Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1896-12-18
tained until the once great majority Of
the Repu bl:can party was wiped out and
an opposition administration elected.

| the Repu bl:can party was wiped out anu
an opposition administration elected.
While personally, Mr.. Kittredge, Mr..
Sterling, Mr. johnson, Mr.. Hunter and
their associates are companionable gen.
tlemen, they are political pirates, there
are few conversant with state politics for
the last few years, who do not know with
what high-handed arrogance they and
their associates have denied to all who
would not wear their collars all partlcl-
patton in political affairs.
The fourth grievance is the abuse by
the railroads and their South Dakota
representatives, of the pass system. The
manipulation of caucuses. conventions,
elections, and legislatures. by the issu-
ance of trip and annual passes. is an
open scandal Books Of passes have
been furnished to the railroad attorneys
for use as they saw fit and all that has
been necessary for man of any influence
to obtain free transportation, has been to
give his allegiance to the political for
tunes of Kittredge, Johnson, Hunter d
Co. The giving of passes has never done
any railroad any real good and the rail
roads are themselves the worst sufferers
in the end. The pass system is un.
American and contrary to the spirit OF
equality The people of South Dakota
ask of the railroads that passes be abol-
ished, railroad fares reduced and all per-
sons given equal privileges.
These, in short, are the principal griev-
ances of the people of South Dakota
against the railroads. Heretofore the
railroads have had control either Of the
legislature or of the governor, or OF both,
and redress has been Impossible. Now
the people control the legislature, the
governor and the railroad commissioners
and can enact and carry into effect such
legislation as they may see fit. For the
first time, the railroads are in the power
of the people, but the people are disposed
to use that power wisely, and will not
seek revenge for past wrongs. If the
railroads show any disposition to deal
fairly with South Dakota in the future.
But the railroads must reduce their
tariffs to the basis Of those charged In
neigh boring states and allow the farmers
and merchants of South Dakota living
profit. They must cease discriminating
in favor of Sioux City and St. Paul, and
against South Dakota, jobbers and
wholesalers. They must cease the in
discriminate issue of passes to accom-
plish political ends, Above all, they
must relegate their attorneys to the
court room and keep them out OF politi-
cal conventions If the railroads will
give South Dakota a square deal and
cease in interfering in religion, politics
and the domestic affairs of it's citizens
the people OF the state will meet them
with spirit of perfect fairness and the
day of anti-railroad agitation in South
Dakota will be over But if the rail.
roads choose to continue in their policy
of discrimination against South Dakota
and its industries, and allow their attor-
neys and other representatives to inter-
fere in the politics of the state, the peo.
pie will take, as they now have the
power to do, such measures as shall
force the railroads to do what, on all
principles Of equity and Justice, they
| should do of their own volition. The
railroads can take their choice. Sioux
Falls Press.