Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-06-08
POTTER LAW VS.. VANCE LAW.
The RInkes Prairie Oranges Reply 20 senss
tor O. G.. Hsthawnyss Letter,

The Biakes Prairie Oranges Reply 20 senas
tor o. c. Hsshawsy's Letter,
Senator Hathaway, In his pledge
to the Blakes Prairie Grange, says,
al should not feel disposed to attempt
the alteration Of the present laws,
| unless to perfect them" To the
| correcting of any defects in the SPOT
ter law" that experience had proven
| worked injustice to the railroads, no
| Intelligent citizen would object
But can any one, on reading Mr..
Hathaway's own acknowledged, pub
lished letter, say that he did not
pledge himself to vote for and sustain
the Potter law? lfit was bis inten.
ton only to catch votes, surely bis
language is capable of only one con-
| struction by the fair minded reader:
to wit, pledge to vote for and sus'
tain tho Potter law.
Agaln, be says, 81 took not my
| oath in tho night time nor in secret,
but in open day-an oath as broad
as the state with all its varied inter-
ests." How Mr.. Hathaway's vote
| for tho Vance bill protects the State
with all it's varied intere SITS, when the
Vance bill has swindled her great
producing classes out of all the ad-
vantagos of protection from railway
corporations, is a mystery; when
vote for that bill was virtual sur
render of constitutional right and
the principles of state control by the
people, The Vance bill will cause
the people of Wisconsin to pay the
railroads at least throe millions this
year more than last year under the
Potter law. The now freight soheds
ule is an addition of twenty five per
cent. TO freights, and five cents
mile against three cents under the
Potter law; and this, too in the face
of the Milwaukee Il st. Paul's own
published statement, that the years
IA and rs under the Potter law
were the most prosperous of any
since its construction.
IL this protecting the state with
all it's varied interests? 1t is kind
of protection that yultures give to
lambs, and one not in keeping with
what the people had reason to expect
from Mr.. Hathaway's pledges, made
when candidate, during the canvass
for state senator of this district,
pending the election. If voting for
the Vance bill is in accordance with
the views expressed to Mr.. Prideaux
in his letter, then we must confess
ourselves so supremacy silly as to
elect representative to openly sell
the fruits of our industry.
Mr.. Hathaway knows the railway
managers alone are authorized to Tx
rates under the Vance bill, and that
Mr.. Lamb, the commissioner, is pow
erless to restrain any form of abuse.
You ask, What will the Blakes
Prairie Grange do with the twenty
seven farmers and Changers who re
corded their votes with mine tor the
Vance bill?' We say let them be
responsible to their constituents IN
our opinion, for the sale and betray-
al, knowingly, purposely and inten-
tionally of every right of industry OF
the state. Again, you ask, What
will yoa do with your own members
who approve of my voter" But few
were caught in tho trap, and the
agent who did tho work was poorly
paid for the cold ride from Prairie du
CHEN to see BIakes Prairie Grang-
ers and got them to write Mr.. Hath
away to vote for the Vance bill
Some one must have furnished the
list TO be visited, for he had one.
New York. twenty five years ago,
If we mistake not, reduced the fare
to two cents mile. The railway
managers have tried year after year
to get their rates increased. So far
they have been unsuccessful. The
Vance bill ia virtual surrender of
the principles OF state control and
should not be tolerated by the peo-
pie, and should cause such shaking
up of those engaged in is as will con-
vince them that the people are not to
be trifled with in this matter. The
policy Of requiring the peoples rep
resentatives, both state and national,
to render an account as we'll as other
officers, to the people, is fairly inaug-
urated, and let it be continued.
Yours Truly,
BLAKEs PRAIRIE GRANGE.