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

The leading governmental question in
this State, this fall, is the right of the
State though its Legislature to fix and
regulate railroad charges for freight
and passengers. This question like
the prophets rod, swallows up all other
questions. It agitated the Legislature
last winter to it's depths. 1t has been
in all mems mouths and thoughts ever
since the close Of that session. We
would naturally expect, therefore, to
find both the political parties Of the
State taking ground, in their platforms,
unequivocally upon this all important
issue, in favor Of the absolute right
claimed by the people.
And this reasonable expectation has
been fully realized, SO far as the Anti
monopoly conventions are concerned.
The Owatonna Convention which nomi.
mated Judge Waite, uttered its convic-
tions in these plain and straightforward
words, ofwhich no man can doubt the
meaning:
Second. That we repudiate the
modern doctrine that railroad and
other like corporations are above snd
beyond legislative control, but on the
contrary WE ASSERT THAT IT is
NOT ONLY WITHIN THE CONVEN.
TIONAL POWER BUT 1T IS THE
BOUNDEN DUTY OF THE LEGIS.
LATURE AND OF CONGRESS TO
REGULATE BY FAIR, WISE AND
APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION ALL
RAILROADS AND OTHER COR.
PORATIONS ENGAGED IN THE
CARRYING TRADE OF THE COUN-
TRY, to the end that the producer
may receive the just reward Of his
labor, and that injustice and oppres-
sive extortion on the part of these cor
pOratlOnS shall cease.
The Second District Congressional
Convention, which nominated Hon. E..
ST.. JULIEN Cox, adopted platform,
drawn by Hon. JNo. L. MACDONALD,
which contains the following plank:
Fifth. WE DEMAND SUCH LEG
ISLATION AS SHALL PREVENT
UNJUST DISCRIMINATION AND
WRONG ON THE PART OF THE
GREAT CARRYING CORPORA
TIONS OF THE COUNTRY towards
shippers and travellers. Believing the
power to do SO rests in the represe nta-
tives Of the people, BOTH NATIONAL
AND STATE, WITHIN THEIR RE-
SPECTIVE SPHERES OF AUTHOR
ITY, We demand such legislation as
shall prevent injustice.
Here again we have words incapable
Of misinterpretation clear, ringing
and to the point.
Let us now turn to the Republican,
or Monopoly Conventions:
The first one held was the District
Congressional Convention which met at
Owatonna, and nominated Dunnell.
It will be remembered that two plat
forms were offered for the adoption of
that Convention; one orawn by Major
Voolfolk, of Mankato, was strongly.
worded, honest declaration of princi-
pies 1T contained this plank;
Third. We demand such legislation as
shall prevent unjust discrimination and
wrong on the part Of the great carrying cor
potations of the country towards shippers
and travellers, believing the power to do so
rests in the representatives Of the people,
both national and State, within their re-
spcctive spheres of Authority.
The platform, including the above
outspoken. plank, was voted down,
% to 81, anu the
platform was adopted, in which there is
no reference whatever to the power of
the State to control railroads. We
quote:
Third That under the constitution of the
United States Congress has power to regu-
late commerce among the States, whether
carried by railroads or otherwise, and in the
exercise Of that power may and should leg
islate SO as to prohibit, under suitable pen
alties, the extension Of unjust discrimina-
ton and other oppressive acts on the part of
either persons or corporations engaged in
such commerce.
This, it will be seen, refers only to
the power of Congress to regulate
commerce among the States" There
is no afirmancs Of the right Of the
State itself. The next resolutions are
as follows:
Fourth. That increased and chesper
modes Of removing the products of the west