Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-02

Burke and Martin as candidates for
congress have been received through
cut the state with much approval.
The South Dakota public has not
forgotten the fine records made by
both OF these former members, and
there is distinct determination to
restore them to their old places next
year. Kittredge, Martin and Burke
made great combination for any
state.
Trade is not booming as it did
before the panic. This can be seen
with half an eye. 1t would be folly
to deny it. On the other hand, it
would be quite as foolish to insist
that the setback has stopped the
wheels. There is no longer roar
ing, needless, onward rush, bot
there is steady volume of whole
sale and retail transactions that will
compare favorably with the bushes
of soberer years when the tide Of
prosperity was not in so large part
made up Of speculative foam. There
has been showdown; but no stopr-
age. The business of the country is
Fighting itself as fast as could be
expected and facing the new situa
tion with courage and confidence.
Each year the people of the
United States smoke nearly $780,
100000 cigars, cheroots, stogies and
all tobacco cigarettes, 100000, 900
cigarettes with paper wrappers, and
consume 300,000,00o pounds of
smoking and chewing tobacco and
snuff. Every day we smoke 22,000-
600 cigars and 100000 cigarettes,
and either smoke or chew 500 tons
of tobacco, all of which costs $780,
600. Every minute of the sixteen
hours day that we are awake we
make ourselves poorer by $500 for
$4,000 cigars, 10000 cigarettes and
half a ton Of plug and fine cut. 1t
is estimated that there are 13,0O0,-
600 devotees of the weed, or about
as many smokers as voters. This
estimate is based on the assumption
that one person in each of our popu-
lation is a puffer of smoke.
There is another very important
feature of the movement and it's
causes which the liquor men them
selves if they expect to save any
thing out of the wreck OF their bust.
ness, would do we'll to observe. That
is the vital necessity for the better
element in that calling to place the
business on plane where it will be
less offensive than at present. This
cannot be accomplished by the men
"higher up" in the liquor business
rushing to the defense of the worst
element whenever it's members are
guilty of law breaking. II they
would stay this rising tide Of pub
lie sentiment against the business
they must not only refuse to stand
by the law breakers but they must
actually stand with the law and
deliver them up for punishment.
There are undoubtedly all over the
land men who have been more or
less in sympathy with prohibition,
but who under ordinary circum
stances would object to being
deprived Of the right to drink any
beverage that suited their taste. But
these men have become exasperated
by the continual abuses permitted
by saloon men.
No matter who represents South
Dakota in the next national conven-
ton it is conceded that the state
will be for Secretary Taft. This
being so Kittrcdge will be closer to
the next president Of the United
States than any man in the country.
Mr.. Taft is warm personal friend
Of Mr.. Kittredge and the latter
gentlemen was one Of the first men
to urge Taft to become candidate
for the presidency and early joined
Roosevelt in launching the Taft
boom. While other aspiring politi-
clans Of the four corner stamp in
this state were decrying Taft and
shouting third term idea, Kittredgs
was noupdinp away on the Taft