Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-05-29
Synopsis Of mir. Henault's Address Be.
fore the Argyle Social Club.
ARGYLE, s. D., May "a, 1909.

| ARGYLE, 3. D., May "a, 1909.
Editor Chronicle
Dear Sir: Last Saturday evening Mr..
Denis Henault addressed the Argyle
Social Club, choosing for his topic
"Public Ownersh;3 y of Public Utilities. "
The audience was not large, owing to
the inclemency Of the weather, but en-
thusiastic in their applause of the speak
er's remarks upon that question. AS
Secretary of the Social Club l shall en-
deavor to give conspectus of his ad-
dress.
The speaker was introduced by J. W.
Pond, who, in neat little speech of
welcome stated that the subject to be
discussed by the speaker was so import
ant that it should interest every man
and woman present, and requested the
audience to listen to Mr.. Henaults ad-
dress with attention.
In bis opening remarks Mr.. Henault
divided his subject into different arti-
cles and demonstrated first, the feasibil-
ity of cities owning their own water
works, lights, etc., citing Deadwood and
Custer, as an example. He said Omaha
first acquired title to the water-works
system in that city. He spoke of the
benefit to the community at large;
while private ownership only benefits
the man who owns the plant, and he
charges the community an enormous
price for his Observation-Disclosures it is
just or not.
He next lauhched into government
ownership of railroads and spoke at
length on the iniquity of the system as
being one of the most rotten political
machines in existence today. He said
instead of paying big prices to the rail-
roads for carrying the mail and making
a few men rich, why not the govern
ment possess the railroads and carry its
own mail free? thereby wiping off the
deficit each year. He spoke at length
on the freight rates of different brands
of goods and of rebates granted to the
large shipper, to the injury of the small
business man.
He stated that Western Canada owned
its telephone system and everyone was
satisfied with the service rendered.
The government should own the coal
mines because coal is product that is
one of the necessities of life and benz
eft to all of US. Why allow a few men
to monopolize the necessity of life and
make millionaires of them2 The fault
lies with the voter, who has the power
to change existing conditions.
The parcel post delivery bill which
was killed in Senate committee room
never came before the Senate for consid-
Grafton. Why? Because Mr.. Platt is a
stockholder in the American express
company, and member of the Senate
committee TO which the bill was referred
He did not want any competition with
his business. Monopolization of the
necessities of life is criminal act in it.
self and should not be allowed. Why
pay tribute to those gentlemen for all
we must have, in order to existP
He spoke of the wool industry, stating
the West possessed three large distrib-
uting centers for our wool industry, viz:
Casper, Cheyenne and Billings. Why
not have wool factories located at those
places, instead of eastern agents coming
out here to buy our wool and shipping
to Boston or other eastern cities3 The
West has enough intelligence and wealth
to keep these industries at home-but
the monopolist has made it impossible
for the West to compete with the East.
He stated that the National Union
numbered 3,000,0 900 members and would
no doubt do a great deal toward i'm
proving the present system of market
ing the farmers products, but they can
not prevent Wall Street or the Stock
Exchange from setting price upon their
goods, under present conditions.
Mr.. Henault made an eloquent plea
for public city parks. He said San
Francisco owned its city parks. There
you can see poor children mingling with
the children of the rich, thus giving the
poor child an equal opportunity to en-
Joy his freedom and an incentive to
develop his intelligence. Show him the
way to higher ideals, instead of throw
ing all kinds of economic obstacles In
his path, such as the compulsion of liv-
ing in novels amidst filthy surround
ings. Low wages and poor living will
result in poor morals-his environment
are conducive to those things. The
speaker was inclined to believe that the
laborer is worse off now than he ever
was before. IF the laboring man evel
succeeds in raising his wages, the mo-
nopolist on the other hand is ever ready
to raise the necessities of life.
Mr.. Henault denied the insinuatior
that he was Socialist. But he belivec
that every political party had some gooC
features in their platform.
The speaker ended his address by ad
vocating the election of a democrati
president of the Bryan type, and added
that as soon as the government inaugu
rated system of public ownership Q
one industry, others would follow righ
away, as the people would see the ber
eft of 1t.
]. ". Pond in a few words praise
the speaker for his declaration of prir
ciples, stating he was also an ardent bs
lever In those principles. He congra
ulated Mr.. Henault on his exceller
address and hoped that we might hav
4 the pleasure Of his visit again in tn
near future. After a rising vote
thanks to'the speaker the meeting az
, journed.' %. o. s...