Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-03-04

round is very apt, but we shall fail to
land at the desired goal if we mount
the wrong ladder or enter on side
track If we shall have good, healthy
working administration and legislative
body of reform forces the members
must be disentangled from former
party affiliations and start upon new
alignment in compact union without
byconsiderations or diffusive back
ground, even then we shall not gain
heaven by a single bound but climb
round by round
Will not Mr.. Bryan bend his energies
to consummate such an organization?
If it can not be done the country is not
yet ripe for reform.
If Mr. Bryan, in his extensive travels
over the country, would listen closely
to the undercurrent murmur of the
earnest upright part of the people he
would discover that fusion was unw1se
in 1896; but he allows himself to be
deceived by the noisy clamor OF the
venal, greedy part, more characteristic
of the fusion element 1t will not DO
to try to hide fusion under the cloak of
cooperation, we know exactly what it
means. Fusion showed its head in
this state in 1894.
AS typical sentiment of fusionist
I shall quote few words from letter
received from Democratic fusionist
during the campaign of that year:
IF by combination & \ we will
have clear sailing in the future 1t will
be strongly recommended that the
candidates on both tickets Democratic
and Populist tickets are meant here)
who are withdrawn be the first to be
considered to fill the Offices under the
appointment OF the governor
Here we have the true inwardness of
fusion. I believe we would do our
country and the world great service
if we would cut down public salaries to
a point commensurate to the average
income of those who furnish the funds
believe we should then have cut the
hydrahead of this unholy scramble for
public spoils.
This hope shall be my last plea upon
the subject of fusion at present, and l
must employ the occasion to address
Mr. J E Aiken upon a point which
was overlooked in my reply to him I
quote from Mr.. Aiken's article:
ITO that end hired mercenaries are
employed by them as abundantly prov
en- in our last state campaign, to pro
mote division in the Populist ranks.
The middle of the readers are fatted
and petted and travelling expenses paid
land how much more who can telD to
prevent union on common ground
This same phraseology have read in
other papers; it seems to go the regular
rounds and be a favorite newspaper
theme. ! have not taken much notice
of it because we are so accustomed to
all sorts of slang of this kind. But
when it is brought right down onto my
own premises, and by q man with as
keen sense to truth and honesty as J
E. Aiken, must submit to the veracity
of some foundation to the charge; still
am inclined to believe that Mr. Aiken
in moment of agitated feeling has
allowed newspaper gossip to run away
with his better Judgment. But when
Mr.. Aiken here refers to the middle Of
the readers he must consider that his
charge reflects most seriously on the
very men in our state who first started
out to warn their fellowmen Of the
dangerous situation that surrounds as
all, and who in the face of ridicule,
blasphemy and persecution so persist
emily have sacrificed their time and
means on the altar of patriotism AS
the case has come down to contro-
versy between us, I will give Mr.. Aiken
three alternatives.
You must either substantiate the
charge, Mr.. Aiken, by naming person,
place and circumstances; or You must
retract; or you must stand ith the rest
of the falsifyers, branded with the
mark of libel. J. E Hotter.