The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-07-16
TO THE FARMERS.
Earnest Words en- the Sub
ject of Railroad .ntereStc.
Why They should Md These
Great Enterp;iGce.
From the Nashville Budget

From the Nashville midget
We hope the farmers, to whom de-
signing politicians are directing their
appeals, and from whom they expect
connlcnance and support in their foolish
and harmful war upon the railroads,
will not allow themselves to be deceived
II the farmers have grievances against
the railroads, and it is possible they
have, We most earnestly Insist that they
do investigate the matter with the
greatest care aud Judgment, and il i'll
should be found that remedable evils
exist, let the means by which thay are
10 he corrected b. considered with per.
feet honesty and Intelligence. it is Il.
very easy matter 10 tear down, but II Is
not 50 easy to bald up, and while sin
Gle act Of the Legislature may deter
divers interests from coming here, much
legislation may be found necessary to
attract them 10 Our State. 1t Is best to
make haste slowly. 1t is not safe to
permit the scheming demagogue To dol
oar thinking and aching. 1t is possible
for every iUrncI in the State to invest-
gate this question aud draw his own
conclusions, upon which he may fornu-
hate his instructions TO his representa-
tive in the Legislature. Il these dc.
signing politicians were to come right
out and say, 81 he farming community
is opposed to railroads. every farmer
would stamp it rs leland yet the
very existence Of Il railroad commission
amounts to prohibition. The fact starcs
lis in the face that railroad capital will
not come into II State where legislation
tends to oppose corporations. Let the
farmer ask himself this question: Can |,
with any degree Of safety, with any as
surancc 81 profit, invest my money i'll
any enterprise that is threatened by leg
islalive dIctatlon or interference Can
! afford to take stock in dairy, or
Touring mill, or rancho, if IL set OF men
who know nothing about any Of these
are to say how they are TO he managed,
what is to be paid for their supplies,
and what is to he paid for their pro.
duets? And this is precisely what Il
railroad commission Is expected to do.
I .thc railroads are to benefit US wc
must live with them on terms of peace
4 II We expect them to DO us good ser
wee We must live with them ON term,
, Of mutual understanding, and if the,
/ fail to deal with US justly the courts ar,
f., open to us, for if there is anything
railroad company doesn't relish IT is
, lawsuit. Railroad companies know h0,
lar they can 90, and if they exceed tn
. Limitations Of the law they are mos
certain to suffer. 1t is urged that tn
. railroads buy up the judges. II 50, wha
, ramedy can commission apply ar
commissions more powerful than til
courts ? Are judges less honest than
commissioners We insist that there
. no good rcasoh for believing our Judge
, 10 be less honest than our commission
[ crs, for III the State the same poWc
= creates them both, and in the Unite,
States the judges are appointed for life
or during good bchovior. When tn
. ranling dcmagogue discourscs upon til
, dcg,neracy Of the bench his motive
may be properly questioned. He is a
, Why's anIagonizing some interest, and b
| appealing L. popular pre- udice he usua
~ does some mischief, but in time he
, found outbound ouL oltcniimes who
+ the evil results Of his corrupt practice
nave worked almost nc.,lcUlablo daa
, age. Last year the railroad commissio
. 81 nansas undertook 10 make some rad
. l'Jl changes with the following result
"ihcy made decision reducing III
rate on merchandise Of various cIasse
!r.ln 20 to % per reat. ON the Unio
Pacific and Central branch roads iror
boiuIt to Missouri river points. In col
sequence the Union Pacific announc
= that thcy will cease to operate the roa
between Solomon City and Beloit. Tn
branch Was originally leased to then
FROM The construction company, t.
whom they now return it. As the con
SlrirtIun company haze neither cars no
Iocomotiycs, the road will be virtual,
ahan olrl The Union Pacific an
nouocc that they will pursue II simila
policy in all cases where tue commits
,loncrs iix rate lower tlan mcrchaIl-
disc can he transported ut II profit The
action of the Union Pacific leaves tn,
finest wheat aud corn country IN north
crn Kansas without transportation ia
chlicS.
Can we afford to run such risks !? Car
we afford TO cnlrust the solution of the
great railroad problem to Il commission
composed Of men-howsuevcr honest
and hra,c-but without business train
| ing and without any experience III rail
road management 1t is Il vital qucs
ton, and one that should receive the
thoughtful and honest consideration o
every man having at heart the pcrma
ncni welfare Of his country.