Correspondence

Letter: H.L. Loucks to R.F. Pettigrew, May 19, 1916

Identity elements

Reference code

MA 23 | B01-F04-I10

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Title

Correspondence

Date(s)

  • 1916 May 19 (Creation)

Extent

2 pages

Name of creator

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

Loucks writes to R.F. Pettigrew concerning the cost of having part of the pamphlet printed as well as the pieces of the manuscript in friendly newspapers. Loucks hopes to copyright certain features of the pamphlet and manuscript to provide solid arguments. Mrs. Burgess urges Loucks to arrange a national call, which Loucks wishes to avoid at the present time.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Languages of the material

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Notes element

General note

TRANSCRIPT

May 19th. -16
Hoh. R. F. Pettigrew,
Sioux Falls S. Dak.

My dear friend,

Yours of the 15th. from Chicago duly rec’d.

It is unfortunate that you read that part of the manuscript first.

I advocate just exactly what you do a complete revolution of the whole system, as you will note when you come to read the whole M.S.

Then it occured to me that we should have something to work and talk for now, that the people would understand, and so I make a few suggestions as first steps.

These by themselves would not appeal to you or to me, and more perhaps than the Rural Credit fake. But it would very much embarras their public speakers, for I do not see how they could face a Western audience and advocats the retention of such an absurd system as we now have.

But no more on this line until you have read the whole work.

I believe that you are mistaken as to the organization of a new political party. I would not expect immediate success, but I do think that we could win in 1920, and I also believe that we should carry a number of States this year.

My idea is to organize this year, and keep up the propaganda, and when the storm breaks, we will force the twins together and win.

At any rate I will do what I can to keep the banner afloat.

The great trouble with the Socialist is that they do not recognize the money question as of Major importance.

Again they do not recognize the farming element as of any importance.

They are entirely too narrow (insert word) make the progress they should, with such good fundamental principles.

If it were not for these two factors, I would have joined them long ago.

I appreciate your kind offer, and know that you would help if you could.

I showed Cory of the Saturday News, what encouragement I had, and got the figures for the cost as I wrote to you, of about $500,

He also agreed to give me 80 days after the issue of the Paper covered lot to pay for same, and I gave them the job. The paper has been ordered, and as soon as it arrives they will do their best to rush it.

Now, to sell them I must get busy advertising it, and as I have said so often, I have the work in me, but not a dollar to do with.

For the King of the Money Kings, they claim that the publishing costs as much as the advertising costs as much as the publishing.

I think however that with the large acquaintance I have, and the access to a number of friendly papers, and the aid I will get from my Chicago friends, whom I hope you have met, that I can dispose of the first lot with a much smaller cost. I think that $200 for the advertising would, and perhaps less. So I would be very glad indeed if you could accomodate me as suggested, but I would suggest $100 to start with, and if neccessary a second hundred later, and I feel very sure that I can take care of them at maturity.

It is the first time I have ever asked any one to do such a thing.

But such a work is needed right now, and I believe that it fills a want, that has not been supplied by any one else.

There is one feature to which I want to call your attention.

I cover a good many phases of the money problem, and the whole may seem somewhat disconnected at times, but I realize that there are a good many ways of looking at the question, and that one feature will appeal to one set of workers, and another to another set; so I have tried to make it up, that we will fill orders for any chapter, or group put up in leaflet, or pamphlet form, from here. We will have the plate, and can fill all orders very quickly.

I will copyright it to protect that feature.

There are so apt to be embarrasing mistakes in permiting others to print, without my own proof reading.

In those pamphlets you had printed there were several errors.

I have written J. S. Holter to go up to your office and read the M. S. for he asks me so many more questions than it is possible for me to answer, and I can send Watson another lot, when it is returned.

If he does not come up kindly mail to him instead of to me, and I will send him from here what you returned.

Since I decided on publishing the book myself I have made a good many changes in it, and am now going over it for the last time.

I must stop, for there is no end to the many things the people should know, and be advised of, but they can be taken care of later.

I am mailing you a copy of the Farmers Open Forum, in which I got in a little adv. free, and I think that I can manage it once a month.

I judge that very few papers published my call, so I have ordered 1/000 slips from The Saturday News, which published the article, and will mail, as I can get the postage stamps.

Mrs. Burgess was so much pleased with my State call, that they held up their own, and urged me to prepare a National Call, which I tried to block out on very short notice.

I have not heard whether it was satisfactory, or not.

As soon after your return, as I can make the raise I will try to come down, an spend a few hours with you,

Sincerely yours,

H. L. Loucks

Specialized notes

Alternative identifier(s)

Item Identifier

MA 23 H.L. Loucks Correspondence with R.F. Pettigrew Box 1 Folder 4 Item 10

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Sources used

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Digital object metadata

Digital object (External URI) rights area

Digital object (Reference) rights area

Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

Accession area