The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-09-27

secure the ground already held, but
barren of results While the "Potter
Law" as enacted. embodied the princi-
Piles which we deemed essential, it was
deficient in provisions for their complete
enforcement, and no legislation has
since been had which would enable the
State authorities to carry out the full
spirit Of that law Such legislation we
need and must have. To secure this
should be the especial duty OF our Order.
We have assumed the responsibility OF
a great reform, and upon the degree OF
persistent vigilance which we shall
bring to bear, depends, for.the time be-
ing, the continued enforcement and sup
Elemental development Of those laws
regarding railroad corporations which,
in 1874, we demanded and received at
the hands of our legislature.
1t is moreover due to ourselves, to the
position the Patrons Of Wisconsin have
assumed upon the question, that the
false statements which have been SO in
dustriously circulated, should fail to re-
ceive even the qualified assent which
might be construed from any relaxation
in our efforts to perfect the plan OF rail
road legislation already initiated in Wis
consin by the passage OF the .'Potter
Law" We are not informed through
what influences the Minnesota law,
which is so palpatable to railroad mana
gers, was presented or advocated. We
can, however, draw our own conclu-
sions. We can also infer what infiu-
ences were not potent with the people OF
Missouri, when, after noting the exper-
fence of Wisconsin with her Potter
Law = when, after witnessing how that
famous law frightened capital away"
and prevented new railroad enterprises;
when, after knowing it to be stigmatized
as ..agrarian law" as "the barbarous
thumb-rule of Wisconsin, and as 1.-The
most vicious legislation-'crystalizcd' -
that has ever been enacted in any Wesl-
ern State;" yet still the people Of Mis-
souri,, profiting by the example Of Wis
consin, have deliberately re-enacted the
law so obnoxious to railway managers.
almost word for word, and in the most
reckless manner are about to lnt1lct that
State (if the assertions of railway man
ayers, their followers and dependents,
are to be relied upon, with the same Ca
lamities q which Wisconsin has brought
upon HERSELF. To guard against the
enactment of the Minnesota or any SIM
liar law, and against the repeal OF the
Potter Law" and to demand such sup
elemental legislation as will secure the
full development and enforcement OF the
principles Of the "Potter Law would
now receive the earnest attention Of the
Patrons of Wisconsin. In the language
OF The adopted declaration OF the Orucr,
it is now our duty to see that ''zone 1ut
competent, faithful and honest men, a0ho
WiH un1ainchingly stand by our industrial
interest, are nominated for positions OF
trust"
The worthy Master proposes that the
master of each local grange should ad-
dress each candidate for Office series OF
question, some Of which we quote:
DEAR SIR: I understand that y0I
are candidate for the position of
IN this. in behalf of a considerable
number of citizens UhOse material inter-
ests are inv,lved IN the issues sohich Il
,DtA devoluc upon you to consider and 0cl
upon should you be elected, I respectfully
request your GnssOer to the following ~.
quiTies:
l. Should you he elected will you
vote to sustain Legislation which pro-
vides for such maximum charges for the
carraiage of freight and passengers or
railroads as allows reasonable compen
sation to the companies, and are not op
pressive to the people.
2. Will you vote to sustain legisla
ton which provides tor > thorough anc
continuous Investigation into the AFFAIR."
and doings of railroad corporations BY
the State, and for making the results o
the same publicf
3. Win you vote to sustain legisla
ton which provides for the StGte co1,tro
over the management OF railroad com
panies?
4. Should you be elected will your
vote aud influence be used to sustain tn,
principle Of State control already estab
lished in Wisconsin?
5. Should you be elected will 20,
vote for such additional Legislation as i
required to prevent irregularities in tn,
management of railroads, and to secur,
the full development and enforcement
Of the principles Of the Potter law?'
o. DO you UclIeV6 II W DC lucOuSISt
ent with the duty Of the state Legislature
to protect, by ample and suitable enact
ments. the stockholders and bondholder
Of these sem1-public corporations
| Z. Do You believe that with such pro
lection extended by the State. the effec
would be to restore public confidence il
the management of these corporations?
| 8. Do you believe that in the absenc
of such protection there is dny encOur
agemeat to invest capital in railroads il
Wisconsin?
II 8. Do you believe that u'ikh Stat
supervision and protection in behalf Q
the honest stockholders, home capita
would have confidence to invest in rail
road companies. and new railroad entel
prises be encouraged?
il 10. DO you believe that the people 3
. Wisconsin have any intention or desir
+ to ..confscate'' railroad property?
IL. DO you believe that any legisls
ton has vet been had in this State, 9
. will ever be contemplated by the pei
. pie Of Wisconsin, in any legislator
I r.. ~