River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-23

equal, TO those proposed lines which favor the
growth and prosperity OF home markets and
home commerce.
In the enforcement Of the policy Indicated
IN the propositions above stated, many obvi-
ons difficulties are att ondapt upon direct
exercise OF state authority, by the application
OF unyieldlng rules ~ law. In many of the
stdtes, efforts have been made to avoid statu.
/ tory complications by the appointment of
commissioners. vested with more or less au.
\ thorty, to near aud determine complaints,
and to RESTRAIN or abolish aDGses. ] am con-
strained to say, that this experiment. has not
I thus Ter realized all the beneficial results an
I ticipaied IN many cases, however, commits;
SONS of this kind have largely contributed
/ 10 q better understanding between the people
and the railways and have made public fund
OF infor ,latun, without which cOmpreheus
siyo and efficient legislation IS com.
sion in our state, il inteilieent-
} ly constituted would undoubtedly
contribute much towards the ultimate solu.
/ ton Of al the questions at issue. No recon-
tnendgtlou for the postponement or evasions
OF direct ana immediate legislation, MS far as
practicable, should be implied from this sug-
goston This commission should be designed
as the supplement- aud not Us the substitute,
OF legi lativo Authority, aud its powers should
comprehend no power Shich can be efficiently
/ exercised by the Legislature itset, ln brief,
no responsibiliv as to the main dpSstlon in.
submitting the foregoing propositions and
suggestions, most earnestly assure the Leg
islatGre of the hearty cooperation Ut the ex-
ecutiyC department, within the sphere OF it's
constitutional duty, IN every measure for the
more complete protection OF the public from
the evils complained OF.
In this place. permit me TO say that the Inn
portance OF this topic OF transportation IS nos
exaggerated by those who have forced 1t upon
public attention Wisconsin is essentially an
agricultural state. OF the total assessed
value OF the state at the present time, nearly
one-halt consists Of land exclusive OF city and
village lots. But a small fractieu OF this vast
landed empire Is yet under cultivation, ana
the portion which has been improved " sus-
ecpube OF on almost inoalculable increase IN
production and value. While thousands OF
men aud women IN the larger cities % the
country are clamoring for employment and
for bread, millions OF broad mud fertile acres
within cur territory still await the
protecting power ct impartial laws
and the investment of enlightened Ia.
Der. | would not deprecate the value of
prosperous commerce, of our growing manu-
lectures. or of our extensive mineral wealth
still hidden IN the earth and impatlenlly await.
ing development, Under the magic influences
Of industry and capital. No state in the union
can boast OF resources more rioif and varied.
No chemist ever compounded With nicer adj
justment than Providence has appoItioned
within our state the ingredients Of sOfl, eli
mate, timber, minerals water-powers -'aE the
opportunities for mechanical aud manutsS-
turing Industry. But all these sources of
wealth are directly or remotely related to or
dependent upon the development and pros
perlty OF agriculture. From the soil we in
habit Is primarily derived all that constitutes
our independence and progress, and the hap
plncss of our people. Without these natlltab
products of the earth we should have little to
boast OF in any branch OF industry. The art of
agriculture Is the pare MT of all arts and its pro-
ducts the foundation OF all wealth, but 1t is
through due proportion of acres 10 work
shops of teamwork to snew-of labor to
science, that the resources of our state can be
most fully developed, and the material pros
peftYOf her people most surely secured II
agriculture, then, be the bedrock upon
which all other industries rest, the farmers Of
Wisconsin feel that they have rights which
Legislators are bound TO respect. State, coun-
tv, and local societies are doing much to en-
courage this branch of Industry, and recon-
mend that the same legislative aid at least
which has heretofore been granted to the
state aud county organizations be still con-
tinued
Not alone because of its intrinsic Importance
does this interest demand your special pro.
lection and defense. The farming population
of our state are far removed from the centres
IT political power Their occupation, thue
tar has been wholly individualized. Unlike
great monied interests which are organized
and cohesive, they are never found in the lob
bies of our legislature. They employ no at.
torneys 10 infest your presence and TO corr6pt
| the fountains OF law. They seek no private
! avenue to the public treasury. They ask no
special enactments for the benefit OF the few at
the expense of the many They enter INTO no
| combinations for the subyersion OF the princi-
pies of mutual justice and equality
between man aud man. Submissive
| to the stern decree which Compels
them 10 lives OF hard but cheerful toll, they
trust aloLe to the fidelity of their sworn rep
| resentatlves. TO violate this confidence and
permit the wOrklngmen OF our state to become
the prey of the professional sharper and
spokesman OF the Hobbies, would be not merely
a technical violation OF our oath Of office, but
a surrender OF every honorable sttribute OF
our manhood.
/ COMPLAINTS or PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
Il must b admitted that the popular COM
plants OF public corruption manifest in the
! country at the present time are not without
substantial foundation. Thsee complaints do
not originate altogether IN specific assaults
upon the public treasury, or special and def
mite violations OF the popular rights by the
legislative power. They relate to the whole
social and political structure. The period Of
our civil war was succeeded by public debt,
and public debt has been accompanied by in
ordinate expenditures for the support of the
! government secondary result is the effort
h. place the nteTess tot partisan organizations
above the claims Of good government, and TO
protect favored classes at the common ex.
pcusc.
Private life never fails TO profit BY public
example. Greed for office, social extravaganza,
immortality, contempt for honest labor, cor.
porate extorton, aud the efforts of the specu-
laiiye classes to amass and enjoy wealth not
honestly earned, are evils which have ensued
IA their logical order.
/ am n t unconscious of the difficulties 40
;cndunt upon tie Cndeavor 10 resist estab-
lshcd currents of thought aud reverse rules
ct action invested With the s3uctity Of long
practice aud precJ dent. We shall not be like
lyto forget, however, that the responsibility
ut our state IN respect 10 the issues now
absorbing public attention Is much enhanced
by the fact that olr people we're among the
hist tO rellirt the M gutudC Ell those issues,
iud 81 demand formal recognition Of them
by thClr Representatives IN power. The iniu
gutts ut your action aud example, therefore,
atc not wholly limited - your immediate con
stitucucv bat m an important degree pos.
acssys national aspect 10 i Tor us TO de-
termnc whether the purposes of government
are superior to tho pun poses 81 party whet Ter
honesty AMI intelligence or personal avarice
and opportunity constitute qualifications Tor
office whether legislatures shall intelligent.
Is reflect the popular Will or become the IN.
stIumCuts % the imperunpnt. the importu-