The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-20
The Railroad Laws AMI Supreme Judgship.

SHERlDAN, lis, April !, 1867.
Edtt0r ihder:-l propose to give some OF
my recOllections OF the causes and incidents
connected with the origin of the present law,
commonly known as the Railroad Law, to fix
max mum rates for freight ana passengers to
prevent unj ust discrimination. The railroad
charges had become so notorious all over the
state that meeting was held ut Ottawa In
1869 or 1870, in which Judge L. l.. Dlckey
took a prominent part and made a speech IN
which he showed that the railroads had violated
their trust and dealt unjustly with the people.
Then IN December 1872, there was meeting
of the farmers at Bloomington, and formed
the Farmers Association, W. c. Flag, Presi-
dent and S. M. smith, Secretary. Then, on
Feb. 8, 1874, there was a meeting of farmers
and grangers, previously called by the board
OF supervisors, IN which thirty.slX towns had
delegates and every one represented. Several
resolutions passed, one OF which read as fol.
lows:
WHEREAS, We learn with regret that Gov
ernor Beveridge has ignored the farmers in
the appointment of the Warehouse and Rail.
road Commission, therefore
ReSOlDed, That our senator is instructed to
oppose the confirmation of the appointments
made by the governor
During the summer and fall Of 1878 there
was quite an excitement and apprehension
fearing the Legislature would repeal the law
Joseph Hart Of our county, who was then a
member of the legislature and had been chair
man OF the house committee of conference on
the railroad law, spent his time 10 get the peo
pie to back his efforts TO sustain the law. But
he was too honest and industrious III passing
and sustaining "A wise and just law that stood
the tests OF the supreme courts that the railroad
and the republican party left him private
citizen since.
We have had the law since July LIST, 1873
on our statute book. So tar as legislation and
the judiciary department are concerned it is all
right. Why has the law remained dead let
ter? Have the executive department of our
state government discharged their trust and
duty with the energy and fidelity that the 9th
or departments have done? What is the mean
ing of the call for u convention at Galva on
May I'd by the republican party to nominate
a candidate for judge of the supreme court
embracing thirteen equities? Is It a meeting
of railroad magnates and their hlrelings and
tools to pack the supreme bench with their
dependents or wards? AS railroad magnates
are democrats IN democratic districts and re-
publicans in republican districts to be- always
for the rallraod and railroad interests?
| think this is the first convention called by
n political party to make a political nomina,
ton for supreme judge. We had hoped that
our supreme court would never be contamlnat-
ed with politics. The nearer to a judicial
nomination was the petition Of the legal fra
ternity asking Judge Lawrence to become his
own successor, but the voters did not take
their instructions and elected A. M. Craig.
am inclined to the opinion that the rank and
file of the republican party will vote as they
think best, and will spurn the idea that they
are ruled and run by railroads or would vote
as the magnates might dictate.
JOHN s. ARMSTRONG.