The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-09-17

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PERHAPS N no other state in the
Union ia the feeling against corpora
tiong, and especially railroad COM
panies, So bitter as in California. The
masses fairly hate the rich associa-
tious, and this dislike is lot without
czuEe. The railroads have employed
their Yast resources to oppreEs the
people and elevate ID power e narrow
casg. Legislatures have been bought
and paid for with railroad money,
city ard county governments have
been purchased and used in the inter-
est Of the railroads, and In coDgreg-
sioual elections the candidates are
spoken OF as railroad and snti-railroad
men, rather thsn as democrats and
republicans. The railroad ring,
having immense power, has en-
ployed it for evil and for selfish pur-
poses, and the consequence is the an
tagonism existing between the rich
and poor people of the Golden State.
One result Of the railroad wickedness
and corruption was the banding to-
getber, a year or two ago. OF the work
ipgmen, regardless Of politics, to
protect themselves against the
further entertainments OF the
oppressive corporations. The work
ingmen lacked wise leaders,
and were without Weldon themselves,
otherwise the mammoth associations
that own and control California poll
tically and socially would have been
made to take q back seat. As it was
the outraged masses accomp lished
much good in the way of bringing
about sadly needed reforms; but what
they did came rather from the justice
of their cause, thsn proper manage
meut on their part. The working
men knew that something was wrong,
but they we're ignorant as to the mode
OF remedying it. Their ideas OF the
right means for bringing about re-
forms were vague; but they went to
work and blunderingIy Wrcugh. con-
siderable of q revolution 1t is q
pity that they did not know how and
when and where to begin to work and
to quit, II they had known just what
to do ard how to do it, California
would have been to-day much
different state to what it is. The
workingmen rose in their majesty,
but for lack of wise direction they
could not hold together. Thay went to
pieces as suddenly as they had assem-
bled, AMI are now sadly dis3yganized
and demoralized, lacking confidence
in themselves and in each other,
and without power for good or evil,
except as they unite with one of the
other parties. a specimen act OF the
railroads, and one which will eI-
plain why the masses are 90 bitterly
opposed 10 the corporations, is tina!
which gave rise to what are known
as the Tulare troubles. The teIe-
grams reported the other day that a
committee of men from Mussel
Slough, Tulsre County, had waited
upon President Hayes, presented him
with full statement OF their griev-
snces and asked his Intervention in
their behalf. Mr.. Hayes is utterly
poEerless to assist them, the rail-
roads being much bigger than the
President Of the United States. These
troubles grew out of an attempt on
the part of the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company to rob a LOS Of
hardworking families OF their hard
earned homes. The railroad owned
the land on Mussel Slough, Tulare
County, but as it was worthless with
out occupants, invited people to settle
upon it. a number Of poor farmers
accepted the invitation, went TO
work, tujlt houses, put a vast
amount of labor and money in q cys-
tenn of irrigation, redeemed the |
desert and made homes thereon. |
They had brought the land to high |
degree of productiyeness. and had |
just begun to "get along" when the
railroad company stepped in and
charged outrageous prices for the
soil. The understanding between
he settlers and the company was
hat the latter. when it disposed of
he land, should fix the price without
egsrd to improvements, and that
riginal settlers should be protected
4 their improvements. When the
4
abroad company laid its claim to the
and an extra price was placed upon
because of the improve
nents. Very naturally great
was felt and ex-
,ressed AT this attempt on the part
f tbs corporation to rob the hard. I
7oTkjng people Of their earnings and l
aviDgs. The settlers resisted the
laims, and the matter was carried {
lto the oourts, which decided against I
be farmers. Various attempts at c
failed, and it Ein he
that a battle was fought
t Hsnford last spring, the people
sing in resistance to the execu-
on of writs Of custer. In the fight
Ulcers and settlers were killed. Oae
esult OF that tragedy was the indict-
lent of some of the men who fought n