Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-10-06
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ROT AND RUBBISH.


With view to the defeat of the coun-
ty republican ticket this fall, the Leader
of last week published two articles
which may be very consistently classed
with the most remarkable specimens Of
rot and rubbish that has appeared in
the history of Custer county journalism.
The populistic paragon ~ of the Leader,
whose idea of true journalism are as
crude as the sorry make up of his new
less paper is conceded to be, having no
property interests in the county, and
therefore being in no position to escape
the injurious effects resulting from an
unfair and exaggerated statement OF the
county's Indebtedness, simply to bring
unlimited reproach upon the republican
party, publishes an exparte statement
which. without explanation, cannot be
otherwise than seriously detrimental 10
the material interests Of the PEOPLE
from whom he expects to derive his
support, during the brief period he
presumably expects to remain, which it
is not presumed will extend for any
considerable period beyond the present
political campaign.
One Of the articles alluded to appears
under the caption of "Sl39,542.03," in
Urge bold figures, which is given as the
amount of Custer county's present in
debtedness, which vast sum is claimed
TO have been contracted under republi
can rule. In his eagerness to bring con.
demnation upon the republicans, he
fails to enumerate the assets Of the
county, or the fact that the county has
not been under exclusive republican
rule. He does not deem it advisable,
nor would it suit his party purpose to
state that there was due to the county
in unpaid taxes, q sum exceeding
Seventy Thousand Dollars, and that the
county was in possession Of one Of the
best court house buildings in the Black
Hills. lie does net deem it necessary
to state in this connection that the
county he is endeavoring to make the
public believe is in q condition border
ing upon bankruptcy, is to-day in bet
ter condition fir ancially, than any of the
Black Hills counties of corresponding
age.
Before exposing his consummate ignor-
snce. it would have been an act of wis
dom ON his part to have studied the
subject that he essays to treat, whereby
he might have escaped the ridicule, If
not the censure of his readers, in the
matter of the publication of an article
so palpsbly and ridiculously absurd and
erroneous, He should haye referred to
tine latest government reports for statis-
tics in relation to the Indebtedness Of
the county, which he could have readily
obtained at this Office. Had he pursued
this course he would not have published
a single line Of the vulnerable article
referred to. as by these reports he would
have determined the undeniable fact
that the per capita Indebtedness of Gus
ter county, as shown by the latest report
Of the three original counties of the
Black Hills, 10 as follows: Lawrence,
Nl.26; Pennington, $47;SS; Custer.
$24.3S. These statistics alone are suffici-
ent 10 set aside, and effectually destroy
the force Of every allegation made by
the unscrupulous and uninformed
oracle (?) Of the Leader, and 1t is there
fore unnecessary to 60 further. We're
il necessary we might present an array
of legitimate and unavoidable expenses
which. as In case Of all counties during
the early years Of their history, haye
been necessarily incurred. We might
also allude to the fact ola large portion
of the present indebtedness having been
contracted when the area embraced in
Fall River county formed part Of this
county, not one dollar Of which has
been paid by the segregated
county. We might, il necessary, refer
to the large sum incurred for court az
penses. costly murder trials. one Of
which exceeded nine thousand dollars,
ETC.. etc. which, when fairly considered
would dispel any erroneous idea Of
peculation, or even extravaganza on tas
part Of those who have been charged