The Columbus journal., 1879-05-21
Actions speak Louder than
Words.
COLUMBUS, Nav 20, 1879

COLUMBUS, May ~, 1919.
EDITOR JoURNAL:-I find in 6
copy of your paper of Sept. 25th
1878, report of the proceedings o
the Platte county republican con.
vention held at engine house, il
Columbus, on Saturday, Sept. 2lst
1878, from which l make the follow
ing extract:
"On motion of Cotton Of Monroe the
following resolutions were unanimous
"adopted:
"Resolred, That the delegates who
"shall be elected by this convention are
"hereby directed to support no candi
"date for state or national office who il
"known to be identified with rings oil
combinations which mainly represent
1.-The interests of mOnopolieS and wealthy
corporations, as against the interests
''of the people generally.
"ResOlred, That it is very unjust and
Oppressive to the inhabitants of this
estate for the railroads to charge higher
crates for carrying our wheat and other
"products TO market at this time OF
Financial depression, while labor and
''material Of every kind are exceedingly
"cheap, and that zoe tdrOr achOleSOmt
''ta,os that ,oiu regulate and limit these
''chdrQes."
l remember the day and the occa
sion as if it were bu: yesterday.
Loveland of Columbus arose and
said:
81 oppose those resolutions because
"they are not half strong enough for me.
"The Union Pacific Rail Road Co. are a
''grasping, soulless monopoly, shower
"ing favors TO few, but grinding the
''very life out of the masses. l am a
''wOrkingman and a farmer, and / am in
''favor of anything that will protect
'their interests. But these resolutions,
''as i said before, are not half strong
''enough, and | doubt if language can be
''found to adequately express my con-
"tempt for that Union Pacific monopoly.
Snow L know what am talking abou t !;
"as most of you know L have sold con-
"siderable lumber here the past few
"years, and We have had to pay that
"U. Z. Company ten dollars for every
scar load hauled over that bridge at
''Omaha-about three miles-while the v
"haul ii from Omaha here, ninety-twO
''miles, for twenty-eight dollars. Now
THAT is an outrage upon the citizens of
Nebraska, and / hope to see a law
''pasSed by our Legislature next winter
''to do away with that eXtOrtion. An
"Other thing, their freight rates are out
''of all reasou-.just as high as they were
"six years ago-while labor and produce
''are only worth half as much. 1t costs
''just about as much to get a bushel Of
"wheat from here to Omaha, 90 miles, as
sit does from Omaha to Chicago, 500
''miles. i want to see those resolutions
unanimously adopted by this conven-
'tiOn." applause and cheers.)
In the JOURNAL of Oct. 10th, 1878,
in biographical sketch of the Re-
publican candidate for Representa-
tive of the SD district, l find the
following:
GAS much has been said in this cam
''paign about corporations, we are au-
''thoriZed by Mr.. Loveland to state that
she is opposed to monopolies of every
''sOrt and name. He pledges
''himself to stand by the record of bis
''life as workingman in opposing every
"species Of extOrtion and wrong. =
This man Loyeland was elected
and while the legislature was in
session a special committee of five
was appointed for the purpose of
investigating the tariffs of the rail
roads Of this state, with full power
to send for persons and papers, and
report by bill. Mr.. Loveland was
a member of that committee, and
they NEVER MADE ANY REPORT.
and outrageous as that
record is-it is not all that must
now be kept in public mind. While
the legislature was still in session,
q prominent official of the Union
Pacific Rail Road Go. was in Co.
lumbus inquiring as to the response
bility and qualifications of ID. c.
who had applied to that
monopoly" for a leading position
of official capacity,-and ready to
assume control as soon as the SeS-
sion should adjourn.
For some reason, best known to
the parties in interest, his commits
sion has not yet arrived, for he is
1ying around loose" playing tail to
the U. P. bond kite in Platte county,
and flunkeying to the officials of
that "soulless corporation" that, a
few months ago, he could not find
language sufficiently strong to ex-
press his adherence of.
humbly beg your pardon, Mr..
Editor, for using so much valuable