The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-24
MR.. HAwLEY THE TOOL OF THE RAIL.
ROADS.
The Farmers see through his Game and Re
pudiate It.

an idiot doubts that MT. haWley aOteu 90
attorney for the G. R. /. 4 2. X. H. Co t
in Congress, in getting the Iowa land-grab
bill enacted-and that he got well paid Tor
it. If anybody ever doubtedthat he would
be found on the side that pays most cash I
let him ask John Deere and the Moline !
Water Power Co.; or A. c. Harding or
consult the cash book Of Van Wagenen 4
Co, Rapids Contractors. His course IL
the last Congress in making move to take
the control of transportation companies
away from the State and place it under
that of Congress shows him to be the tool
Of a cunning ring Of railroad monopolists
If the railroad swindlers can only break
down the farmers movement in the States
and fool the farmers into letting Congress
manage il, they will have soft thing
IL would require but a small tax on each
railroad in the United States to raise an
enormous fund-sufhcient to buy MAORI |
Is Of such Congressman as generally get
elected. and then the monopolists would
have il all their own way. Accordingly
Mr.. Hawley moved for a committee on reg
ulating commerce between the States. He
got himself advertised to speak at the De-
catur convention on National Regulatory
Legislation He didn't put in an appear
ance but sent to his fugleman paper
which, after an hours opposition, was per-
mitted to be read. But the farmers could
not be fooled by so thin bait They saw
that to yield this matter to Congress was
another step towards wiping out the States
and they repudiated it by the following
pointed resolutions.
IL. Resolred, That the existing rail-
road legislation of this State should
be sustained and enforced until thor
oughly tested before the Courts ;
that we oppose any legislation by
Congress, under the plea OF regulating
commerce between the States, which shall
deprive the people Of their present con-
trolling influence through State legislation,
Is. Resolved, That the right Of the
Legislature to regulate and control
the railroads of the State must be
indicated, established. and main
tanned as an essential attribute OF
State Government and that those holding
the doctrine that railroad charters are
contracts, in the sense that they are no
subject to legislative supervision and con
troll, have no just appreciation Of the nee
cssary powers and rights of free Gov
ernment and we will agree to no truce
submit TO no compromise short of complete
vindication and the reestablishment of tn
supremacy of the State Government in it
right through its Legislature to supervis
aud control the railroads of the State il
such manner as the public interest shal
demand
This left Mr. Elawley's craft stranded
high and dry, and must show him tina
his little game, as the paid tool of the raj
roads, is understood
Prot. Turner, in an address before tn
Decatur convention on the condition:
causes, and results of the farmers move
ment "a lengthy aud exceedingly inter
esting paper-thus alludes to this Nation
al Regulatory Legislation;
The first attempt of the railroads was t
throw off all corporate responsibility what
ever. by resisting all interference of Stat
courts, and seeking shelter from them III
der the Constitution of the United State.
under cover of this sacred and higf
sounding word, totally misapplied and nil
used in their case, but still well adapte
to appeal to the Imagination, excite tn
fears, and paralyze the action of the peOpl
in their defense of their own lust right
But even the courts and the corporation
themselves are getting somewhat ashame
OF such sell. evident sophistry, or, at leas
are becoming fearful of longer riskin
their interests on such slippery ground
consequently, they are now planning
avoid the state courts by another dodg
by getting the whole power of legislati,
control over railroads taken out of Il
hands Of the States, who alone gave ii
charters and are alone responsible Il
them, and put it by law entirely into ii
hand Of
THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT,
under the plea that it alone has power
regulate the commerce between the State
very well knowing that, if this is don
they will have but one single set of legi
lators, far removed from the people, ar
one single set OF Commissioners, still furtl
or removed TO deal and tamper with.
buy up or befoOl instead of forty or so di
terent sets, scatteredall over tae Repubh
near to the people, close under their e,
~! lower, and in constant sympathy vii
their rignts wants, and Interests. / a
sorry 10 know, also, that some Of our ov
best men, and even some OF our own GU
ventlons, have, by some means, been whe
died int the support of this artful schem
For one ! never like to have anybody, n
even United States Congress, tie n
own hands, even il they propose to do n
work better than can do it myself, e
peclaIly It my work is going forward re
sonably well as it is. Only once let Il
state OF Illinois, with all the patience, pc
severance. capacity, brain, aud herois
which she can command, fight this bait
through TO the bitter end cost what il ma
and all the other States will soon Eollo
suit, and we shall secure all the unity ar
harmony of action we shall ever need. NJ
still keep the reins in our own hand
where they belong. There is. of eours
no harm in Congress prescribing some ge
eral principles of commerce between ii
States, provided it leaves each State FRI
to secure and enforce the full benefits
It's own grants, II they are grants, or
own contracts, If they are contracts b
the first effort in Congress will be to
STRIP THE STATES NAKED
OF all power whatever. and to consien tn
whole vast interest to one single set
General Commissioners? That done Al
child can see precisely where Cakes Am,
money would do most good !" and, ii Fl
millions would not answer, fifty millio
could be had Just US well, and we shou
pe none the wiser and none the better
1t Have we no inst reasons for such 81
plcluns and fears? 1t makes Won lau