Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-11-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE RAILROADS AND THE CHANGERS.
I'm rop Hrp,tn. read with cara

criticises sn article recently copied
into your paper from the Chicago
Inter Ocean. The article in the Inter
Ocean was called out by what that
paper considered sufficient evidence
TO satisfy it that Mr.. John Cochrane,
grand master of the Changers, was
endeavoring to manipulate the
Grange vote for the benefit of VIM.
E. Tayl the Reform candidate for
Governor. The article also spoke
in decided terms againet the policy
of the Potter law, and pointed out
what is generally considered it's un-
just and obnoxious features. with
some structures upon the impropriety
of secret societies like the Grange
medding with political affairs, and
advising the Republican Changers
cot 10 be led astray by the action of
their Grand Master. To all this Mr..
Lee objects and asserts that the re.
publication of the Inter Ocean article
by the Republican newspapers will
do much more to drive the Granpers
over to the support of Taylor than
the address of the Grand Master.
| have read the article of which Mr..
Lee complains, and | differ with him
both in regard 10 the policy of the
railroad legislation of our State, and
with regard to the propriety of
making the Grange a political ma
ctne for the promotion CT any set
OF candidates. The Chicago paper
pointed out some of the disastrous
results that have followed the pass
age Of the Potter law that Mr. Lee
has not attempted to dispute, and
until be does undertake that work
and succeed in it, the truthfulness of
the article must stand unquestioned.
Ii is charged that the unfriendly leg
islation of 1874 toward railroads has
injured Wisconsin credit abroad in
al! the money centers where our
railroad mon were in tho habit of
borrowing money; that it has depre-
ciated the stock and bonds of Wis
consin roads more than $1,000 900;
that it has caused railroad securities
to DO thrown out of the banks as
collateral for borrowed money: that
it has put an end TO al railroad
building within the limits of Wiscon-
sin, and that it has frightened for
eign capital from the State. Now if
Mr.. Lee can show that these charges
are false and that the Potter act liz
wise and wholesome law, then |
will 90 in with bin to sustain and
uphold it. Or if he viii satisfy me
that the law has conferred some ben-
Gifts that will Offset its damages, or
that it has helped the farmers more
than it has injured the stock holders
Of the companies, then be will have
he pllusable theory of favoring the
greatest good TO the greatest num-
Der. This railroad question is one of
great Importance TO the people, and
ita calm and candid discussion in the
newapap rs and on the platform
ought to be encouraged. La one-half
Of the State the peotls are deprived
of the conveniences and comforts OF
these great modern highways, and
they are getting inpatient of the
delay that their local enterprises are
experiencing from tho operations OF
the law in question. 1t has greatly
embarrassed the business and i'm
paired the credit of the two principal
roads 10 the State, and it stands in
the way Of all new enterprises, like
The tabled three headed dog Of the
ancients, guarding the entrance to
the chambers Of the money kings
Of the world. The question has u
political, a legal and moral signifi
caucn that makes it one of great in
terest 10 the Statesman, the jnrist,
and to the man of affairs who has
the good name of bis State at heart.
AS a political question it ought not
to DO made the hobby of demagogues
and parlisans who would willingly
sacrifice the most vital material inter-
ests, for the prospect of temporary
success; as legal proposition, the
law has already secured the attention
of the ablest lawyers and the highest
courts, and its moral aspects reflect
the light Of day upon the honor,
honesty and integrity of the people
of Wisconsin. The constitution of
the State gives the Legislature power
to alter or repeal the charter of any
corporation that it has created; but
how far the legislation can go in its
interference with vested rights and
in the imparing of contracts, ,nust
remain for the courts to decide,
as they must decide also
whether corporate property
is public to the extent that
the Legislature may destroy
its value to those who
own it by limiting its income
below tho paying point And
when it. is remembered that more
than $50, 100000 of foreign capital
are represented in our railroads not
one cent Of which would ever have
gone into them if the Potter law
had been in existence at the time the
money ives borrowed-we begin to
see that the world will not refuse to
consider the moral side of the SUBJ
ject, if we do. Nothing helps
town so much as to build railroad
through il; it enhances the value of
all property, stimulates, all kinds Of
business, and adds TO the comfort
and convenience of its population.
No other outlay of capital confers go
nh rrnnA tho milo