The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-07
Uhsxampled Energy, Pluck and Perse-
50 veranoe Of the Merchants of
the Lake City.
Flattering Statement OF MI
- nicipal Finances.
WHAT THE MILLIONNAIRES ARE DOING.
"A Live City Where DeialeatiOn is Unknown
in Public Positions.
THE METROPOLIS OF TIE WEST.


CHICAGO, June go 1873.
Perhaps no recent movement in the country has
given the politicians more apprehension than the
farmers revolt-generally called the grangers
movement-in Illinois and the West.
The flrst election has just been held. In which
the farmers and the corporations and conserva-
tive classes came into collision. The farmers
triumphed at almost every poll, and as leading
pubic man said to me to-day, "They annihllated
every candidate they moved against as If he had
been struck by lightning"
The election was judicial one and two Judges
of the Supreme Court Bench were to be voted for.
One Of these, Judge Lawrence, Jurist of learn
ing, who has been upon the bench Of
the State in different grades for the
better part OF q generation. He had
incurred the dspleasure OF the farmers by being
selected by the un bench OF seven, all concurring,
20 deliver their united opinion in the case of the
People vs. the ST. LOUIS and Alton Railroad. The
people, otherwise the farmers, brought suit against
the road for discriminating In rates and for having
violated recent act of the Legislature which
regulated the tariff on grain ana other tolls. Pay
ing no attention to the act OF the Legislature the
railroad went on to fix rates as it chose. The
Supreme Bench OF the State, Judge Lawrence read
ing the decision, held that the charter OF the COM
make its own rates, lnvalidated the late statute
But the Court also held that the common law as
regarded common carriers could be made legiti-
mate vehicle of the farmers to prevent eXtsrtion
and unjust discrimination, and this comMon law
the Court recommended as the farmers best
method OF getting relief
Icannot better express the best opinion OF intel.
ligent men In the state than by quoting Mayor
Medill. whom l saw day and asked his opinion
on the lesson of the election.
THE MAYOR OF ChrcAGo's OPINION.
He aid:-"The defeat Of Judge Lawrence is the
result of anger under a misapprehension Of truth.
The farmers thought that he had decided for vested
rights referred to railroads, in accordance with
the Dartmouth College decision Of the Supreme
Court of the United States which decision does
not prevail in our Western traditions. Bat the
Judges true position could not be explained
in time to the farmers who were rash
and impetuous, and the best Judge we
have was, therefore, beaten by man
who lives within twelve miles ef Judge Law.
renee. The fact is that the farmers OF Illinois,
Iowa and Minnesota and otner parts Of the West
have no money, although raising large crops, and
they are at that point of suffering where the blood
Is forced out Of the body. My impression Is that
this excitement Will 60 on and turn an election or
two, perhaps as long as there are large crops and
low prices for grain. When we get to year OF
small yield and high prices the grangcrs' move
Nent Will probably fade out"
ANOTHER OPINION.
Imetin another part OF the city the late Lieu.
tensnt Governor Bross who is quite q traveller
over tn state, and asked him what he thought
0fT1e lesson OF the election.
.Iu mink 1t will peter out" said Bross. 'fn little
while as'it Is not engineered by men Of great char
acter, an Is o movement to override law rather
than. - gov along cooiy. slowly and legitmately.n
Iasksd:-"Governor, don't you think that The de.
feat OF lawrence may have this enect-tO show
benches OF Judges that II they are to look either
way in u 1julIcating case they had better look on
the people 'sslde rather than get too lar over on
the videsef capital and corporations9"
'sWAel,r said he, "that might make pertinent
Enquiry az TO how far the Bench is properly amen
able to a new public necessity. suppose that all
great nYoluuons are accompanied by some
revolution in the judiciary as well; but it
has been only within twenty years or little
more that 1.-THE whole subject OF railroad jurispru
dence has come up. Railroads have generally
been more sagscious than the people. Take the
Rock Island road for example, and the prolonged
litigai, 1t had seeking to navigabe rivers
The CITY OF ST. Louis tried to prevent that consum.
nation and nearly ruined itself In consequence:
tor noT we fnd ST. Louis obliged to bridge the
MISSISSIPPI itself, and petiloning the general gov.
the movement will be the selection Of judges by
the Governor and their confirmation by the Senate.
Popular election OF judges is likely to lead TO evil
in lrood uses as well as IN bad.o
fasked, "G0vernor, is this farmers revolt con-
,seqGent upon any great corruption In legislation
and want Ol 9th in the state ofilcersyn
~ THE PEOPLE SUSPICIOUS OF OFFICIALS.
Governor RRcss--Well there s a great deal of
scepticism oLg the people a. TO all oifcias. We
have teen fortunate in Illinois. although some of
our Aldermen got 20 matchmaking people applying
for proper and necessary legislation, and we had
10 send some OF them TO Jail.
TALK AMONG THE LAWYERS.
Another prominent man sad as follows OF the
gate election responsive to this question:
''wili the granRers' movement be ANY more for
mid9ble than anti-Masonry or the labor move
fDeSf 20
"oh yes. - he said at Is already the most start
Jng nioyenen. In the West since the rise of the re.
pnhiican party IL has done what neither Df the
movements yog have named amounted tos-car-
yted one Of the largest Cemmonwealths in the
haion without agitation, and u threatens to sweep
Iowa IN the same way The farmer class is not rs
Intelligent a. city people, but lis resentments las
iODger and It's movements have an outward re-
seectabipty, all the more dangerous II they seek
10 override the law, the constitution and the jud
ciary The farmers have cast aside man who
stood a. the head OF our Supreme bench, who was
their frie VI a. truly as just Judge could be- and
whose bro, DER, Henry g. Lawrence was one OF the
Orgapizers o. the grangcrs movement This shows
that In their IND bigotry they do not mean &C re-
spect judicial &C. -upjes, Tie election liz crushing
g., tlSn ar m ha mi