Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-10-17
A Harmless Shot.

n Ao1hAcSo ohobs
The Custer County Journal, in its
issue of last Tuesday, fred what was
intended to be fatal shot at the CHRoS-
fcLE. The Journal gun was loaded with
the charge that the CHRONICLE was one
of the twenty-one papers in South Da-
kota which accepted proposition from
the great Brewers and Distiller's trust
to run matter in their columns favoripg
re-submission in this state for monied
consideration. The shot is entirely
harmless, as we are prepared to show.
The CHRONICLE has always held the
opinion, which was freely expressed
during the campaign when the question
of prohibition was submitted TO q vote
of the people, that viewed from the
standpoint Of temperance, the measure
was illadvised and undesirable, iuas-
| much as its effect would be, as afterward
proved, an increase rather than de-
crease in the amount of intoxicants
consumed in the state, to say nothing of
the large decreace in the revenues by
the abrogation Of all licenses for it's sale.
The CHRONICLE has always entertained
the belief that nothing short of national
prohibition would prove effective in the
attainment of the end sought by the
advocates Of the cause of temperance.
The CHRONICLE has not changed its
position on this question, as ii believes
to-day that the law has been a misera-
BILE failure in this state after a trial Of
six years, and that it would be for the
best interests of the state, both morally
and financially, to remove it from our
statutes.
A newspapers space is its stock in
trade, just as much as is sugar and coffee
to the grocer, and when its publisher
accepts business proposition involving
the disposal of given amount of his
space at figure agreed upon between
him and the purchaser, no sacrifice Of
principle being involved, as in this case,
the transaction is. in every respect, as
legitimate as the sale of pound of sugar
! by the grocer. The proposition was
submitted to this paper by one w. Bob
Holland, who claimed to be an adver-
tising contractor of New York City, and
as it was regarded as a plain business
proposal. contemplating the publication
of matter in harmony with the we'll
settled, and repeatedly expressed views
| Of the paper, was honestly entertained
Had the Chronicle been an advocate Of
! prohibition, as was the Sioux Falls
Farmer, a strong prohibition paper,
whose editor is chairman OF the Pro-
hibition state campaign committee, who
entertained the proposition, then we
frankly admit we would have been open
to eensure; but, as will be readily seen,
in the case Of the Farmer, its acceptance
of the proposal involved a sacrifice Of
principle, while the CHRONICLE made no
such sacrifice.
The editor Of the Journal we'll knows,
if he knows anything, that the position
he has taken against this paper in the
matter of its acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton stated, is entirely absurd, and it
may be readily seen that the shot was
simply fred for political effect, and
! represents but one of series Of fruitless
fusilades that we expect to receive from
that feeble follower Of forlorn hope
between now and the close ofthe cam
paign. If the Journal has set itself up
as newspaper reformer, it should not
confine itself to this city, but extend
the good work over broader field
which invites his attention throughout
the Hills. There are a number of his
silver contemporaries in the Hills who
offered their space for the vile (?) pur-
pose stated, for a nominal consideration,
the Hill City News for one, which
offered to print editorial at the nominal
figure of cents line until the close of
the compaign. The Lead Call might
also be called to account for similar
otfense, and the Deadwood Inde-
pendent. the great silver tipped organ
of Black Hills popocracy; the Deadwood
Pioneer, for Bryan or bust, and the
Sturgis Advertiser, also silver sheet.
Why not turn your eyangelistic eyes
toward those sinful, subsidized silver
psalm singers.
But say, now in all seriousness, don't
you think it advisable, before firing an
othe- shot at US, that you should be sure
your gun was loaded? Take our advice
and fire no more blank cartridges.