Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-06-25
The People and the Railroeds-Res-
olutions of the Bloomington Grange.

lation of Grant County well enough
to anticipate that, if we are right we
will ere long be on the popular side,
l4f not already; if wrong, we are sure
that majority of the HERALD read
ers will tolerate difference of opin-
ion and free and open discussion,
without the ungenerous suspicion
that Judas like we are intending to
"seIl out the people" We have no
| such contracts to make. But, gen.
tlemen of the Bloomington Grange,
we fear you are pinning your faith to
the sleeves of men that will sell you
out anytime at half the price that Ju-
das got for his Master. We advise,
that if you must indulge suspicion of
mons integrity and sincerity, to re-
serve it for those who preach that
Legislatures can determine without
appeal what railroads shall charge
for freight and fares, and still compel
them to run whatever the loss may
be. We say, reserve your suspicious
and jealousies for just such fellows
They would betray you and reduce
you to slavery, to hopeless toll with
out compensation just as quick as
they would the railroads if their
greed for political preferment or their
self interest was advanced by such a
| course.
Let US take glance ut the resolu-
tions. You say that "in the past the
railroads have ruled the Legislature,
and the people" That is an enor-
nous charge, and statement which
we think neither the people or the
press of the State will admit. "Ruled
the LegislatureI" Point US to sin
gle law our legislature has hitherto
passed and now in force that you
wish repealed. Has it given to these
corporations single power you want
withdrawn? Please show US the law
that to any extent proves the power
of the corporations over the people
and we shall go in for its repeal, if
unjust. As common street exag-
geration we might tolerate your prop
osition. But you assert it as true, in
a public resolution, and though we
believe you to be men Of truth, yet
even your veracity and candor woul d
not have been weakened by some
examples of legislative subserviency.
On the contrary, when a great many
farmers mortgaged their farms to the
Milwaukee DC Prairie du CHEN r. II.
Co., supposing that they would adj
vance both individual and the public
welfare, that class of our citizens did
rule the legislature, and procured one
act after another, which although de-
cIared unconstitutional by the courts,
so prolonged the contest that the
mortgagors were relieved by paying
some ten per cent. on their indebted
ness. In the meantime the railroad
company itself had mortgaged it's
property real and personal to eastern
and foreign capitalists. They fore
closed and bought in the property
and formed the present company
1t was this company that paid the
other 80 per cent. of the railroad
mortgages, although it was under no
legal obligation so to do. And ming
led with the necessity of conciliating
the farmers along the route, We per-
haps can see the gimmerings OF q
sense of justice even in soulless
corporation. Iowa county obtained
whatever legislation she wanted eyes,
single county can sway the leglsla-
ture against indebtedness to railroad
companies) until she has been able
on fair terms to compromise with her
creditors at about 60 cents on the
dollar.
In 1856 the Milwaukee & La Crosse
r. R. company succeeded in buying
! up a Legislature by the issue of worth
less bonds. Hon. NJ NJ. Strong, as
we'll as others, who advocate meas
ures far more extreme than the Pot
ter act can testify as to the result OF
that business. The villainy was ex-
posed by the next Legislature, and
the company was ruined. The land
grant was wrested from its clutches,
and the projectors and victims of this
notable villainy were consigned to
lasting infamy, and they and their
Legislation were swept away and po-
Iiitically buried nearly 20 years ago.
! Very few who betrayed their trust
in this memorable legislature have
since retrieved their political fortunes.
| But we have digressed. The Leg
lature of 1874 met full of vengeance
against the railroad companies, and
what law did they aud Cd the stat
ute book that ought to be repealed
and which showed the legislature
was under the influence of these cor.
porations? We refer to the Revised
Statutes, page 500, which declares
that if railroad company causes
the death of any person, his heirs
shall recover not less than $4,000
nor more than $4,000. Again, on