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 tx and
regulate railroad charges for freight
and passengers. This question like
the prophet rod, swallows up all other
questions. It agitated the Legislature
last winter to it's depths. It 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 1T 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.
porations shall cease.
The Second District Congressional
Convention, which nominated Hon. E.
ST.. JULIEN Cox, adopted a 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
SPECTlVE SPHERES OF AUTHOR
ITY, we demand such legislation a!
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 Distric,
Congressional Convention which met a
Owatonna, and nominated Dunnell.
! It will be remem bered that two pat
forms were offered for the adoption o
that Convention; one 0rawn by Major
Voolfolk, of Mankato, was strongly
worded, honest declaration of princi
pies 1T contained this plank;
Third We demand such legislation a
shall prevent unjust discrimination an(
wrong on the part Of the great carrying cor
porations of the country towards shipper
and travellers, believing the power to do 81
rests in the representatives OF the people
both national and State, within their re-
| spective spheres of authority.
The platform, including the allow
outspoken. plank, was voted down
% to 81, anu tn,
platform was adopted, in which there i
no reference whatever to the power o
the State to control railroads. W
quote:
Thrill That under the constitution of tn
United States Congress has power to regu
late commerce among the States, whethe
carried by railroads or otherwise, and in tn
exercise Of that power may and should leg
tiSlcfe so as to prohibit under suitable nen
alties, the extension Ut unjust discrimina
ton and other oppressive acts on the part q
either persons or corporations engaged i
tsuch commerce.
This, it will be seen, refers only
the power of Congress to ''regulat
commerce among the States" Their
lie no afarmance Of the right Of th
Estate itself. The next resolutions N
Ias ftallovs.