Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-01
Pounding the same old straw.

EOunuInk inc same obu StEnWs
We have before us a pamphlet, the
cover page OF which bears the somewhat
misleading title, Overlooked Pages of
Reaper History" In characterizing this
title as misleading. il may be explained
that a fair Interpretation OF the words
would lead us TO expect something not
heretofore generally known concerning
the subject of reaper history. Instead Of
this being the fact, a cursory glance at
the pamphlet-or, more properly. the ire
publication Of three pamphlets''-as its
editors term IL, is a mere repetition of
far-fetched theories and so-called evil
dence, in support of the false hypothesis
that Cyrus II. Mccormick was not the
inventor Of the first successful reaping
machine.
The original publication of these PAM
phlets in the early SOS was prompted by
that sore feeling tan ailment somewhat
akin TO that tired feeling') on the part
of a would-be competitor OF the McCor-
mick-a competitor whose machine had
suffered defeat at the hands of McCor-
mick; and the republication is now
brought out along the original lines, be-
ing fathered by some has been" and
''would-be@ competitors of the McCor-
mick. Jealous of the genius of the man
who invented the reaper and doubly jeal-
Gus of the great success of Mccormick
machines all over the world. these men
have recently spent a large sum of money
in republishing and distributing this PAM
phlet. And who are they? ]. Russell Par
sons who was one of the directors of the
Wood Reaper Co. before itswent into the
hands OF a receiver, because its machines
were not as good as McCormick's; Lewis
Miller, formerly superintendent of the
Akron Buckeye Co. and who copied our
Gorham invention, for which we propose
the Buckeye Co. shall pay US; and John
+. Steward, who has been for years, and
now is, an employee of William Deering
& Co, and who has been defeated in the
various suits in which he has opposed
the Mccormick.
The original pamphlet is one purport-
ing to have been written by Edward
Stabler in 1854. In reality Stabler wrote
il, assisted by Obed Hussey 1.-THE sore old
time competitor), and Hussey paid all the
bills for publication and distribution, Just
as VIM. Deering a Co. are doing now.
In 1854 Hussey saw that his reaper would
not Compel with the Mccormick, and
that despite his most herculean efforts
its sale must soon cease tin 1858 he sold
and was paid but for ten machines), and
SO he began TO print the testimonials OF
his friends and attack Mccormick. And
In this self-satisfying manner he let him
self down, and finally dropped out of the
race altogether. With Hussey's bewail-
1DRS as u ext IiS ItioNtIe nav EbiAN WI
in their mad attempts at bolstering mp a
lost cause. being prompted solely by the
success of Mccormick, and with any
thing TO beat Mccormick" as their watch
word. 1t is easy TO see how this class
of men would have conducted their cam
paign had Hussey really demonstrated TO
the world that he was the inventor of the
successful reaping machine. and had Nc
been forced, as Hussey was, 10
recognize his failure and retire from the
field. This would be a transposition of
the case-Hussey would be to-day the
leading manufactures Of harvesting ma
chimes, and Mccormick would be compar-
atiyely unknown; then. with an enthu-
siasm worthy OF a better cause the dis
tinguished "republishers'' would be de-
voting their energies 10 calculating how
Mccormick was the real inventor OF the
reaper, while Hussey was only a hanger
on, a bull-dozer. and an a~bstracter of
other mems ideas.
With Mccormick machines as ac-
knowledged leaders in every land, and
with the question OF priority of inven-
tion repeatedly established before courts
and commissions, there is no longer any
room for plausible argument on the other
side of the question. but
"A man convinced against his will
Is OF his own opinion STILL
hence, would-be competitors will continue
or In the same old way, seeking 10 give
honor where honor is not due, rather
thar TO acknowl, dye hat they them.
selves are behind the race for supremacy.
Does history repeat itself? IL would seem
SO. Wood is gone and the Akron Buck
eye seems TO nave a tired feeling" Why
is Deering joining this combination OF
failure? IL is because Birds of a feather
flock together?'
In view Of the facts in the case we
would suggest TO our re-publishing
friends that when they get in another re-
publishing mood, and get out a re-pub-
hshed edition Of their re-published work,
an appropriate title. equally felicitous,
and not less ~euphonious. would be "Over.
worked Pages of Reaper History
Farmers Advance.