The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-15

h0oiInk DetOFo HIs OWL constituents.
The business man who shall venture
To question the divine right OF
coEporate rule will lie crushed, and
no telegrLpbic wire or associated
press will voice his woe or demand
redress from hls Prosecutors. The
people will find themselves unable
To communicate with each other ex-
cspt by the gracious will and pleasure
Of the autocrat Of the wires. Should
special correspondence undertake 10
supply Information not deemed ex-
pedient to DO sent Ly the Associated
Press, they win find that the owner
OF the wires can supply ready
remedy for such presumption.
The channels Of e 1t aud the
chsnnsis VI eomms hus ewned
and eonHolIed by an, or by q
few Laen, what Is Il n tornarate
power, or to hZ -. Ia Ifs
exActlOns upon 4 That e.
then to hinder ~ de-
pressing or initiate . O. all
kinds Of property io -J.t fss,.r caprfce
Ur avarico and thereby gkiioriag into
their own Golfers the wealth OF the
nailsa? Where ls the limit TO such
pOwer ~ this? What shall be said
OF the spirit Of - few people who will
suomit without protest TO be thus
bound hand aud foot? I have hinted
1t some Of tn. dangers which menace
our future. II 1t be TO correct these
Ills, aud t. avert these dangers
Jour league has been organized, II
will receive the benedlctions Of the
( people.
The practical question g.. WHAT
ART you going to do about it?'' TO
my mind the answer Is easy. This
organized gigantic corporate p,wer
can only bs kept under proper re-
straint By the organized power of
the people, expressed through their
State aud national governments.
That such governmental power exists
and may properly be exercised
! have not particle of doubt. It Is
plainly written In our constitutions,
and has been unequivocalIy declared
BY the supreme court Of the United
States.
The limits Of this letter will not
permit discussion OF the constitu-
iional question nor q detailed state
ment Of the practical remedy for ex-
isting evil. i may, however venture
to suggest that, ia my Judgment, the
hrst and most important duty of
congress 10 TO emaneipate the people
from the supervision and control OF
corporate monopoly, by the establish
nient OF system Of postal telegraphy,
whereby they shall be Afforded q
safe, sure and cheap method OF CON-
muuicatlon With each other. There
is no doubt Of tho economy and sue
tess OF such system. It has been
tried In other counties with most
satisfactory result.
Ian aware that II will reauire
much care, lat,or and skill to frame
laws which shall successfully regulate
and restrain the action Of the great
transportation companies, without
unnecessary Injury to them, and
Withcut emitting the essential
elements OF protection TO the public,
but have no doubt It can bs done.
When the people demand it they
Will find the men to do IL. / believe
the time has c0rne when this great
work should l,s undertaken.
IL will be far better for the corpora
tions themselves that It be done now
By conservative but thorough and
judicisus legislation, rather than ts
postpone it uRtIl the people, no longer
able TO bear the tyranny Of corpvratc
power. shall rise Ia their wrath 10
humble and destroy their oppressors.
At some eonvsnlsnt time ] shall
endeavor to state specifically some o
the legislative remedies would
j propose.
Excuse the great l. IN of thil
letter, and believe me sincerely,
your friend,
WILL -. V.