The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-09

THE STATE CATTLE SCALES.

/
MEADOW GREEN, April 4, 1881.
MeSSrs. Editors 1T is trite maxim, that
power is always stealing from the many to
the few, and in these days, when the ceusol-
idation of corporate wealth and power is the
absorbing topic in business circles, the mass
es of the people may well be jealous of their
rights The danger is admitted by all not in
| the peculiar interest of the great m0nopolies.
Can ii be possible that the one man power
can ever be established in Maryland? If il
can be done, the looming man" must be
thoroughly sustained by the overwhelming
power of the great monopoies. The Rail
road interests are the main factors to be re-
| lied on as the pioneers in its establishment,
/ but other auxiliary corporations will help, to
a large extent, acting in unison with the rail
reads and controlled by them. The only
! power adequate at all to the prevention oil
/ such a catastrophe is the power of the State,
/ acting in the interests of the masses of the
/ people and governed by the principles of The
| Democratic party, which has its foundation in
/ the protection of the rights of the masses. Is
it too late now TO hope that the power OF the
| State, welded by the Democracy, may yet be
sufficient to restrain the preponderance o!
/ corporate power? So much has already been
conceded by the State to certain corporations,
/ that some PEI pie doubt If it Is not already too
| late for the State TO give relief to the masses
/ of the people from the entertainments of Its
I corporate creatures. The power of taxation
/ of these corporations has been almost entirely
! surrendered, and, with this advantage, the
/ monopolies can already almost defy the power
I of the State. The monopohsts are clamoring
/ for the State to surrender all her heretofore
| retained power over the marketing Of her pro-
4 auctions, and in this demand they are sup
I ported by the combination OF purchasers, for
( eigu and domestic, Sho conceive that the pro
/ auctions of the State are not vet sufficiently
/ free from State control TO enable them 10
/ make the largest profit for themselves. The
4 interests of the farmer and producer have few
advocates, and the few who raise their voices
to aid in their protection take their political
/ lives in their own hands, and are threatened
with demolition al the hands OF the great pow
( ers. What is to be done? The Railroads
and Abatoir Companies expect 10 obtain from
the next Legislature n surrender Of all the
power Of the State heretofore exercised over
the marketing Of cattle. The same influences,
supported BY the BayerS Exchange, expect
to ret a surrender of the power over the IN
speetion aud weighing OF tobacco. and II they
should be successful in both these efforts. the
farmers and producers Of the Sga,e vii! be en-
tIrely AT the mercy Of corporate combinations
who can fix the terminal charges, rates and
mode Of inspection and conduct the weighing
and sampling to suit their own interests. just
as they new can do the Inspection aad grlEh
ing OF graia. In these efforts they will be
backed by the power Of the Governor, who,
although elected by Democratic votes, has
thoroughly espoused the cause % the m"Hsp.
oiisis. Il is even suggested that these .naI
eucGs will make themselves ist IA The etec-
ton Of the next Legislature, aud asder cover
Of opposition 20 What they call the King IN
the Democratic party, oppose the Eaccess OF
that party ia the next eieciloa. BY ualoR
with The Republicans party, whose established
policy IS the fostering Of corporate paser. IA -
evidently believed ihat the peU1CVaJic pro
lcciiou Of the masses may be oycr,AgowH "a
the State ard nex organization established,
centeriHg the necessary power ~ a single dc
tator. Wause behests vil be implicitly obeyld
by the members Of she Legislature, elected
through ihe ius,rumeuiaiity Of these isiia
cuces. The struggle mas be great, bu; 'ae
result cannot be uoubt;ui, q lhe masses oaif
adhere 20 their time huaared traditions tx
perimcuting with these rights ls matte.
which they saoGid not fsv muueut entertain.
Whenever surrendered by the Bas,~s oi the
people, these rights cannot be feeaiHed ulia'
out . change in the goycrumeu; liFet. THIS
i a remedy upon which no good citizen is
willing ever 10 be compelled 10 rely.
Change 10 the esastitution of she State vail be
Intellectual, it Is feared, 10 remedy the sar.
reader Of power by the people deliberately
granted 10 corporate interests Il these
wealthy combinations can succeed ~ ever.
turuiag the security Of thc masses 81 the poo
pie. st lhis time, IL Is feared that once oli OF
ibeir hands ihlssecauty eau never be Tegals
% let the farmer agi producer poaaer
over these things and exert his strength 10
prevent the accsa PlistslCnt Of bad legislation
before his power 10 gaard hls Interests z1as
have slispea fresn his hauds EsRvEs