Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-11-04

Populist. He was editor of the Lead
City Daily Call and did valiant work
for the %fusionists of the Hills. AS q
reward he "a appointed bill clerk in
the last Senate. There he got a clear
insight into the machine and It record
for broken promises, self aggranbizle-
ment and hypocrisy. The following
correspondence shows the result:
Sioux Falls. s. D.. Oct. ls. 1885,
Dear Sir: We address you this letter.
as we arc advised you are one Of the
most influential and active workers In
your locality. and We need your help.
This campaign Is a contest between
the railroads and the people. The rail-
way companies have gained control of
the machine Of the Republican party,
and are furnishing them 100000 with
which to debauch the voters Of the
state and elect the railway tickle!
named at Mitchell. They hope thus to
escape the payment OF taxes and to
prevent the reduction of freight and
passenger rates, for which our rail-
road commissioners are making such q
gallant fight. they have everyl nlng 70
Sam ny %0eteating u ticket, and will
leave no stone unturned TO do SO. They
cannot succeed ii u voters wall only
turn out to the pools, and here is where
VIC need your help.
Will you hOt at once get some OF the
active workers in your precinct t0geth-
er and make every arrangement 10 get
U vote to the polls on e.eclion day.
have three or four teams there aleday
in readiness and keep track OF all votes
as cast. and at 2 y. m. start U these
teams after al who have not voted. IL
will only require a little effort on the
part Of three or four men In each pre-
cinct to get out the vute and elect our
ticket. while II 1t is n o made we may
be defeated, as the people are very apa-
thellc ..ls year and will not get TO the
polls unless something like this is
done.
Can we depend upon you? We have
done everything in u power, and the
final result rests with you. Do not dis
appoint us.
II you know Of any voters whom you
think car be influenced or corrupted by
the railway money, teach them that to
accept the money and vote their prin-
ciples is less offense than to accept the
money and vote against their cOnvlc-
tions. Yours truly, y
w. :. Kidd. Chairman.
II. w. Sawyer, Secretary.
Lead, 8. D. Oct, 20. 1s9s.-Hon. w.
E. Kidd, Sioux Falls, s. D., Chairman
Peoples Party State Commit,ee.-My
Dear Sir: The above letter came duly
to hand and l take this method to re-
ply thereto. In the first place I do not
claim to be the most influential and
active worker in this locality. and
even if 1 were, your purported type
written letter, printed from tyne ON a
printing press. would not deceive me.
That you need my help I doubt not.
Your cause in order TO succeed in the
present campaign. will need the help of
thousands of Republicans. who. lii.e
myself, voted for the free silver ticket
in the campaign OF 1896. but I have
reformed. as it were. since then, and
with thousands OF others, who voted
for Bryan in 1896. shall vote the Re-
publican ticket this year, state, con-
gressiona! and county. In brief, it took
me but a short time to become thor
oughly disguised with Populism, and
the more l saw Of 1t the more thor
oughly disguised / became. and conse-
qucntly you will be compelled to get
aiong as best you ear without my in
fucnce. which you have assumed to be
great in this community. The free sill
yer question was tho only thing that
ever caused me to leave the Republican
party, and inaslnuch as you have pub
licly proclaimed that issue to be "ss
much Of q humbug as the tariff and
believing myself that 1t is as dead as
was the greenback craze Immediately
after the national election OF 1894, I
have returned to my first political love.
the Republican party.
Your assertion that the present e!ec-
ton is a contest between the railroads
and tho people" is the vilest rot Inn
aginable. and Is q claim that is madc
for the purpose OF melting prejudice in
the minds OF the few people OF this
state who permit others to read and
think for them. In the last legislature
OF this state. your party controlled both
branches. This legislature passed q bill
relating to common carriers. being sen.
etc bill No. I. tho title of which was:
IAN act to regular common carriers
and charges for transportation OF pas
sengers and freight by common car
riers within the state Of South Dakota.
and to confer upon the board OF rail-
way commissioners certain powers In
relation therto. and to provide for the
enforcement Of the orders and reKula-
tons OF said commissioners" Some.
thing like $4,000 was appropriated for
the purpose OF enabling the Populist
board OF railroad commissioners to en-
force this Law. and IL they have been
unable to do so the fault is clearly
their own. or else the Law. which your
party claims the fatherho0d Of, 10
faulty and in the interest Of the people
Of the state should be repealed. The as
sertion you make that the railroads
have furnished 100000 with. which to
dehauch the voters OF the state" bor-