Correspondence

1 page

H.L. Loucks speaks of his manuscript to R.F. Pettigrew, which he is saddened that he must cut down so as to sell the finished manuscript for a set price. Loucks also mentions that he and Pettigrew should begin to plan for a general conference after the national convention. A mention of Richard O. Richards is also made near the end of the letter speaking of the national convention.

TRANSCRIPT

March 13th.
Hon. R. F. Pettigrew,
Sioux Falls S. Dak.
My dear Pettigrew,

I do not expect you to answer my letters, at length or promptly, under present circumstances; but I assure you that I am always glad to hear from you. I am always encouraged to keep pegging away.

Under separate cover I am sending you some more manuscript.

It is slower work than I had anticipated, as I want to be very careful in my statements. Then there are so many angles, and illustrations to make, in hopes that each one may arrest the attention of someone that cannot be reached by the ordinary argument.

These that I have sent you are not in the regular order in which they will be assembled finally; but are taken up as the Spirit moves me.

Then again there are others for which I am still gathering data.

My case when completed will be much stronger than the address at St. Paul.

It takes more time in boiling down, so as to keep the copy down so as to sell at 25cts, and leave me ten cents. It may be a mistake to limit the argument, or to appreciate the development of certain lines, and I fear that I may have to eliminate much of the present manuscript, and there is where you can help me out by suggestions.

You may think that I am giving too much attention to Rural Credits.

But Rural Credits is in the public eye, and I think I can make a strong case against both old parties because of their sham battle and betrayal, and at the same time, point out the better way.

Good as the time has been for the farmers apparently, there is a great deal of unrest among them. There is a strong tendency towards organization, without any strong leadership as yet, except that Equity Cooperative Exchange movement which is tearing up things in N. Dak.

There are four separate national organizations organizing in South Dakota apart from the quite general club movement.

They are as yet somewhat superficial, but they will develope.

I do not see how it is possible for agriculture to escape very hard times for a few years after the close of the present war.

If we sow the seed now, we can reap the harvest them.

I am afraid that you are right, as to where my reward will come in, but I do not seem able to give up, with the vision I have of the near future.

Before departing for my reward, I want to raise a little Hell for the men who are doing their best to make a Hell on earth, and I am at least going to make some trouble for them.

I think that we should plan for a general conference soon after the national conventions, for this State, and lay the foundation for the future. I am taking no part in any of the present moves.

Our good friend Richards called me up a couple of weeks ago, and tendered me a Delegateship to the national convention on his ticket, and he seemed quite surprised and hurt that I declined. He seems determined to hook up with the old Stalwart crowd. I cannot support him in it.

I think I wrote you before that I would be glad to have a few of those leaflets if you had them to spare.

Sincerely yours,

H.L.Loucks