The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-10-13
The New York Autobiography Conven.
tiOn.


The recent An,i-MOnopoly Convep-
tion at Utica, ". Y, adopted IN address
with accompanying resolutions. and
authorized the Chairman, General \. 5.
Diyin. to appoint State Committee.
The address reviews the Efforts in the
State TO secure legislation that viii
check the power of great corporations
aud says:
rue ,aufcIrnGe would fail IN its duty TO
the people II l. did no: place before them
the name- Of The senators who thus BETRAYED
the public inter- ST.. and fdicHte in some
degree the methods hy which the railroads
control legislation. | has become a regular
practice for n lr'al corporation 10 send
s0me of their own isrh 10 The legislature 10
further their interest. Senator Wagner, Of
palace-cur fame, j. a type Of this class.
Through railroad influences he has been
regularly placed at the head Of the Seuate
Committee on Railroads, the committee
being constituted 10 suit his pleasure, aud
oil measures looking to holding these corpo-
rntions To proper responsibility TO the public
have had 10 run the gauntlet Of this luvkod
Jury presided over ly Judge who had
peetlniary interest Ia the adverse decision
~ the ease. Another class OF Senators who
were even more useful TO the railroads are
prominent members OF the legal profession,
many NJ whom are regularly retained in all
parts Of the state, and some thu. employed
are rr4ularly elect II 10 the Legislature by
the ral ruad~. Senators Robertson, Jacobs,
Woodin. Sessions Il Fowler are types OF
this cla-s. Thi- class work more secretly.
proves. 30 bc friendly, sure you they Will
do M they ecu for the measure where tue
publ" iit crest u luVONh but secretly en-
Is Y1f los q it u e,nriniuee or prevent it
frptu ryrr g tn;n@ To Vote. In case they
Hre not successful IN this they either vote
ag iit,i u or ate absent when The vote Is
'akr.,. lu -oinc instances, when they are
sur - paOugi adverse votes TO defeat Il
u'casur wnI.n ttey know their c0nstitus
enis favor, ~ y viii even Vote yea, al
thauglt hld ih = h0en toll by the ra lrOad
manager. tllii th ir vote was wanted they
would have bre't recorded on he other side.
Ano h.'r aud more numerous class are the
contractors, IA Ichants or manufacturers
inter, -tcd ~ various entcrpl ises which the
riulrtrd- rnn greatly assist ly awarding con-
tF1r,r ~ Wv ~ iug favorable rates on
fri sht: aud This power u freely used. OF
this type senators Mccarthy. stevens, Hull
bert, Maiden, Brennan, Rockwell and 9TH
rrs are samples,
Another class cannot thus be controlled
but, having frirndly personal relations will
ii railrJa representative, whO are alway
most agreeable men. they are Influenced 10y
ti.'m, aud unless the issue i sharply defined
Icy their Immediate constituents they Notct
with he railroads aud against the public in
teie-t. This class - closely cultivated b,
the railroad reprcsen ntiyes. Free passe
aud 9th courtesics are shOwercd upon
them. situations, which ia many eases ar,
-inrcufes, are given TO their friends an(
constituents. aud la not few instances
their votes are controlled Is absolutely a
those oi cts- three. Scattered bet xeen th
above GLASSES Is a not iucOu~idcrable ele
mrni of absolutely yenal Legislators, wh'
are not asha ed tn associate with lobbyist
aud 10 dO th'if bidding. When public sen
tinent iOuk~ upon huN ing an election
crtine, aud p. ofc sioual iObb i-t-, like a
-. liab.T and Edwards, who. togcthe
With S"na' SESSIONS, are now under in
'dictmrnt f"r bribery during the lite Sena
turia, eouit.l. are Ietau ded e. social plriahs
To ue HyOidcd uy all decent citizens, it i
prObd,ir that lswrI Senators like. Mr.. Scs
Sons Will To- seen ut Albany, and Represent
aiiyc~ like Mrssi~. llustcd and Alyord wi
cruse 20 be leaders Ia the Assembly.
TIE same principles apply, and the sam
tactics ATE employed, in the Assembly a. il
the Senate, but the latter is much the small
er bOdy. Th members are elected for tw
ycirs instead oi one, as IN The Assembly
aud q J., consequently, more easily an
rhcapiy controlled by the corporation,
For the infurmaiion OF The public we reca
piltilatc The names Of those members Of ia
late Senlir who were usually found yotin
with the eOrporaiiuns aud against the pub
lie Interests: Senators Wagner. WoodiI
Robertson, Sessions, Mccarthy, Hogan, See
bacher, Eidman, Jacobs, BirdSall, Fowler
Madden, ROcNwell, Baker, Braman, IIa
bert, LOOmS, Wcndovcr aud Mills. Ii wi
be- noticed that in this list appear the leader
Ia the Senate of both political parties.
We earnestly recommend that ut the nc'
election candidates for legislative office, an
especially candidates for the Senate, |
chosen regardless Of party affiliations, an
that only candidates who will pledge then
selves TO support the following anti moncl
oily principles and objects should receive u
sufrages Of the people:
our PnINCIFLES.
Anti-M Ion lpoy-Wc advocate and will SUI
port aud defend the rights OF the many
Hguin-t privileges for the few.
Corp rations. the creations of the state sha
lie controlled 10y the state.
Labor and Capital-Allles. not enemies; iu
tice for both.
OBJECTS.
In accordance with these general principl
we Will endeayor 10 secure. among others, Il
following specific Results:
!. Laws compelling transportation comp
nics TO base charges upon g, 1t and risk
service, instead of the new theory cnunciat
by them, "what the traffic will bear"
= Laws to prevent pooling aud 0oinhiI
tons.
s. No Discrimination against any citizen
any class Of citiz ns ON public highways.
4. A Board Of railroad Com mis- iOners
this state, TO give effect TO the laws which u
Or may be placed upon the statute books.
.. Laws making II the duty Ot public law o
ccr- % defend Il citizens tights against in
tee by powerful corporations.
4. Laws 10 prevent the further watering
stock, and other devices, by which Il iictitio
value Tor public highways H. created.
:. stringent avs ag inst b. ibcry, inciudi
the prohibit ion of free pusscs
\. Amendments To- our Elcc. ion laws whi
will better secure 10 the pt opl, the power
select candidates for office
A lib raj pJlcy toward our canal /, whi.