, 1873-03-29
MIR. PEgERs' " SHORT cur" FOR FARMER


The position which h1r, Milton J. pstcrs 1ls
assumed in tho judicial contest in Judge Law
ronco's district, and tho alacrity with which he
has sought to herald himself ns champion of
tho anti-raroad causo, renders 1t appropriate to
inquire whothor Mr. Potors il safe leatlor In
crusade agniuHt monopolics, md whether tho
farmors arc 1iko1y to find u remedy for the OWLS
Of which they complain by accepting tho policy
which he has indicated as tho bost for thom to
follow. Mr.. Potora PROPOSES to have tho Logis-
1aturo fix arbitrary rates which rai1rond COM
panios shall DO allowed to charge for tho ranspor-
tation Of freight without regard to tho cost OF
such transportation. Thfs ia tho first PROPOSE
ton. As hlr. potors admits that the court Of
Inst resort, tho Supreme Court Of tho Unitod
States, would probably dcclaro Huch a law uncon-
stitutiona1 md void, his socond proposition is to
rovorso tho Supreme Court of tho Unitod States.
And this by way Of securing the end in ricw BY
ahortor cut than Judge Lawronco'al Lot uB
SEQ about this.
1Ir. Petozs assumes that tho Supreme Court
Of tho United Gtatoa will reject any law fixing
m arbitrary rato OF charges, becauso, as ho
alleges, Judges Bradley md Btrong wore up
pointed in tho interests Of tho capitalists, and
Judges swayno, Davis and others loan that
way also, and will always decide against tho
people! The Supreme Judges, howoyor, arc
appointed for lifo, 30 that thoro 's no way for
blr. Petors to rovorso tho Court except by in
oreaaing it sufficiently by now Judges, whoso'
viows arc to bo known in ADVANCE to vote down
tho old oncs. Tho farn,cra have now to cor
slider whether this unsafo not to say immoral,
proposition to secure olaBs decisions, will answer
thoir purpose. What tho farmers want
ia speedy roloago from their burdens. Thoy
cannot afford to wait till doonsday for settlo-
mont. Enoh yoar that closes mid leaves them
without somo provision Of relief only adds to
their burdens, and 1nahes 1t still mora difficult to
Bcciiro q rolcaso. The railroads can afford to
wait for tho poters experiment. because it
would bo ontlcas In tho frat place, A1r. Peters
las got to convince Congress Of tho necessity
for changing tho number Of Supreme Judges,
aud, aB tho rest Of tho United Statos has somo
interest In tho Supreme Court, ho may not find
this to be IN oasy and swiftly-performod
task. Suppose that ho succeeds In car
rying this moaEuro through, ho cannot
look to Prosident Grant for any rolief'
as ho Aimsolf allogoa that tho President mp
pointed Judges Dradloy and Strong bocauuo they
wero prejudicod in favor Of capitalists. II this
il the condition Of the lroaidont'e mind, toro is
no likelihood that ho would add now Judges
proiudicod againBt capitalists boing linsof
n capitalist. Mr.. Potora is therefore, ut q
stand-still at tho worry outset, for four years to
como. When President Grant rosiroa from Ills
Office, ,sllat assurance can b1r. Poters glyo hiH
clonts TINT tho noxt President will not DO OF tho
aamo mind aa President Grant; aud tho next
ono, aud tho noxt aud 40 on? But assume that
President Grants SUCCESSOR Ia m anti-capitalist;
how IL Mr.. Potora to convince tho pooplo OF tho
United Station Of tho 1ocogslty Of u change ia
tho Supreme Co1rt-and auch change? There
arc 0 thousand aud ono intorosta ho-
saoa tho agricultural which would demand
hearing upon this important question. And,
when 1t comes to that, tho Eastorn farmers
would bo dead against tho chango, and tho
Southern planters probably against. yaHt
majority Of tho pcoplo would protest agaiust
Mr. rotors' proposition to Boouro favorable de-
cislonv, by adding now Judges pledged boforo-
lal&, directly or by implication, to dooido In
particular way. Tho prospects, therefore, for
tho completion Of Mr. PotorR' little lob. aro not