The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-02-17

y. +. MEAD, Rditcr.
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ENCORE

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Shall Statesmen or Pcdants Rule.i
This question will be forced upon
the people OF Iowa, during the ensu-
Ing year In such a manner as to de-
mand from them such q response rs
Its magnitude involves. Already
and aspiring demagogues
are seeking to ignore these qncs-
lions, and hope to delude the pco-
pie into forgc,fulncss OF their own
interests, and with them, Don Quix-
otc like, engage in fierce war up
on the wind-mills. III such con-
fict. ignoring questions OF moment
to the. people, and Introducing issues !
that are not to be settled ut the en-
suing election. they hope to succeed
In clecting men who have heretofore
abused Offices Of trust, in bctray
Ing their constituents to the greed OF
corporations. II is not enough that
those seeking public place should be
on the right side Of a single question
and wrong as to thousands Of others,
equally rs important to the general
welfare. The present crusade on the
prohibition amendment Is designed
to divert public attention from the
really important Issues between the
people and the gigantic corporations,
which lick up the earnings OF every
industry without an equivalent re-
turn. Men chosen to protect the
public interests, rs represented in
what was known rs the grange lcgis-
lation relative to railroads, who aban-
don the branch Of the Legislature to
which they were chosen to lobby In
the other branch for the Commits
eioner system, against whclh they
voted, but which by their influence
prevails, IRE not the kind OF men fit
Tor any public trust. This is precise
~ the attitude Of Senator Kimball to-
ward the law regulating railroad
frcights. He and his friends are
using this temperance question to
conceal his real hostility to the peo-
pie As shown by his work for corpor-
ations. His work on this question
Was equivalent to y declaration that
1.-THE railroads belong to those who
control thcm: that they arc In no
sense common carriers; that they
are In no sense public agencies; that
they are in no way anlenable to the
state or its people; that their fran
chises, and the land and hcrcditn-
ments, obtained for their use through
the exercise OF eminent domain are
'.private property; that their mana.
gers may do with them what the in.
terests OF their owners" demand re,
CARELESS Of the public veal; that they
may charge all or more than an,
traffic will bear; that they may force
. partnership in every business
along their lines, taking all or near
~ all the profits, sharing none OF thu
losses; that they may crush one bust
ness and create another; that the,
may ruin one community. to cnricl
another; and that the golden rule
tor their business Is to I'LL thsi
treasures rs rapidly rs possibl
without regard to any interest bu
that Of their corporate owners.
Whatever Of local pride we other
wise might be presumed to have /
q candidate OF our own county 10
the governcrship Is entirely engulfe
In the use he made OF his senatoria
position to remove all state restrain
designed to regulate the boldcst free
hooters that ever forced their me
nopoly rule upon free pcopl
through Legislative corruption. Tn
people need. and they will yet hav
the practical control ofrailroads, b,
cause they believe that transport;
ton il the very life Of business an
that no clique OF individuals shoul
or shall monoplize It. The railroa,
and the banks now have absolul
control over tho transportation rout,
Of the country aud over the SUI
ply Of currency tho people may ha,
In their several vacations. thus
these two gigantic and imperio,
corporations arc given the sinews
war and the victories and profits ,
peace. A wise precaution, and
Jealous, regard OF their own right
liberties. welfare and prosperity, d,
mands that the people watch wi,
vigilant eye the growing and erasl
Ing tendency OF these monopolic
and that they let no false light a
lure them to shipwreck upon {
trsacherons and rocky u coast. Co
porate rights are on trial against Il
rights OF the people; Of the State,
OF the Republic. Let no false issu.
bctray you into forgetfulness Of Il
roul ones.
The Senate has proposed sever
amendments 10 the rcfun,ling b
which recently passed the Hous
The scheme OF these who have Il
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