Correspondence

• 1915 October 8 (Creation)

1 page

H. L. Loucks writes to R.F. Pettigrew about the leaflets he is publishing to promote progressive ideals. He thinks he will use the Rural Credit issue to bring attention to financial issues of farmers. Loucks mentions the upcoming 1916 elections and the likelihood of independent candidates.

TRANSCROPT

Oct. 8th.

My dear Pettigrew,

I note by the Press that you are at home again at but doing no more harm than entertaining old friends.

I have nothing definite in view yet. The Washington D. C. proposition is not taking the form I had hoped for. The Open Forum of which under separate cover I am mailing you a copy, will not need editors but correspondents who are able and willing to pay for space. I will be able for the present to excape the pay part, but that is the plan.

I believe that this Rural Credit fake sprung by the practical policians to distract attention should be taken advantage of to raise the whole financial question for discussion. I have tried for several years to raise it once more, but have failed to do so under the old title, so am trying to do so under the caption of Rural Credits.

I am enclosing you copies of the first fous leaflets which will give you an idea of how I am leading up to the main issue, but I am handicapped for want of means to give them circulation. Your two Soo Falls papers backed out on publication when they or some one for them recognized the drift. Even The Huronite thought space too valuable, but I rather expected that Richards would discourage the propaganda.

About a half dozen Papers is about all that will use them in the state, and a few outside. Now how can we increase the circulation?

I had 1.000 of each printed in leaflet form and fixed a price that would cover printing and postage, in hopes that I could get enuf out of them to pay for, printing and postage, but there is no demand for anything but free stuff. If we could get even one man in each county interested in their circulation we could soon have a live working corp.

It would give us a working force in the state for use next year.

I think that things are so shaping themselves, that there will be an unusual opportunity for a straight out independent ticket in this state next year. There is not much use for an independent movement that does not go down to the county.

I will be glad of your co-operation in any way to wake up the voter.

Sincerely yours,

H.L.Loucks

• Progressivism (United States politics)
• South Dakota -- Politics and government

• Loucks, Henry L. (Henry Langford) 1846-1928 (Subject)
• Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard Franklin) 1848-1926 (Subject)

• Letters
• Correspondence