Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1906-05-03
The stallion...capper

The Stallion...Capper."
Dakota Farmer
The rlvages II the stallion peddlers
such as the Dakotas are suffering from
at the present time and the results OF
which may OF may not become fully
apparent for few years. would not be
SO formidable were it not for the aid
Of people who ought 10 be in better
business. TO put it as charitabls as
possible. This skin game would not
be 80 inviting were it not for the fact
that the peddler knows that in nearly
every community he can ind reputa-
BILE :. citizens who for a cOnsidera
tion can be induced TO do his dirty
work: men who will help hold up
and rob their trusting neighlors and
friends Of their money, handing them
in turn something that may Ike entire
ly worthless. and il not. worth never
more than from one third u one-half
OF what ii is sold for: men who for
shafe or two in the horse O. !. few
paltry dollai> are willing 70 prey upon
the confidence Of their friends. put
price on their character and honor
and make their work and influence y
matter OF barter and trade 1t is hard
70 do such cases justice and to prop
erly characterize such individuals
without resorting to languages other
than English. and it is harder yet to
be compelled to admit. even TO our
selves, that in this age Of boosted civ
illization men can be found out
side Of the criminal classes Who will
hold so lightly the thing most valuable
to man-his character. And yet We
have them: we know it: every stallion
peddler knows it: hundreds OF innocent
victims know it, having paid dearly
for their knowledge, and the general
public knows it,
When sire-peddling was first intro
duced, il was done by reputable con-
Germs In their efforts to push business.
aud AS then conducted. it served its
purpose and it was deemed laudable
enterprise. The chances for illegiti-
mate gains soon suggested themselves.
however, TO those of a grating dis
position. aud the practice gradually
fell into disrepute. the reliable dealers
refusing tn resort u the dishonest
methods made USE Of bv the p,ofes-
slollal. and hence wer. forced u re-
linuulsl the practice on account II
uneven competition The man har.
ding honest horses could not afford u
employ these ''cappefs a'id pay all
the unnecessary expense, incident TO
such business. IL made his horses
cost hun too much ~ sell Al any
where near reasonable figures: while
the man who handled horses " ques-
tlonable merit horses that cost him
about what they were worth for work
Ing purposes had lots II margin to 20
on. and he could afford u pile up the
expense as long as he could induce
people To bite. II then became mainly
q question ~ bait and means. and the
'cappet method Was the easiest. the
peddier knowing that man known
IN "A community, in good standing.
ana who was supposed u lie dsinter-
ested. could accomplish what an in
terested stranger could not There is
nothing liew about the "capp-i ,y,-
tenn at all. but, up " late years. it
was used mainly by CRATER, following
cheap circuses, by confidence men in
the cities. and by similar outlaws. In
the hands OF such character, it was
not overly dangerous. because i.
caught only those who were looking
for trouble and who often needed
LESSON.
sed by the unprincipled stallion
peddler, however, it is a potent factor
lor mischief. d, it not only rob, the
victim Of his money. but also If his
confidence In bis neighDors. and inn
poses upon and causes loss 10 those
"''o palronlze a uscles, horse. After
N''ooslls town. it does not take the
eApefle'ced salesman long 10 locate
,'e men "hp are Interested IN the
nurse business. These men are visited
ana studied. aud the question Of a
so''l pany comes up The peddler
s.'e.es ohe individual who is the most
49, If amy one i, pregnable,
nAss h'm' aud ailerward This cap
per does the work, the pedele, merely
managing the campaign
- : easy 70 see that tile cappc. can
accomplish what the peddler might.
not. The first is supposed w Tie o,,,
CT parties To the deal u be Interested
with them IN getting a good horS.
and at u right figure and sometimes
A.. -