Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-08
THE INFLUENC E OF ANTI
ONOPOLY.


The opening Ct the present legisla-
ture has shown, in the ~clearest man.
, ner, the il hdence of anti monopoly
prin .lples in Nebraska. Ten years
, ago, to be an anti.monopolist Ia Neb-
raska was to b. a political outcast.
Both the leading parties were con-
trollod body and soul by the corpora.
tions. The press was bound hand
and foot by the railroad managers,
and it's editors either bribed with ia
vors or bulidozod with threats. No
man who aspired to political advance
ment dared to openly raise his voice
against the taskmasters who plum
dered the public uncriticised and re-
warded their favorites with pillage
and patronage. The beginnings
of the movement to bring the
railroad corporations under the
control of the laws were small
and attended with the most bitter dis
corragements. A venal press de-
nounced every advocate Of Of corpor.
ate restrict on as an enemy to society
and a dangerous element in the state.
The farmers who first dec Jared them.
selves on the issue were characterized
as impractical reformers and hayseed
grangers. The speakers who sought
to influence party counsels in favor OF
recognition of the principles of anti.
monopoly were denounced as dema.
gogues. Every producer, Of whatever
class or condition, who dared to idon-
tify himself with the movement was
slandered and ridic 1led, and the effort
to shake off the monopoly Man Of the
Sea was declared to be a movement
which would die out before half the
people of the state knew of It's exis.
tence.
The battle which the producers of
this state have fought so long against
the abuses of corporate monopoly Is
drawing to y close. Both political
parties have been forced by an over
towering public sentiment to recognize
the demand for railroad legislation by
incorporating strong anti-monopoly
planks in their platforms. The late
campaign In Nebraska indicated that
the people are at last fully aroused to
the Importance of the vital isaue of the
day. Eighteen thoutand voters cast
their ballots for the straight anti
monopoly ticket. Every candidate of
other parties who was endorsed by
the anti.monopollsts secured his cleo
ton, while a triflng change of votes
would have sent to congress two anti.
monopoly republicans. For the first
time in the history Of Nebraska the
railroads find themselves in q strong
minority in the legislature. The sen.
ATE has been taken out of their hands,
and the house has been organized with
a speaker who cannot bo controlled by
the monopoly managers. Every indi-
cation points to the election of q
United States senator whose record
and standing will be a strong
guarantee of his fidelity to
the wishes of his constituents
and who a be depended upon to
stand like a rock against the corrups.
ing overtures of the railroad lobby.
On the Streets, In the hotels and lob
bies Of the state capital, anti.monop-
oily is the n topic of discussion.
Where ten years ago nc man dared to
profess it, to-day no candidate dare
deny adherence to it's principles.
The anti.monopolists have won a
great victory, in educating public SEN
timent to a clear understanding of the
relations which az present exist be-.
tween the corporations and the peo.
pie. Care is now needed that the
fruits of that victory shall not be
thrown away. The battle is not en-
tirely won when the enemy holds out
a flag OF truce. The people Of Ne
brsska now hold the reins of power
for the first time in many years. They
must exercise it in securing to them.
aelvea resnlts which will ha ~Iaatino