The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-31
MORT AUX MONOPOLEs!
Farmers Starving and Burning
Corn for Fuel.
The People Banding Themselves Against
the Railroad Kings Cheap Freights
OF Charters Forfeiture.
Politicians Anxious for Spoils Champion
ing the Honest Farmer.

One OF the great questions OF the day In America
probably the greatest question OF the day-is the
railroad question. None is more important and it
is certain that is discussed more exhaustvely
or more violently. The question has different
phases in different sections OF the country. In the
East fears are entertained that the formation Of
gigantic unions by the various companies may
result in the subordination of the national govern
ment to some overshadowing corporation, even as
the Pennsylvania company has swallowed New
Jersey. The abuses which marked the administra-
ton OF Fisk and Gould in the Erie road have shown
how reckless men will debauch the courts corrupt
Legislatures and enrich themselves at the ex-
pense of the stockholders, involving the credit Of
the country in disgrace and impairing the public
morals by the example offered of successful fraud.
In the West, however, the public
DISSATISFACTION AND ALARM
may be traced to causes more immediate and pal
pable. We have had in the Northwestern States no
such railroad rings Hobbies as have been found in
time past at Washington, Albany or harrisburg.
There has been attempt on the part of our rail-
roads to seize Legislatures or buy courts, nor has
Chicago witnessed an Erie war. There Is no stock
specializing done here, which accounts for this.
But the agitation which now pervades the entire
West and Northwest possesses more direct and
personal character, and, consequently, Is louder
and more persistent. And, inasmuch as the
HERALD lays claim to a humanity wide as that of
Terence and counts nothing of human interest
alien to it, full Ineligible and fair review OF the
situation may not be without interest, especially
when many OF the local journals, from personal
or political reasons present biased and inaccurate
views OF the subject to their readers.
The two parties to this struggle are the farmers
and the railroad companies The question at
stake is the alleged right Of the State governments
to exercise an actual supervision over and control
OF the railroads operated within their borders.
The particular on which issue is joined is the
freight tariff on cereals between the Western
States and the seaboard.
THE EXTENT OF THE AGITATION
Is really surprising. In Michigan, Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota there is
hardly newspaper whose columns are not filed
with editorials and correspondence on this all
important subject; meetings and conven
tions are being held in every county to
discuss the railroad and freight question
1.-THE most notable OF these being the Farmers,
Convention at Bloomington, in this State), and
every Legislature is flooded with bills and petit
lions the subject. Indeed, the Governors of all
these States think it Of sufficient importance to
devote TO 1t a large portion Of their annual mes
Bages. The corn crop OF 1872 was unusually large
even for these .teeming prairies settlements are
rapidly springing up and an increased acreage Is
every year sown. The West is railroad mad at
present. and new lines which can never be ex
pected to pay are being pushed In every direction
from Chicago, each opening up new line OF cOun-
try and conveying the crop to this city. SO high
are rates OF freight, crowded are the railroad
lines and so overwhelmingly abundant is the corn
crop that in many parts OF the Northwest the
farmers are
BURNING CORN FOR FUEL,
as vhey cannot ship it at profit. The farmers OF
this section of the country have appropriated the
idea of association and propose to organize them
selves after the manner OF the various trades
unions. There Is not township without its Grange
Of Patrons OF Husbandry. Iowa alone has some
thing like seven hundred lodges; Minnesota has
no. And as large crops and high freights have led
the farmers to unite, the organization of these
farmers has attracted the attention OF the poll
ticians and every corneroafer with aspirations to
the State Legislature Congress is harangung
the "honest farmer" and dsnouncing the 'bloated
monopolists OF the railroad rings"
Now, there is one thing to be borne in mind at
the outset and Eastern stockholders need not be
struck with panic and sell their bonds yet awhile,
until they hear the situation fairly reviewed and the
agitation appreciated at It's proper weight. The
question comes up regularly every Winter when
the conventions are held and periodical agitatons
are raised 10y such men as Colonel J. w. Foster or
Hon. william Bross, OF this city, or James w. Tay-
Tor, OF Minnesota, who have some hobby in the
way OF canal or new route to the scaboard,
which they out on every available opportunity
There are q lot OF
PROFESSIONAL AGITAToRS
not half so sincere as the gentlemen already men,
toned, and not at all respectable, who encourage
the movement TO secure popularity or profit.
Again, this Is the season when newspaper sub
scriptions come In and the city papers are cul-
aware OF the process by which New York State
senator or Assemblyman used, in the time OF
Tweed, to make fortune. All he had to do
Railroad, Fisk "came down. ana the bill was
purpose. Now the Western Legislatures are be-
coming filed with professional politicians, men
ordinary legislation and an occasional senatorial
contest conducted on commercial principles. They
are directing the present agitation and threatening
legislation against the railroads in order that the
zACcHEus IN THE PALM TREE,
may "cOme down." These reasons VIII account
Tor much of the agitation at present exciting the
people. As neat instances OF the way In which the
horny handed farmer is cultivated, let me mention
the facts that at the Farmers Convention at Bloom
1ngton one gentleman, who wasn't farmer made
a rousing speech against the railroads and then
rushed through resolution endorsing his aFpllca-
ton for the vacant Railroad and Warehouse Com
n1iiisssionershp; while another competitor saw"
i, ana "ralsedn him several by getting the state
egisature 10 affirm by formal resolution that at
1sass Sne OF the Commissioners should be farmer.
q a farmer.
WIN these remarks by way OF In PRODUCTION. LEI
US see Wnat the Governors think and say upon
this SUBJECT. in his annual message
- GOVERNOR AUSTIN, OF MINNESOTA
says that 81 the companies, local and non-resi-
dent, nave dened the legislation of the session of
1872 on the subject OF rates OF tarir ON treights
course OF action which he deplores, the more he
cause the Legislature dealt with the railroads con-
slderately ana Jnstly allowing them liberal ana
Sufficient rates. Suits have been instltuted hv |
individuals for damages and by the Attorney
General TO recover The penalties provided Tor by
the statutes; SO that the supreme Court win soon
decide TIE case. The Governor goes TO say thar
the exDrbitant charges for transportation espe-
ciaIly depresses the agricultural interest who get
the lowest price for their crops and pay the highest
price for what they purchase. few privileged
buyers are given advantages by the roads In
d,rectly, 30 that individual buyers cannot
compete with thefs and an unreasonable
Margin is maintained between the price paid
Bt the station and that reakzed In Chicago. Local