Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-03-04
ANTI-MON0POLY.
Mammoth Demonstration OF the
league mt cooper Institute, NY.

Mammoth Demonstration OF the
| league Mt cooper Institute, NY.
New YORK, Feb. pa large mass
meeting was held, tonight, at the
Cooper institute under the auspices ot
the national anti-monopoly league
Peter Cooper was present. President
Chittenden briefly stated the objects
and purpose CT the league, asserting its
origin to he the outgrowth of exact
ing corporate powers and urging the
necessity of universal organization on
the same systematic basis by the en-
tire taxing and buying element of the
country Judge Black, Of Pa, was
introduced. He spoke for over an
hour and is the course of his address,
which in the key note of the legal
and constitutional aspect Of the trans
portation question, he considered at
length relations of corporations to the
public. He said that the course OF
these institutions had been steadily
moving toward a complete monopoly
their ultimate designs were fraught
with the greatest danger to the
state, and unless legislation should step
in and aid the oppressed people
III Il little while the machinery of the
government would be thrown into the
hands of themonopolists. These men.
said the speaker, are not made satisfied
with their possessions, they will still
continue to water stocks to absorb
the property of others, and to tax the
producers at their own caprice, by the
consolidation of railroads and the union
of telegraph lines. The subver-
sion of the law and in
security given corporate properties.
BY their refusal to recognize the rights
of minority shareholders, they have
sat at defiance the rights of public and
individual; prevented beneficial COM
pletlon and tramped upon the spirit of
the constitution and laws of the their
country. He avocated that railroad
men should De turned out of office
under the government, and their duties
compelled as we'll as the rights of others
observed. The constitutional methods
BY which people might be protected in
ties quoted to demonstrate that the
remedy lay in the hands of the public
itself. 1t was shown that by the power
Of their wealth railroads had obtained
Il large share of the control of the su-
preme courts and various legislative
bodies, and that judges were elected
and representatives selected with spec
ial reference to their fitness for advanc-
ing the interests of the corporations.
They represented railroads and were
rapidly assuming an influence dispro-
portionate to the position they occu-
pied toward other bodies. The charac-
ter and extent of such laws
as should beenacted was explained and
their adoption strongly recommended
| have limited at some of the dangers
which Inenace our future. If it be to
correct this evil and to avert these
dangers, that your league has been or
ganized, it will receive the benediction
of the people.
Congressman Reagan, who addressed
himself principally to the practical
remedies which have been proposed
for abuses of corporate powers and ex-
planned the features of the Reagan bill
recently introduced into congress for
Vic ICSIldllOH vi lIIcISldUt commerce
by railroad as step III the right direc-
ton. The following resolution was
then introduced:
That il is the duty Of citizens everywhere to
organize anti-monopoly leagues and endeavor tc
secure, among others. the following specific
rules
First-Laws compelling transportation and
telegraph companies to base their charges on risk
and cost of service.
Second-Laws to prevent pooling and com
binatons.
Ihrl-Laws to prevent discrimination against
any Class Of citizens on public highways
Iourth-Courts to give effect to the lAws
placed on the statute books.
Fifth-Laws to make it the official duty by
officers to defend citizens against corporate in-
justice.
Sixth-Laws to prevent public taxation to pay
dividends on watered stock
Seventh-Laws against bribery.
Eighth-Laws to regulate the commerce of the
several states.
Ninth-A liberal policy toward water ways.
1t was resolved that independent
journals should be encouraged, and
that the bread, meat and fuel Of the
masses should not be taxed to pay the
dividends Of fictitious costs of construc-
ton.
The meeting was afterwards address
ed by others advocating the principles
embodied in the resolutions which
were adopted