, 1873-07-26
RAILROADS AND FARMERS,

RAILROADS AND FARMERS.
10 The Editor af Tho Chicago Tribune
Bin: It is not surprising that tho conflict boz
t"oen tho farmorA and railroads Of Illinois should
havo attractod tho attention OF the whole coun4
try, for tho whole country affords no 1noro frniA
ful subject Of political analysls. We bo1iovo
that 1t illustrates aud includca tho whole ouea1
tion Of tho future government md state Of so4
cioty in this nation.
And first wo romark that, nB In most casoe.
thoro is grcat deal Of right on zach aldo. Thd
old fablo Of tho gold md silver shield is exactly
in point. Tho two knights quarrelod about tld
material and fought till they wero both digablot4
when . pasaor-by pointed out that oacl was right
from his own point Of view, and that, II thoy
had changed sldcs for moment, they would
hayo avoided al ground for quarrel. In the oass
aoS o9 o9a5o ere IT. has beon uggess,o ha geat
currency. Suppose, for example, our paper4
OF two to one,-in othor words, that "a
q a. II s arG wo, but q IN tho average prices o.
price OF tho whole grain.crop is determined BY
tho exported port!on,-that 1s by tho prlco of
gods II, therefore, tho farfilor gots hut 115 fot
hla crop, while the ~ Gsslrosds arc doing thei1
Hidoa may bo contondiug with difficulties, aud
neithor hive ground Of complaint against the
0ther. TAB may DO an extremo statement: but
II any part OF it is truo both sidos would ID
specie payment.
Again, tho farmora charge that tho railroada
arc trying to earn dividends upon watored stock,
and 30 maintain unreasonable charges. Now,
head Is, What Ii the profit upon moving barrel
Of -four or q bushol Of GRIM above tho cost Of
handling? In proportion aa this iB grcat or
little, is the ohnrgo woll grounded Or not Thors
figures with closo approximation to accuracy;
but tho trouble iB, that no one can mnke theB8
figures but tho railroads; and tho farmers would
neyor beeye that they made them fairly, and
Again; thoro is bitter complaint OF low
through and high local freights, anu an attempt
to romedy this By legislation. But there Is no
doubt that low through rates arc enforced BY
would drive away business and, even though
this business may be done ut loss, the receipts
from 1t may mitigate the charges upon the local
freight, from Which tho profit muat be derived.
not botweon through and local freighta, but
between present charges and no railroads at all;
and that too, not ut any particular moment, for
there will doubtless be Reaaona when their farma
arc run ut loss, but in . sories Of yoars. va
though unfortunately, In this case, ngain, tho
evidence is all In tho hands OF the railroads, and
tho farmers cannot bo expected to place cons
uoHC9 III tQelf presentation OF 1t,
Whether tho difficulty Is in any Or all of these
oauses, or in othors not stated, thoy all point IN
ono direction, namo1y: tho want Of modiatinu
authority in which both sidcs can have oonf-
denoo: suppose-to illustrate-all parties wora
to unto in choosing from ono to six mon Of we'll.
known public charaotor. commanding ontiro con.
daonco for integrity and public spirit and the
absence OF my private bias, and should givo to
thoae men full powers, aftor Investigating tho
subject, to submit to the popular yoto plan Of
compromiHe, with q full statAssen1 OF tho owl.
douce IN tho case, and the roason8 Of their 40.
tion. Docs any ono doubt that tho plan would
DO quietly accepted? The farmers Of this State
munists They aro as law-abiding aud conBorYa.
tive as any Hot of people III tho world. ANY JUST
requirement Of tho laws they arc ready to sub
nit to, oven at the cost Of soyore hardship. But
it ii just. What they object to, and what thoy
suspect, Ia tho being ridden over and oppressed
BY powerful aud la,vlcss corporations. ]
The position wo have described iB oxactly thd
ono which should be filled by the State aovorn1
filled In tho slightest degroo. Neither iii thia
matter, IN Congress- either, ia there any man wha
eaa1g h' Il hs ~Eoo a'es 5 oSFss
try. Every member represents q district aud
caros little or nothing officially, and generally IN
fact, for any othor. The mombors being all
t9s raa1 G i % 5 Ssy syeg IT gens tHsn'a7 Wh1 e
practically in secret. and in dealing with which
there is but ono method lobbying. It is safo to
say that the only way any important business Ia
or can 10 done is through tho lobby. Now, this
may be done honestly, but 1t is always suspicious,
and game at which tho railroads can beat tho
farmers hollow,
What we noed is change In the method Of
legislation. Tho Executive in tho only branch Of
tho Government elected by tho whole State, and
which is, or should be, charged with putting
the laws In operation. Tho Executive officers
should have tho right OF speech In tho Logisla.
ture, whero they would layo an oye to tho
interest OF the State, could propose laws having
aomo relation to practical execution and could
secure such publicity 81 would give at oncq
satisfaction aud force to public opinion, 4
subject 30 imp ortant cannot DO fully treated IN
a newBpapor-articlo, but We belioYe that the
Indispensable koy to tho settlement Of any Of
tho grave Bocial questions which arc upon us,
and, above all, OF TINT crying owl OF tic day,
special logiBiution, IL to bo found in giving to
tho Execlltiye-the only representative Of tha
whole State or country-a public hearing III tho
Legislative hal1B, end in thus fixing upon
Individuals the responsibility which is now
frittcrod away among partisan committoeB and
boards. ....
Failing this, ITO arc sure tint tho lobbying
of tho railroads and the blind transportation o1
tho farmers will incroaao till violence bocomoa
only question OF little moro or less individual
suffering. G.,
Tho Coas.UdtlcrxoOl1 Case
From tho Ne4o YorE Tribune, Juiy23.
UdlDrXoUk Ia not nfcn nn1ne. Dnh might VnrA