River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-16
THE QUESTION OF RAILWAY CON-
troll IN ITS RELATION TO
THE SENATOhSHIP.

TIE SENATOhSHIP.
We quote the following extracts
from the Chicago Inter-Ocean of re-
cent date as a text for suggestions
upon the Senatorship:
lit is said that an increase of five
cents per bushel in the cost of carry
ing grain between Chicago aud New
York, matter depending absolutely
upon the will of two or three men
controlling the trunk lines, is equal to
tax of S45, 100000 upon the agri-
cultural productions of the West.
If such vast powers were lodged in
the hands of these men by act of Con-
gress, there would be such storm Of
indignant protest on the part of the
people as would sweep the grantors Of
such tremendous privileges from their
places.
cit is quite evident that this ques-
ton. and others Of kindred nature,
will soon come to the front and lay
claim to the earnest attention of the
people. The railway interests Of the
country are assuming q magnitude
never dreamed of a few years ago. Vast
combinations are being made, beget-
ting interests and influences that ex-
tend in their various ramifications
from one end of the land to the other.
1t is compliment to the public spirit
and bread comprehension of the pres
ent managers of these immense lines
of railway that they have been so pru-
dent in their conduct, and so fair in
their treatment of the public as to
cause so little ground for complaint.
But the tremendous power welded be-
comes more dangerous because used,
thus far. in manner well nigh OBJ
jectionable, for it is thus that it may
gain a foothold from which it cannot
be dislodged, even when dislodgment
becomes necessary.
A half-dozen mon with millions of
money and hundreds of thousands of
or cO-workers scattered
through the land may accomplish
wonders in the legislation and
of country.
by INSCRIPTIONS men,
such powers hecome standing men,
ace to a government of and for the
people, and the future may not always
furnish managers who are patriotic as
well as sagacious. This question, |
therefore, becomes one of the first inn |
portance, and must present itself for
exhaustive discussion anu action at IN |
early day. 1t is to be hoped that a
conference of the prominent railway
men of the country, and the various
committees of Congress and others
having this matter under advise
nent, may be held soon, and some un-
arrived at that will be
to all parties concerned.
The eminent soundness of these
IDEAS so tersely expressed by the Inter
ocean will be recognized by all intel
igent, thinking men, and they forci-
)ly illustrate a serious objection to
he election Of Phjletus Sawyer to the
United States Senate by the Wiscon-
IN legislature. 1t is not to Mr.. Saw
Ters' discredit that he is wealthy and
he Vice President of a great railway |
Chicago, st. Paul,
& Omaha Railway Com
)any--whOse interests he is actively |
Engaged in promoting, but occupying
he position he does as such railroad
official and in view of the possibilities
IF the near future as outlined above,
We do not believe that the people-and
farmers-of Pierce |
county desire their representatives in |
The legislature to vote to place that |
railroad magnate in a |
position to ObstTuct legislation that |
may become necessary to prevent |
gigantic railway interests from gain
ing absolute control of the destinies |
If the Nation. AS means of placing |
before our members of the legislature |
a reflex of public opinion as it exists |
in Pierce county and the southern |
towns of st Croix upon the question of |
the United States Senatorship we in |
yite correspondence from our readers |
for publication, briefly expressing |
their preferences. Each who responds |
can do this intelligently in from three
to ten lines, and we propose to devote |
four or five columns of our space be-
tween now and the meeting of the |
legislature to the publication of re-
5ponses to this invitation, should a
sufficient number be received, and
hope to find the course of the JOURNAL
upon this question endorsed by its
Who will be the first to re-
spond?
-a@~.~