The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-08-15
TEE FARMERS ASSOCIATION.
TIE Accomplished Work--Freigbs Rates, aad
the Railroad Question.

ecies made by interested parties that our ad
vice and utterances in behalf OF the producer
OF this valley would cost the paper thousand
of dollars OF patronage has fallen fat and tb
declarations fan irresponsible concern, an,
its hackers, that the farmers themselves dix
not endorse our position, has been given thu
lie in more emphatic terms than could hay
been conveyed by mere words. OF the differ
emit meetings, and the results, cur reader
have been weekly posted through these col
uinns. We reiterate that the game has wei
been worth the ammunition expended. Blu
there must be no letting up, and no whit
feather exhibited by the association. A bolc
front maintained by It's members will reap thu
fun benefit Of The victory won. Honest deal
ers would rather be watched than not, an,
rogues must toe the line or be snuffed out.
Now that the home or initials abuse has beer
materially corrected, and elevators and buy
ers gwen TO understand that only fair dealing
VIII be tolerated, We again call the attention
of the association to q matter OF which W.
wrote in juno last, 4. G.. railroad freights
We are not among those who, without sens,
or reason, blindly strike at railroad or Other
corporations simply because they are corpo'
rations : but, knowing that combined capital.
unrestrained in the hands Of saaried officials,
to be the soul of seliishness. and from the ne.
cessity of surroundings grasping, it always
behooyes The people, and especially produ-
GERS. manufacturers and merchants, TO meet
combination with combination. As we said
in the article alluded to, the A.. T. d S. f, II
K. has been the great prime developer of this
country but, in the absence OF development
the investment wollid mean only ruin. 1t
should, therefore, be the railroads. primal
aim to protect and foster the agricultural In
terests ofthis valley In view of the low pri-
ces ruling, the EAGLE asked Tie company TO
lower the freight especially on wheat.
Others, after laying the facts before the Off
has been done. Now let the farmers assoeia-
ton follow the matter up. Let there be no
braggadocio, but manly and straightforward
demand. The people Of this valley have no
to bankrupt the men who backed
their faith in the country by putting their
!.
which promises soon TO be trans-c continental
The farmers of Sedgwick, Cowley, Butler and
sumner counties are willing to pay reasonab lie
rates, and they DO not ignore the comparative
light tonnage and extra expenses of new
road, but, when 1t comes to abuses it may be
reasonably expected that they viii rise up,
and not only demand, but, ii necessary, force
a concession. Trunk lines may combine and
pool and all that, but if those who pay the
bills are just as wide awake to their own in
as wise and yigilant-the final
issue wilinever prove doubtful. True, COM
petition regulates, satisfactory in a majority
OF cases, the price of all commodities, incl I'D
ing those of labor and transportation but, in
Isolated cases, the only remedy is for the pat
ron and consumer TO step out and meet COM
bination With combination. To these matters
we again direct the attention of the producers
Of this valley, especially our Sedgwick coun ty
farmers, through the association. which meets
next Saturday, which association has heen so
1ispassionate and reasonable that we have the
greatest confidence in it.
Before concluding this article we would add
mother word: By reference to table be-
ore US we see that on corn, wheat, rye, oats,
md live stock,-our principal exports--we
IRE paying from % TO 10 percent. higher rates
han are charged by Illinois and Missouri
The difference of tonnage in favor
II those roads would warrant somewhat high
II rates Ter the A, T. s. s. L. railroad. but
10 such difference as the table shows to exist.
'he way 10 meet and control these discrepan-
les, the GeRier resort is legal enactment. We
lon't mean by that = blind war upon railroads
through the legislature, such n has been
yaged in certain States, where strong COM
,inies have been broken Down aud the roads
Ell 10 weak operation in the hands of Re-
eiTer, but the passage OF fair and equitable
avs fixing the rate Of freight and passenger
arriAs. Efforts in the past in this State TO
ncompass these have failed, principally for
want of unity of action in the first place, and
econdly for want Of brains to draw such Z
Ill as would hold water. To insure the pas
age of such law the bill must be drawn by
ONE one thoroughly converssnt not only wi til
II The Supreme Court decisions, the constitu-
ional bearings, and the scope OF charter priv
eges, but be must understand wherein lay
he defects OF the many measures which have
eretOicre failed TO run the gauntlet of the
Judiciary committees. Lastly, the men en-
rusted with such mission must be thorough
: identified with the dominant party of the
tate. Dozens OF anti-party men, sent TO the
legislature for the purpose Of securing such
,glslation, have net only beell set down on
ut their bills choked out OF existence Be-
ewing il high time that orr State should take
old OF this matter we suggest that the farm
rs Of this county, especially the Republican
irmers, which means nine out of ten-see
D It that no man is sent by them to the Legis-
lture who will not honestly and heartily
gree to second any effort looking to Iegfla-
ion for the regulation OF freights and tariffs.
IS far as we know there is not man who
esires TO be a candidate in this county who is
OF both by inclination and interest favora BILE
D sucl move nevertheless it will do no
arm to impress them with the sentiment of
he people on this question which in years
Ike the present touches so directly and sem
bly the pockets of every man