Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-15
A Free Talk with a Capitalist.
NOW LIZ yIRNs TIE MATER.


a gentleman who has made a fortune by
rairoading, but is now retired from that
business and has devoted himself with equal
zeal to agriculture. lie has no need of more
money, but the habit of his mind is such
that he cannot conduct any business with
satisfaction to himself unless he can make
it pay. He is able and willing to invest all
the money necessary for the improvement
of his farm, but before laying out capital
upon buildings or upon field, he wants to
know what are the prospects of getting a
return from it. He takes and reads many
agricultural papers, both American and
foreign, and gives the preference to those of
England as being the most busness-like."
From appearances, he is going to make his
farm "pay.' Finding our new acquaint
ance very genial aud frank man, we ven
tured to introduce the subject Of the rela-
ton of the railroads to the farmers, and will
try to report his views upon some of the
points discussed.
Men, he said, engaging in railroad enter
prises look out for their own interests mainly,
as other men do. If any Of their plans or
methods are injurious, or likely to be inju-
rio us, to other interests, they expect the par
ties concerned to look out for that. The
railroad men find that the mercantile and
manufacturing classes are wide enough
awake, and they are obliged to accommodate
themselves to the reasonable (and some Of
the unreasonable requirements of those
classes. In the long run the travelling pub
lie also enforces its will upon the railroad
managers. But the farmers have been very
little considered, and until recently they
have not entered into the calculations of
railroad men. The grange movement in
the West showed how absolute was the
power of the farmers over all abuses in rail-
road management affecting agricultural in
terests; but it also showed with what diff
Guilty the farmers were united in action, and
how soon they lost their grip. Still, he said,
the Western railroads have learned lesson
they will not soon forget. In the East the
farmers, though still majority when uni
ted, exercise no political influence, and are
generally quite disregarded, not only by rail-
roads but by all other corporations. In seek
ing legislation the corporations employ skill
| full lobbyists, who are furnished with money,
and the only point insisted on by their en-
plovers is success. Not so much money is
required as is popularity supposed. There
are always leaders generally popular law
yers) in every legislature whom the farmers
have confidence in. These are secured, and
everything is made easy. AS regards the
desire of the farmers for an equalization Of
rates of freight, so that Western produce
shall not be carried by their doors at a loss
to be made up by excessive charges upon
homegrown crops, nothing short Of vigor
GUS canvass on that issue alone will effect
anything. The general run of men sent tc
represent our farming towns al the state
capitals, said he, though honest, are utterly
incapable as Legislators. Though they ma,
be farmers they have no sense of the farmers
interests, and no notion of how to promot,
them by legislation. Smart leading politi
clans of their "party" take them wherever
they will. A little hattery to the vain,
little money to the venal, little plausible
argument to the more intelligent, will secur
their votes to almost any project. Two o
three railroad men in any Eastern stat
can always, if united (and generally single
handed), carry anything they desire through
any legislature,-not exactly in defiance o
the farmers, because the farmers will no
understand or be awake to the bearing O
such legislation,-but contrary to the intel
, ests of all the farmers in the state. On tn
other hand, said he, the interest Of any pal
ticular farmer is small beside the corpori
ton interests. The only way that the farm
ing interest is likely to be excited and unite
against corporate aggression is through i,
being carried to an unbearable excess. Keel
ing clear of that, the railroad interests an
all corporate and capitalist interests hay
: plain sailing in our legislatures The pre-
is always on their side; they control tn
political leaders, the lawyers, and in shol
all the forces that bear weight in our publ
affairs. 1t win be long, said he, before yc
. see passed through any legislature in Il
East laws unfavorable TO the interests
a corporations. And then they will be d
feated or nullifed in the courts. "The pc
= :, pie are very insignificant item in our boo
polite" was the conclusion of our expeI
= enced friend.