The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-03-13
EDITORS AGAINST
N. D. SUBSIDY
MAJORITY OF EDITORS WOULD
NOT ACCEPT MONEY FROM
CATALOGUE HOUSE
FOR USE Of ENTERTAINING MOVEMENT
Prof. Starring Ascertains Opinion of
South Dakota Newspaper Men-a
Summary of Opinions Received.

1t is understood that recently a
large Chi, ago mail order house made
an offer to a better farming associa-
ton in the state to contribute the sum
of 81, 200 to each county in the state
for the use Of the better farming move
ment. The object Of the catalog
house, was of course, to gain some val
liable advertising, not that they had
any particular love for South Dakota
or its citizens. Curiosity as to just
how this offer would be received led
Prof. G. A. Starring, on his own in
itiative to send gu a letter to the
newspapermen Of the state asking
their opinion on this question. Seven
questions were put to them, as fol-
lows:
l.. What do you think of it from
the standpoint of the farmer?
2. What do you think of it from the
standpoint of the business man?
3. If any county better farming
association uses this mail order
money, is it fair to call on local mer-
chants to help?
4. What do you think of it from the
standpoint of principle in general?
From the standpoint of American citi-
zenship?
5. What do you think of the idea
of sending money away to Sears, Roe
buck & Co, and getting it back for
better farming? Does $1,000 repre-
SEN all that leaves your county?
6. Docs this $1,000 compensate for
the loss of business caused in your
county by the mail order houses?
IL w, fh;n1, Ca,th DoEafo on,n
ties should use this fund in the better
farming movement?
Prof. Starring received over one
hundred replies, and 65 per cent Of
the editors were absolutely against
accepting money from the mail order
house under any conditions and the
balance either could see no OBJ
lection to taking the money or favored
accepting it. Mr.. Starring has pre-
pared the following summary of the
replies:
A. A synopsis Of editorial opinion
against using a mail order contribu-
ton for better farming by South Da-
kota counties.
l.: From the standpoint of the farm
err. A majority of editors seem to
agree that using this fund would be
good from the standpoint Of the farm
err; that it would make a hit with the
farmers" Frequently the idea was
added that the farmer should not
think that he would be under moral
obligation to reciprocate. There
seemed to be a general opinion that the
country does not need this assistance.
Many express the opinion that such
a donation is merely an advertising
scheme. Several express the idea
that 1T is a sop and an insult"
2 and 3. From the standpoint Of
the business man. 1t was generally
thought that the using of this outside
money would in the long run be de-
detrimental to local business. How
ever, an occasional reply stated that
the business men could have no legiti-
mate 'kick" because a great many
of the business men themselves order
from mail order houses when they need
goods which they do not handle. On
the other hand the idea was expressed
that the merchant could be fairly re-
quested to help, in which case he
would share some of the obligation on
the part of the farmer to reciprocate.
The general opinion seemed to be that
the various counties in South Dakota
ought to be able to handle this pro-
position for themselves. Others stated
that no matter how much the local
merchant might help the mail order
house would get the honor out of it.
It was also stated that the merchants
and farmers could get together and
build I'D a fund Of such proportions
that outside assistance would be un-
necessary.
4. From the standpoint of principle
in general. utterly wrong "Degen-
Grating" I'VE think the state can
give the best possible education to it's
people" "Have these outside con-
Germs paid any taxes to help build up
the communities in our state?" "Ac-
ceptance of charity is the acknowledge
ment of caste" "It is a gentle form of
bribery 1.-The farmers ought to main
tain their independence from outside
help" II do not think that a public
should be financed by a trad
ing stamp proposition" American
citizenship begins at home. Centrali-
zed commercialism never made a citi-
zen which the country could be proud
Of" "As a general proposition the prin.
ciple is wrong. 1t Is an advertisement
labeled pure reading matter" "The
mail order houses keep the value of
property down, hence the state loses.
5, 6, and z. Does the $1,000 com
pensate for the money taken away
from the county by mail order houses?
Should South Dakota counties use
this fund for better farming? Prac.
tically every reply stated that 1000
is merely a drop in the bucket" to
the amounts going out of the county
to support the mail order business
IS per cent Of the replies e decided.
ly not in favor of using from such a
fund.
B. A synopsis Of editorial opinion
in favor of using mail order money