Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1893-04-21
Lead9r.
KIND WORDS FOR THE LEADER.

KIND WORDS FOR THE LEADER.
The following note from Comrade Nc
Way of Hudson is duly appreciated,
because 1t comes from gentleman who
is not afraid to call a thief thief or \
gentleman 4 gentleman.
Brother Linn: Your paper has not
killed me yet, and by the way-though
cannot indorse all that it says, think
YOU make a live, readable paper. l like
your manner, while you do not stoop to
personal abuse you are frank and out
spoken. like to see man with cOnvic-
tions and who is not afraid to express
them. Your Comrade.
J. H. McVAY.
The LEADER tries to reflect public SEN
timent in all matters barring politics, and
in this natural division of public senti-
ment, it tries to reflect its honest view of
public affairs, having always been deter
mined hater of political sham and party
plumber through bossism. Away back
in the 7O's, when editor of the Dakotaian
at Yankton, we began our first exposure
Of political rascaity in our own party;
because the evidence of corruption in terri
torial affairs, headed by Governor Bur
bank, some of the Judges, the secretary
and others were disgusting to an honest
man. The fight was long and bitter but
corruption and its satellites had 10 60 One
secretary Of the territory issued and
signed vouchers for 500 cords of wood
for q 40 day session of the legislature.
This is only one item among hundreds.
Our course was bitterly denounced by
the ring rulers in our own party, but we
believed then as we believe now. that a
public newspaper which will wink at
fraud and corruption in its own party is
not bit better than the thief or plunderer
whom it shields by its silence. Had we
Joined the ranks of the political plumber
ers, as we were urged to do, and threat
ened If we didn't by no less power than
the governor and chief justice, we might
have had more money than we now have,
but our self respect and manhood would
have been lost, and that we value more
than money. We fought glorious fight
aud have always felt proud of the victory.
Senator Pettigrew joined us in 1872 and
helped to overthrow the power Of those
men. Moody helped for awhile, but his
aid was mercenary. We have locked and
waited for years for the reforms promised
the people, but the grinding chain OF
monopoly has grown tighter year by year
unJll even now sreaC TepuolIClu JoulHdlo .
like the Inter-Ocean and Minneapolis
Journal are forced to fight the corruption
IN their own party as the writer did years
ago. The peoples party is proving to be
great educator of the masses, and
through it will come return to honest
government. The peoples rarty is labor
ing for honest government, honesty in
political affairs, equal rights to all, special
privileges to none, and other reforms that
will bring us back to the political honesty
of Lincoln's DAY. Surely every good re-
publican ought to be ready to join hands
with us in movement of this kind.
When party ceases TO represent the peo-
pie, the people can have no farther use
for it. Take our million dollar legislat-
ure and the enormous appropriations.
The state is getting deeper in debt every
year, and where is the end? Comrade
McVay. the LEADER is laboring to secure
the greatest good to the greatest number.
and it feels safe IN saying that while you
are not with it in all things political At
at present. your great love Of fair play
and honest government must lead you
into the ranks of Il party that is fighting
for he'rights of a free people.