Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-13
TO THE FARMERS.

intended to interfere with mans political
connections, than with his religion and ought
not to drive him from his party. any more OF
sooner than from his church. They are iu>
tended, indeed, to enlighten him as to. his in>
terest as an Agriculturalist, and thus enable
him to choose wisely when he enters polit-
lcal party but when his choice has been
made. the Grange. if it teaches any. thing,
teaches obedience to the la,o of Organization.
This is maxim which lies at the foundation
of the Order. The Patron who is member
of the Democratic> Conservative party and who
as such has participated in its Conventions,
and yet refuses to support the nominee, is in
deed bad Democrat, but he is far worse
| Granger.
But Farmers let us ask you what political
party in this State and in this county has
proved itself most devoted to your interests :
The candidates of the Democratic Conserv-
alive party. as early as 1871, pledged them
selves against high freights, and exorbitant
interest. The Executive Committee of the
party. at that early day, took decided ground
in favor of reducing the charges on Railroads,
and the rate of interest At that date, the
Republican party in this county, and through
out the State, were the avowed friends and
advocates of high interest, and high trefghts.
As your representative in the Legislature of
1871, Mr.. George Koonce was appointed one
of committee composed of three Republi>
cans, and one Democrat, whose duty it was to
investigate the charges of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad in this State, aud to inquire
whether that Company was violating its Char.
ter with respect to such charges.
The specific inquiry suggested against the
Company in the resolution of the Legislature,
was-!"Whether the Company does charge
more to way stations than its through rates."
To this charge the Railroad, through Mr..
Blanchard, its agent, replied: 'That he was
entirely willing that it should be made mat
ter of record that the Baltimore & Ohio Co.
does collec. more money for freights upon SIM
liar articles to points upon its line proper,
Chat is, the direct route to Wheeling), per
100 pounds than it does to Wheeling direct,
but denies absolutely that such action is either
illegal or discriminative, as charged in the
resolution"
Notwithstanding this admission by the Com
pany, the three Radical members of the Com.
mittee reported as follows:
"An examination of the printed tariff of
the Company shows that in no case is the local
rate from Baltimore to any way station in this
State greater than to Wheeling, and vice versa,
but it was stated that reductions were daily
made upon the rates to Wheeling and Parkers
burg, and frequently to local stations, for the
reasons set forth in the statement and letter
above referred to, which, it was commended,
did not, in point of fact, constitute violation
of the act of 1874
In conclusion, the majority reported that,
'sany changes in the existing laws and regu-
lations governing the Company, would not
only be productive of no beneficial results,
and afford no relief to the complainants, whose
grievances are slight indeed compared with
the immense advantages derived by them from
their proximity to the road, but on the con-
trary would result in greater complications,
new and more formidable appeals for relief
from those sections of the State, upon whom
the proposed change would bear hardest, and
tend greatly to destroy that community of in
terest which should subsist between the citi>
zens of the State and their great medium OF
transportation.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. KooNcE,
Jos. L. WHEAT,
GEO. y. STURGIss."
Mr.. Brannon, on the other hand, who was
the only Democratic member of the Commit
tee, reported that the Company had systemat
ically violated sec. 6 of the Act of March 6,
1847, and declared that eft is within the
province, and it is to be hoped, within the
power of the Legislature to uphold the
majesty of our laws, and vindicate the rights
of our people and if the Legislature should
concur in the opinion that they have been
violated, it is manifsstly duty it owes to the
people to take steps to that end"
1t is sufficient to add, that notwithstanding
the ingenious and disintercsted championship
of the Railroad by Mr.. Koonce and his
brother Republicans, in less than twelve
months afterwards, the Company itself came
in and frankly acknowledged its systematic
violation Of the Act Of 1s47, and gave its
'r'isl:
4se.sls lolic highway has abol
ished second Gas depots, has collected the
ta1es due therefrom. has diminished the
Sfreieits ON farm products. and has made CONS