Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-27


believed the legislature has power to pass
protective laws, and regulate the prices
Of freight on tho railroads in the state.
We have no control over steamboats, on
the Mississippi, but we could make spec
ial contracts with any company or line Of
steamers. and by an &c. of the legislature
could compel any railroad touching the
river in this state, to take their FREE hts.
Or we could contract with the company
to take our wheat TO Milwaukee, and the
company could take its chances with the
railroads.
By united action we can bring press
ure upon our legislators, Notwithstanding
the fact that there is money in the lob
by. If they will not serve us they may
as well stay at home, AMI we must elect
men who will serve us. To day We are
suffering more on account of high freights,
than on account of the low price of
wheat in market. 1t costs us 20 cts. per
bushel to transport our wheat to New
York, while it costs only 90 cts. from
California to New York. There will be
many little difficulties to encounter, but
they must be met and overcome. The
same, or. greater, exist now, and the
same, or similar ones always did and al
ways will exist.
]. H. Wilkinson said that, though a
majority, the farmers, as class, are
heavily oppressed by monopoly. Large
monied combinations rule the state. if
not the nation. These large corpora
tons have combined, and they are fast
becoming one formidable monopoly,
whose only object is to Cypress the far
mer, and draw tn, last remaining drop
of bis blood, in the shape of dimes, to fill
to OVERLOOKING the already replete treas-
uriss of monopolisis. Farmers must rise
in one solid body, and wake up TO the
necessity of united and efficient action
till they can make these monopolies
shake. We must patronize them as little
as possible-we must raise our own
horses, pork and produce generally, and
manufacture at home everything we need,
saving him both the purchase money and
freight. $3.50 e1H
o. f. Jones entertained the meeting
for about twenty minutes, in al instruct
i've and humorous speech. He had just
been examining a picture, true to life.
There was tho soldier who fights for all,
the doctor who prescribes for all, the
merchant who trades for all, the lawyer
who pleads for all, the preacher who
prays for all, and lastly, in the center of
the group, with one foot upon his spade,
the sturdy farmer ,Oho pays for all.
Farmers, are the base of society, and
when they prosper all other classes and
professions prosper, and while the arts,
and professions are equally
necessary, farming is the foundation of
all, and whatever goes to depreciate his
wealth and prosperity, so far depreciates
the prosperity of all. While high freights
and all monopolies were aniagonistic to
the farmers interest, there were still 9TH
er causes operating TO Cypress the farmer
which were worthy of consideration.
Taxes are being paid by the laborers of
the country which should be paid by the
property of the country. The poor man
pays the same tariff on his tea, coffee
and all the Injuries as well as the neces
saries of life, that is paid by the rich
man. Our government protects the
property of each alike in proportion to
the amount he possesses, hence the tax
to support the government should be ap-
pOrtioned upon the property. But far
mers must unite and be prepared 10 en-.
counter and adjust all difficulties. A
child can break a single twig, but giant
cannot break bundle of them. Let
farmers go to work with will, and they
will eventually succeed in all legitimate
undertakings.
Horace Taylor, in an interesting way,
gave many valuable practical hints in a
short space of time, and among other
things, advised farmers to combine, and
make persistent efforts to secure pro:ec-
ton and to save their money. They can
do it, and they will do it if they perse-
we're. 1t will take time, great revolutions
are not brought about in an hour, or in
a day. 1t would, doubtless be useless to
expect legislation this winter that will re-
lieve us. This legislation will affect the
entire state, and it may be that the rates
of tariff were now quite as favorable for
river shipments as FOR interior shipments.
Let farmers combine and employ some
TRANSFORMATION company to carry their