The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-06-11
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY

The CirclevilIe Herald thinks that when
we know more about the Changers we
will cease our opposition to them. Per-
haps so. That organization being secret
one, of course we know but little about
it. From what has been made public, we
supposed that it was admitted that the
primary and almost sole object of this
organization, is opposition to railroads.
We suppose the organization does not
deny this. We have read the speech
in Congress made by Mr.. Hurlbut, in
which he claims that the Government has
right and it is its duty, to regulate
charges made by railroad companies, and
he argues this at length This Granger
organization is said to be very extensive
and strong, and constantly spreading
and extending. 1t already controls some
of the State Courts, and may control the
Supreme Court of the United States.
There are those who suppose our highest
judicial tribunal is above popular clamor
They forget that only few years ago
that Court solemnly decided that one
sixth of the people of the United States
had no rights which the other five-sixths
of the people were bound to respect.
Then it is not strange that we think
there may be danger of great popular
organization forcing the Court to decide
that those who have money invested in
railroads have no rights that any person
is bound to respect. There is no doubt
in our mind, that property invested in
railroads is entitled to the same protec-
ton under the law that is extended to
property invested in farming, or in any
other business. A man. invests one
thousand dollars in railroad company,
and the company fixes a rate of
charges that will pay expenses
and ten per cent on the capital.
But here comes the Changers, and say
this is extortion, and government must
step in, and limit the charges so as to
produce only six per cent above expenses.
If Government has that power, it has
the power to limit it to onesper cent, OF
even to confiscate the capital itself. Now
if Government has the right to say that
railroads shall not charge more than five
cents per bushel for moving corn one
thousand miles, has it not equal power to
say that the farmer shall not charge more
than twenty-five cents for bushel oi
corn? The whole theory is wrong in
principle, contrary to law, justice and
right
Mr.. Hurlbut speaks of the case of reg
ulating tolls at mills We claim that
Government has no right to fix the
amount of toll taken at mill, after the
capital has been invested in the mill
But when the law establishes the amount
of toll TO be charged, and the capitalist
invests in mill, he does so with refer
ence to existing law, and there is nc
If Government would establish the rates
to be charged for freights and passenger:
on all railroads, subsequently to be built
we have no objection. Persons so invest
ing would do so knowing the law.
Here is another view of the case. II
the rates are fixed before companies are or
ganized, and fixed so low is to render il
doubtful whether investments in such
companies would pay would it not stop the
building of railroads ? We have no doubt
that the hard times are the direct result oi
the Granger organization. The panic
last fall was the commencement of the
hard times. The panic was caused by
the failure of Jay Cooke 81 Co. Theil
failure was caused by the war upon the
great railroad in which they were inter
ested. The ruin of the great railroad
interests of the country is the ruin of the
great iron interests, and then the farmers
themselves are reached and seriously
crippled No use to predict better times
until this Granger folly is settled. Il
the Courts do their duty, relief may be
reached within reasonable time. If the
Courts are controlled by this popular
folly, then better times may be set dowr
as a thing far in the future.