The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-24

in, about water communications and the
power of Congress to regulate inter-
state commerce. What relief could
Congress give for the expressions of the
railroads within the States It could
properly legislate as to freights and
passengers between La Crescent and
La Crosse or St. Paul and Chicago:
but it could not enter the domain Of
the State and say what the tariff of
freight or passengers should be from
New Ulm to Winona or from Austin to
St. Cloud. Here State action is neces-
sary. Why then was the af6rmance
Of the power Of the State voted down
in one set Of Resolutions, and the whole
subject avoided in the resolutions which
were adopted? There Can be only one
answer: this omission was the price
paid by Dunnell for the support of the
railroad corporations.
Let US now turn to the Republican
State Convention, which met At Mime
apolis on the 9th inst The following
is the only reference to this question:
It's prompt response to the popular demand
by the repeal of the congressional salary bill
and other obnoxious legislation, and its
readiness to grapple with new issues grow
ing out of the relations of corporate power
and productive industry by the Inaugural
ton of measures looking to the protection of
the latter against all unjust Entertainments
of the former, and by the opening up of new
and cheaper channels of communication by
water between the granaries of the west and
the markets of the east, as sure guarantees
that the grand old party that saved the
country is still true to the principles that
gave it birth, in hearty sympathy with the
popular will.
Here it will be observed there is
nothing but generalities. and ''fraud
lurketh in generalities.'' 1t is ready
to ''grapple with new issues "How
grapple!' 1t will ''inaugurate'' mea-
sures-not enforce or ccnsummate-
''inaugurate" measures, ''lookiag to,
the protection Of productive
industry against all UxJusT en-.
croachments of corporate power. All!
there's the rub. What are Amnj1tst"
entertainments The railroads say
that they have right to fix their own
rates. If so. to so fix them, would not
be unjust" Interpreted this plank
means, ''we will begin measures which
will squi'lt at protecting industry from
unjust acts, but we will leave it an open
question what would be unjust. And
we won't affirm that the State has any
rights in the premises.
A more thinly diluted dish never was
served up to an expectant people. It's
like the old recipe for making homeo-
pathic chicken soup-"take the skeleton
Of chicken that has died Of starvation,
let its shadow fall one hour on barrel
Of water, then dilute one tablespoonful
of that water with one gallon Of other
water, and boil for three hours. Take
teaspoonful every other day."
Bill King was snrewd enough to OBJ
serve. this omission and SO his conven-
ton
Resolued, That the develop
ment Of the great water routes of the coun-
try, and limiting and controlling of the great
aggressive monopolies of the land-render
its 1.-THE Republican party's] continuance in
power indispensable to the welfare of the
people.
But even this apparent frankness is q
cover for cunning reticence. Limiting
and controlling" How and where (!
That's the whole question. In Con-
gress, or in the State Legislatures, or
in both! ''The aggressive monopolies
of the land What are these! Do
they include railroads! If so, why not
say so!
How suspiciously generalized all this
is, compared with Judge Waite's plat.
form:
ave assert that it is the bourden
duty Of the Legislature and of Congress,
to regulate all railroads and
other corporations engaged in the car
rying trade of the country.
The Anti-Monopolists have held two
Conventions, and in beth they have un-
equivocably asserted the power of the
State to control railroads. The Re-
publicans have held three Conventions,
and they have not in any one Of them
said one word on the subject. Could
such an omission have been accidental!
No; it was preconcsrted. It is sig
ni6cant.
Voters! Can you longer doubt
which party is on the side Of the peo-
pie, and which is on the side Of the cor
porations