Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1896-02-21
To the Republicans Of South Dakota.

NV name has been mentioned in con-
nection with the selection of delegates to
the republican national convention at st.
Louis, and have expressed desire to
60 as delegate, not because had any
selfish personal interest to serve, but be-
cause believed might serve the inter.
ests of the republican party in the state,
and above all the interests of the whole
people in securing or helping TO secure
platform at St. Louis upon which all re-
publicans could unite. and thus place
victory within our certain grasp.
Believing as I Go that the greatest Of
all issues before the people to-day is a
reform Of our financial system, the en-
largement Of our metallic money and i'm
mediate relief from the grinding exac-
tions of the apprectatlng gold standard,
by the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer. I thought to assist in securing a
plank in the national platform which
would allow every honest man to vote for
the republican nominee for president
without compromising his position on
this great subject. But my motive has
been misconstrued, and I have been ac-
cused of trying to deliver the state to
some particular candidate as matter Of
bargain ana sale for the purpose of pro-
noting my own personal welfare. If !
were trying to do this, the republicans of
the state might we'll feel indignant, and
take such steps as would make it impos-
sible. As a proof that had no such
purpose point 20 my record as your
representative. have never sacrificed
the public welfare for any personal ad-
vantage. and I have always voted tor
what always believed would produce
the greatest good to all, although in some
cases my personal interest would have re-
quired me to vote the other way. wish
also te say to you thatf have not written
!ette- for or against any particular can
didate for president to any one in the
state. am much more interested in the
platform than in the candidate. l'have
no personal ambition in this matter, and
shalliherefore make no effort to secure
my selection as delegate to St. Louis.
want to serve, not command, the,people
of Soath Dakota who have honored me
so much. and am always ready to do
their bidding,
Inregard to some Of the other questions
which would come before the convention
there would be no controversy
them being the tariff. The principle OF
protection is not an issue among repub-
licans, and of course most heartily ad-
vocate and indorse it.
But there are other.auestlons before the
people Of South Dakota to which Il wish
to call your attention IN this connection.
The FIRST and foremost is the control, by
rightful and proper Legislation. Of the
great corporations wiohin our borders, by
enactment Of such laws as will make the
railroad corporations our servants. under
our control, doing our bidding. serving
all our: people impartially. giving every
shipper and every town an opportunity
to live and do business. and thus abolish
the present practice which makes these
servants our masters. These roads are
largely owned by English bondholders
an6 English stockholders. and are banded
and stocked for more ohan twice what
they cost; and we are called upon to pay
the same or higher rases for carrying
wheat when it is worth but forty cents
per bushel. as we were charged for carry
ing it when worth one hundred cents per
bushel. But even worse than this is the
system of rebates and Determinations be-
tween places, by which these English ty-I
rants of ours become arbitrators of the
of men and places, saying who
shall succeed In business as,d who shall
rot.
Fearing that the last legislature would
Jake steps to correct these growing and
ntolerable evils, the railroad companies
sent paid lobby TO Pierre last winter.
The men who composed this lobbv-wl-
ing to serve for pay any interest, even
;hough foreign one-are well known by
1ame to our people l need not mention
hem. 1t is we'll fos you as people to
observe who some of the men are that are
low trying to secure control of the re.
publican party in the state. l contend
hat it is the same lobby which disgraced
,ur state last winter; that they have now
the task Of naming the whole
epubiican state ticket, and of securing
governor and legislature that will do
heir bidding. Shall they be permitted
o succeed?
With these men l have no personal
although they have tried to
make it appear that l have. On the
ther hand, the strong bonds of personal
nd political frindship which have bound
ne to some Of them for years can be sew
red only with great reluctance and sor-
ow, and have been forced to speak only
tier proof IS conclusive that they pre-
erred to serve this foreign interest rather
han to continue our former relations
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