Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1894-01-26
CANTON SOUTH DAKOTA. FRIDAY JANUARY 26. 1894.
dog, and said: "There is another sick granger

we did The remark was so timely and appro-
pirate for Nash's appearance and looks. We
used to have some loud times when we were
boys and grangers, but likely this was the live
liest time the grangers ever had in the west.
The town people all came running. They
wanted to know what the grangers had struck
this time. AS soon as the longest winded
were quite out of breath, we told them we We're
getting up "a boomerang for Gen. Bro. Nash
Well the meeting came to an end, and we
reluctantly bid the brothers and sisters good
bye, and journeyed home. Bro Nash soon got
over his sickness, left the farm and bought the
Sioux Valley News from Linn and turned it on
the infamous Canton ring as he called it.
1t was round OF pleasure all the time to read
his paper. One would think that Canton was
a nest of robbers and Nash was their enemy to
drive them out, and we knew the best way to
do that was to let the Gen. pound them. for you
can always be safe when one rascal is pounding
another
Nash told us the 'court house ring and the
''Canton ring should be annihilated. We be-
lieved him, and when the election Of 1882 came
around we came in to the county convention
from all over the county to down the ring
Pettgrew was in it and we fought and bled to
down him. Nash said he was gambler and
very bad, and we took him at his word and
raised Ned. All the old timers remember the
court house scene at the convention where
Nash fought and bled for us poor granyers.
The historian who writes up that very i'm
portant event, that great transpire in the
history of Lincoln county, should give Gen.
Nash all the praise and glory, for it was through
his generalship the battle was brought about.
You ask how! I will tell you Willis, and when
you come home to Lincoln county, ask the old
timers and see if am not correct.
Nash at that time was chairman of the cen
trail committee; he read the call, and then told
| the boys to hand in their credentials to him
and he would soon determine who We're en-
titled to seats in the convention. 1t is poor
soldier that deserts his general on the eve. of
battle. even though the general does make a
fool Of himself. We didn't: we obeyed
orders. We handed in our credentials, but the
Pettigrew boys said they were not quite ready
to surrender. Internationally to Gen. Nash
The general would offer no better terms, and
the battle beginneth. and no such monkey and
o parrot time was ever seen in the territory.
One brave little colonel jumped out of the
window, slid down on an awning, ran into the
street, drew his revolver and yelled at the boys
up in the court house, not to come. for he would
not be coerced Sheriff Dixon jumped on the
table and said: Il command peace in the name
of the good people of Dakota Territory Dix
on and the table went up to the ceiling: the
table we smashed and useG the pieces to punch
one-a another with. What would have become
of u.s. no one knows, if it had not been for that
big hearted, strong armed democrat, o. D.
Hinkley, who ran the risk OF his life and wad-
ed IN among us. tore us apart and begged OF us
republicans not to kill one other for nothing.
After the battle Nash called us brave men. and
told us always to stand up for the flag. He
said he had blown a tin horn all through the
war but had never been in as bloody q battle,
and we believed him.
Willis, what Il jolly time we had fighting for
nothing and Gen. Nash when we belonged to
the gop
The county convention came around and
Nash was still bowling for the honest farmer
and firing at the Canton robbers Clifford
was a candidate for the legislature and the gen.
eral cried out Clifford was one Of the infamous
Canton ring one OF the robbers, and chief
among them, and must be downed; we obeyed
orders again and downed Clifford, and elected
Naslls man, Friday.
The general was on top: had complete in
f1uence with this man. and we expected some
thing would be done for the county. A move
was made in the Legislature to move the capi-
tai. Our man the pivot he could either
change or keep it, In his position he could
have had almost any public institution in the
state by asking for it. Mash said if ANYTHING
was done, Canton would be benefited by it. and
nothing was done but to move the capital and
Canton and Lincoln county got nothing but
Nash. Willis, don't you know if we had had a
man lin the legislature that time our farms
would have been worth more today by having
a public institution in our midst but we follow
ed the general and got nothing.
Thecapital commission made its junketing
trip with Nash Us its tail and the rumors came
back that the general was having a gay old
time. THE capital was located at Bismarck,
the general got lots, but We never heard how.
For tricks that are curious and ways that are
crooked. we sometimes tlaink the general is
in it
When Clifford was Il candidate for congress
the first time. the general grumbled looked
wry and acted sick. All at once. quicker than
can write it. he made WELL and with
smiling SILLY face. begged proxy and followed
GifYords delegation to Pierre I don't know
what medicine was given to restore him SO
speedly-aslS Clifford.
It goes without saying. that it you want to |
get the generals support. you mast see to it |
that proper consideration is offered.
The general claims to be 'friend Of the |
farmer When the Farmers Alliance was |
the friend Of the farmer wrote to |
an eastern paper. Offering his space at reduced |
rates as he desired to see the Alliance ruined. |
He poses the friend OF the old soldier: ask |
Buck Wheelock. Three years ago two old
soldiers and the general were candidates for
the postottice at Canton. An election OF the
people was called to decide the matter: .he two
old soldiers received nearly all the votes. the
general received about six. and got the Office.
Clifford. another old soldier. can tell you how.
This friend of the old soldier has held this
office for nearly four years. in the face of the
almost unanimous vote of the patrons of the
office against him. There. Willis. is a fitting
Illustration OF how the wishes of the people are
at Washington under old party rule
We will admit. Willis. that the general has
grown to be power in the land. President
is aware Of this and dare not remove
him. for he wants him to pound the Populists
and Silver men in the northwest.
1t is said the general bulldozed Clifford and
Pettigrew. but he ain't in it when he tackles
= b.
But we must close. and now Bro. Wi lis if
you want another chapter in Lincoln county
history, with the general thrown in-send us