The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-13
THE RAILROADS ORGANIZING
FOR WAR.


are the people on one side. and the cor
porate wealth Of the nation on the
other; the stake is, the liberties and
prosperity of the people.
That which the reasoning mind saw
long ago, with prophetic vision; and
felt as one feels the atmospheric changes
which precede, by many hours, the ad-
vancing storm, is now upon us, clear
distinct, and positive. No man can
doubt or deny it.
The railroads are concentrating their
forces and with true military instinct
they propose to throw all their power
upon the point d. appui, the West !;
even as the great Napoleon used to
concentrate his battalions upon sim
gle point of the enemy's line.
We find in the Philadelphia Ledger,
one of the least sensational and most
reliable of all the Eastern newspapers, a
letter from their financial correspon-
dent, dated New York, August 3, which,
we trust, every one of our readers will
carefully scan. 1t says
The conference of railway magnates
at Saratoga, at the close OF last week,
it is understood, had objects in view Of
much greater Importance than the ar
rangement of uniform rates of freight
and passenger fares. The real purpose
was mutual consultation, with view to
some combined defensive movement
against the aggression Of the Western
Changers. Gentlemen who took part
in the conference are very reticent as
to what was said and done; but enough
has leaked out to warrant the belief
that the representatives of the leading
roads were in accord as to the necessity
of doing something. and at once to ar
rest the hostile current Of legislation
which threatens the great interest
which they represent with disastrous
results. For once Commodore Wander
bilt, Col. Scott and the Erie people
were in harmony, all agreeing that the
crisis was upon them, and must be met,
and, that being the fact, it was better to
meet the enemy at the West, than to
wait until he advances into New York,
Pennsylvania and the Eastern States.
What the plan of the campaign is no
one but themselves knows; but, if what
we hear whispered be only half true,
it cannot be long before the order will
be given to 's'move on the enemy S
works"
Some of the parties to the conference
who have arrived back in this city, have
put forth guarded denials that the bust
ness in hand had any such drift, but
these are treated as of no account
by the street. The general effect on
railway shares has been favorable, as
will be seen by the advanced quotations
below.
This is plain enough for even the
wayfaring man, though a fool, to un-
derstand.
The movement Of the people for self
protection is to be met and crushed.
Where? In the West; because if it is
not crushed here it will speedily spread
over the entire East. Here is to be the
battle ground.
The railroads are now thoroughly
united. They have appointed three
commissioners, with salaries of $4,000
each, who are to be the generals of the
combined hosts, and intelligently direct
their movements.
Then they have agreed to cease all
competition with each other all ''cut-
ting under"
An Associated Press despatch says ::
New YORK, Aug 3.-The conference of
railroad representatives at Saratoga is said
to have decided that equitable and uniform
freight and passenger rates should be
charged, and the principle Of cutting rates
,cas Condemned As unworthy of the colpora-
tons and injurious to their prosperity The
idea was favored Of an umpire or arbitrator
at each of the different railroad centres, such
as New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chi
cago, Cincinnati, ST. Louis and e. eyhere,
whose dnties would be to take testimony,
and so tar as it may be in his power, to set
tie all questions on equitable and inexpen
sive plans.
The general plan of the representatives
was to effect permanent organization on
some measure, and to stand united against
the opposition which appears to be destroy
ing and concentrating upon their Interests
From the Chicago Tribune, Aug. 81
The principle object of the meeting was
to make an arrangement by which East and
West bound through freights could be car
ried at profit to the companies. For some
time back these freights have been carried
at loss, owing to the severity of the COM
petition An arrangement was finally eff
iected at Saratoga by appointing three COM
missioners, not interested in the respective
roads, to settle all disputed questions in ref
erence to cutting rates.
Here, then, is the programme.-com
petition is to cease; and the people are
to be prevented from protecting them
selves.
But how are they to be prevented!
The railroads have not one vote
where the people have thousand;
and how then will the railroads
control the people. so that their one
vote shall override the peoples thous-
and votes, and the ballot box and the
whole system of Republican govern