Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-08-14


eminent responsible for everything and
bending underthe burden of its response
bilities, political commissions, revolu-
tons without end, ruins over which all
the forms of socialism and communism
attempt to establish themselves; these
are the evils which must necessarily
flow from the perversion of the law"
Men and brethren, do you recognize
any of the ''signs of the times" If
it be possible by corrupt means to re-
peal law, how much longer will we
wait to see laws enacted through the
same means in the interests of the organ
lied power which corrupts, and in reality
confer "yested rights which shall
eventually absorb all other rights.
The times look ominous in this di-
rection. More than aught else may
the toiling masses dread as their
most direful enemy the corrupt use of
the power possessed by aggregated cap
ital. It means for them oppres sion,
servitude-indirect, but none the less
CALLING, want, misery, anarchy and
finally frantic and bloody reyolu-
ton.
The Patrons of Husbandry" have
it in their power TO check the
"aggressive" power Of organized capt.
tai ,and the day is at hand in Wisconsin
which calls for the exercise of it.
We are told through public journals
that Sin the event Of any future ag-
gressive movement against capital in
the West, the East is prepared to re-
sort to very extreme measures against
the states so Influenced, both as means
Of self protection and retaliation"
And again, "that the result of the
Wisconsin law if enforced, will be that
the corporations will buy up Legisla-
tors"
Patrons it is now time that we each
fus give heed more particularly to.those
declared purposes Of the order which,,re-
fer to our duty as American citizens, and
see to itin the coming struggle that"none
but competent, faithful and honest men
who piU unfinchingy stand by our
industrial interests, are nominatedfor
positions OF t,'ust," and thereby edo al
fin his power legitimately to influence
or good the action of any political
party to which he belongs"
Your committee feel called upon at
this time to direct your attention to
the especial responsibility in this direc-
ton with which our order has become
"invested.
Notwithstanding the sympathy Of the
masses Of the people in the Northwes-
tern States has been shown to be in
favor of Legislative action to control
the management Of railroads, yet grad
ually the responsibility of the move
ment has been directe d to our order, while
to-day it is regarded by the outside
public as especially the object of its care,
and it has been severally termed 'sThe
Changers Folly, ""Threatening Ameri-
can Industry and Fame "Grangers'
Crusade" ETC., etc. This Is especially
the case with reference to, Wisconsin,
the attention of the whole country
having been directed to this State dur
ng the late legal proceedings on the
subject. But we need not hesitate to
accept this responsibility. The issue
involves some of our most cherished
principles. 1t involve sJustly distrid
uted burdens and jsustly distributed
powers Moreover we are pledger
to 'Taithful and harmonious labor
for all future time, to return by our
united efforts to the wisdom, justice,
fraternity and political purity of our
forefathers."
In this connection your committee
would impress upon every member OF
the order the Importance of persistent
attention to the details incident and
necessary to secure legislature the
oming win ter, which shall hereafter
be KIN as having been impregnable
to the assaults Of organized capital.
Your committee would also add a
word in favor of the practice already
inaugurated by the order, of requiring
public answers to questions publicly
put to candidates as to their opinions
upon the subjects they are likely to be
required to act upon. This is especial
ly important upon the coming occasi on,
but it should be adopted as the set
teled policy of the order to make these
public inquiries of public officers at
any and all times while they occupy
public positions.
By THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF
THE STATE GRANGE OF WISCONSIN.
Watertown, July 22d, 1874.