Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-01
N. SOUTH DAKOTA FRIDAY. FEBRUARY I. 1901.

newspapers
How would you begin the fght?"
1T is very easy matter"
II do not know about that. What
would be your plan?"
well, suppose we all agree to stop
talking about the bosses as first step.
Suppose we stop the expenditure OF
money in engaging the services of the
best and most talented young men we
can find to wait on these crafty old
foxes and get their views of things
whenever they bob up. Now. am an
editor and newspaper proprietor with
considerable more than a quarter CEN
turys experience behind me, and in all
that time honestly believe that l did
not get $95 worth Of political informa-
tion from the whole boss ontfit. But
the effort to get it has cost me, at the
very lowest figure, $75.OoO Send re-
porter to any one of these grand politi-
cal fakirs anywhere and under any
circumstances, and what is the result
That they do not want to be interview
ed: that the situation is of such q char.
acter they have declined to talk that
they have nothing to say. and 80 on
through all the other steoreotyped
phrases of bossdonl. And then 20 to
printing their pictures and fooling the
people about the details of their very
common lives, how their interesting or
uninteresting children are doing, or not
doing. Why, the whole is nauseating.
It is un-Republican. It is un.Demo-
cratic: it is un-American. 1t is time
for the American editor to assert his
independence.
1.-The fundamental principle of the
republic is that the people shall con-
troll; that they through representatives
chosen by them, shall regulate their
affairs in the municipality in the state
in the nation. That is the theory; the
practice is the very reverse. An ar
istocracy of bosses has been raised up,
not one Of whom dares to 60 before the
people for any elective Office whatever
If he did he would meet with utter
repudiation. Instead of facing the
people tho boss seeks recognition, if he
seeks it at all, from legislature that
he has, through corporate and corrupt
ing influences, bought in advance.
This is the corroding system that in
both parties is undermining our insti.
1tutions. and I am convinced it is the
duty Of the newspaper men to end it.
1t 10 time for US to form trust.
1.-The newspapers are really respon-
sible for the existence of this outrage.
Gus, yes infamous. political condition
Of affairs. They make these men and
year in and year out they bolster them
up and keep the breath of political life
in them. There is not in the whole
world q set of men that get more free
ADVERTISING than do these political ex-
crescences. Why, we keep printing
offices. buy presses and hire hundreds
and hundreds Of the best paid class of
labor for the benefit of this gang,
through all its grsdations from Han
na and Croker down to the ward heel
er. I am heartily sick of the whole
arrangement. The newspaper editors,
~ said should combine to sweep the
whole crowd ont of existence. Keep
their names ont of the newspapers and
sec wAere they will fetch up.
VIXEN was q young reporter on
the Tsibaae, under Horace Greely, just
after the war, saw the old man take
up Gen. Francis Barlow. In few
months he hsd made the unknown law
yer national hero. The Tribune final.
ly nominated Barlow for attorney gen.
eral of New York. He was elected and
in one of bis FIRST public addresses there
after took occasion to sneer at the
newspapers- That is always popular
before an audience. Greedy was furi-
GUS and he ordered the exclusion of
Bsrlow's name from his paper. What
was the RESULT Barlow was soon for
gotten BY the public and was over
looked for the last 20 years of his life.
Dave Hill is another man who was
made by the newspapers, notably by
the Sun, but he has proved trescherous
to every newspaper man who befriend-
ed or trusted him. Edward Riggs of
the Sun, who was his devoted friend at
last come to know him as he is. No
Washington correspondent will trust
Hill, because he will give an interview
and deny what he has said to the next /
journalist who comes along.
''The editors can control the politics
of this country and be the politicians
themselves. The time is high to sep
crate definitely from the bosses and
quit pulling their chestnuts out of the
fire. This is not a party matter.
Editors in all parties have been used
long enough by ungrateful politicians .
w. T. Manning in Minneapolis Fri
bune.
Money to Loan on Real Estate.
Rocon &, T,oroon 1oon on raol oo<o<o !!