that he had manifested any de-
sire to secure the reverend gentleman's
scalp, but as the latter was very evident
ly anxious to make himself heard before
Custer audience. committee of repre-
sentative republicans waited on him
bright and early Monday morning, to
notify him that II. ID. Reynolds would
meet him that evening in a joint dis
cussion Of the republican and independ-
ent platforms. Mr.. Willis was some
what taken aback by the promptness
with which his challenge was accepted,
and stated that he preferred to postpone
the meeting until some later date. The
committee suggested that If he was
ready to meet Mckinley, he certainly
ought TO be prepared to discuss his par
ty's principles with Mr.. Reynolds, and
Mr.. w. finally consented. Articles of
agreement were drawn up in regular
form and were signed by both. 1t was
clearly stated therein that the debatsrs
were TO discuss the principles Of the re-
republican and independent parties, as
enunciated in their respective platforms.
The champion Of the independent cause
wanted to eliminate two or three OF the
plcnks of his platform, but it was urged
by the committee that to leave out the
worst and defend the best would hardly
be fair to his party's declaration Of prin-
ciples. and he at last admitted that that
would be unfair, and consented to the
terms Of the agreement.
Monday evening was a cold and
stormy one, but by eight o'clock quite
an audience representing the three
political organizations had gathered at
the court house. The assemblage was
called to order at s o'clock by III. J.
Stone, who read the rules which were to
govern the debate, and then called for
the election Of a chairman. G. w. Rob-
bins was selected for that position, and
Immediately introduced the first speak
er, III. ID. Reynolds.
Mr.. Reynolds read the challenge
which had led to the meeting, and stated
that while he didnt look upon himself
as either the Mckinley or the waller
dog" referred tn, he did believe he could
interest his opponent for little while.
Securing copy Of the Omaha platform,
he read to the audience its preamble,
which is familiar TO so few, and which
does not appear in one out of dozen of
the third party papers. He handled it
clause by clause, calling attention to the
charges of conspiracy to rob and murder,
made against the masses Of the people,
who have, and do now constitute the
republican and democratic parties. He
proved beyond all question by axten.l-.
references to the conditions and cir
cumstances which surround the Ameri-
can people. that the introduction to the
platform formulated at Omaha, was a
pack Of falsehoods, vile slander, an in
famous combination of calumnies, heap
ed upon a prosperous, happy and law
abiding people, by u few disappointed
ones, who posed as oppressed subjects of
q despotio government. The speaker
then proceeded to analyze the platform
itself. Referring to the question of gov
ernment control of the railroads, he
pointed ont the impracticabihty of such
a step, challenged the right Of the gov
ernment to assume control of the prop
erty or business Of any man or men,
showed that it would be still greater
and more dangerous Capitalization OF
wealth and power. which might eventu-
ally place the people at the mercy of the
fede raj government. Passing quickly
over the tariff, which the independents
claim is not issue, he took up the money
question. He discussed it clearly and
logically, proving that our money ID
better to-day than it ever was before
that our credit is better than that of any
other nation, that the purchasing power
Of our dollar was constantly increasing
and chat there was always cash market
for those who had labor or products to
sell.
Turning his attention to the republi
can platform he showed il to be de
claration Of renewed allegiance to the
principles, by which the party has beer
guided during the years past. and under
which the country has grown and pros
pered as no other under the sun. HI
pointed to our churches. our schools
and the fact that this Is the land o
promise toward which the stream o.
immigration is ever running, az genera
indications Of our nations enviable posi-
ton, and proofs that our people wer,
not down trodden and oppressed. Tn,
partys position on the tariff question
its financial policy, and the Force Bill
were each discussed in turn, and it wa
made clear to the audience that the re