, 1873-06-09
THE RAILROAD QUESTION IN IOWA,

Tne Autt-M0nopoly Convention which mot ut
Dea Moinos on tho 7th inst, composed mainly
Of ia1n,ors and mechanics, will probably exort
IN important influence upon politics in Iowa.
Like tho Livingston County Convention in this
independent attitude, and nude tho preliminary
arrangements for organizing now party outside
Of tho two existing parties, tho steps takon In
this direction being tho adoption of q resolution
to call n State Convention on tho 18th Of August,
to nominate county uckot, md to soleot
delegates to 4 State Convention State Con-
tral Committee WAS also appointed. The
resolutions Which wo1e adopted sufficiently re-
voal the Issues upon which tho anti-monopolists
will 60 into tho next campaign. They declare
that they will support no mau for Office who is
not In full accordance with their principles; TINT
class legislation iB subyersiyo Of Republican
principles that q tho doctrine Of vested rights
under which railroads claim exemption from
Legislative control cannot exist without infring-
ing on tho rights OF people goneral-
ly"; and that the giving of salaroB
to officers disproportionate to the anan-
ctal returns Of labor in industrial pursuits
should be stopped, The resolutions close with
IN emphatic condemnation Of tho Congressional
SALARY steal aud Of tho action Of tho President
IN signing tho bill, and they demand Its re-
poal.
Most OF these resolutions touch upon quos-
tions which aro OF pressing Importance, and in
yolye reforms which arc proper Issues in q po-
litica1 campaign. In altering tho rolationa now
existing betwoen tho railroads and the Lcgisla-
turo, however, the anti-monopolists should tako
care lest tho remedy provo worso than thodisoaso.
Tho Legislature Of Illinois has passed law
making railway charges proportionato to dis
tancos. some Of the roads which 1t affects run
to the MiaslHaippi River, connecting with Iowa
roads which wore built with special reference to
| Chicago and other Eastern markets. 8ay that
tho ratio of charges In this State Ia 5 conts for
10 miloe, then It will be 10 contB for 100 miles,
| 1t cents for 150 mios, and 80 on. Now, II the
Legislature OF Iowa adopts similar line Of
| policy, what will bo tho rosult7 The rates Of
freight will DO 80 increased TINT it will bo abso.
lutely impossible to move freight from tho
centre Of Iowa to Chicago, or any Eastern
| point, OF to receive goods in return
Tile further west from tho coutro tho freight Ia
to bo shipped tho worse Off will tho shippers DO.
BY such M insane policy, Iowa would literally
| fcnco herself OF from my market at all. A very
largo proportion Of hcr producers would bo un.
ablo to raiso anything except for local consump-
ton. Roal estate would defroolato fully one
halt, and tho great cattle and corn raiaors In
Wontern aud Central Iowa would find thofr occu.
patton gono, md would discover that, in sceklng
to regulate railroads. they Ind literally rogu'
latod tho business Of production out OF oxiat'
cuco by cutting themselves of from market.
But, the antl-monopollsts will say, II VIC can't
got to Chicago, VIC will go to st. Louis and Mil
waukoo. This iB plausible but thore is an OBJ
staele In the way. Tho Iowa roads waro built
chiefly with roforonoe to Chicago and NoN
York, not to st. Louis or Milwaukee. Pratti
cally, they have no communication With those
cities. There aro now five principal roads IT
Iowa, tho Dubuque d sioux City, tho Chicago d
Northwestern, tho Chicago, Rock Island Il Pa