Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-07-20
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRy.
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.


nomination was Mr.. Chauncy Depew'
president of the New York Central
and Hudson River railroad system
(the Vanderbilt roads,, from which
and his official positions in other
trusts and corporations, he receives.
it is said, an annual salary of $3.50, 900.
He found, however, strong opposi-
ton, particularly from the great North
western States, from what was called
the Granger element" because OF
his railroad associations. He finally
withdrew his name, and in several of
his humorous speeches since then he
has spoken slightingly of this Granger
sentiment. which some of the leading
papers have also called the Ignorant
Granger sentiment" etc, etc. Other
papers have taken up his cause with
the old arguments of the value of rail
roads 10 the country. What would
the farmers do without them" etc.
All Of which plainly proves the power
of the Grange and its growing lnilu-
ence in public affairs. But it is not
the ignorant Granger sentiment, but
the educated Granger sentiment that
has. more than all else combined
brought about the wholesome regula-
lion of railroads as instanced by the
Interstate Commerce Law and others
The ignorance is on the part of those
who cannot, or will not, see the true
position of the Grange, and the posi-
il has always held as laid down in its
Declaration of Purposes.
Here are the railroad and corpora
ton planks that have been in the
Grange platform or Declaration of
Purposes" these many years:
I'VE wage no aggressive warfare
against any other interests whatever.
On the contrary. all our acts and all
our efforts so far as business Is con
cerned, are not only for the benefit of
the producer and consumer, but also
for all interests that tend to bring
these two parties into speedy and eco
nomical contact Hence we hold that
transportation companies of every
kind are necessary TO our success,
that their interests are intimately
concerned with our interests, and
harmonious action is mutually adj
yantageous, keeping in view the first
sentence in our declaration of princi-
Piles of action that individual happi-
ness depends upon general prosper
itv." We shall therefore, advocate
for every State the increase in every
practicable way of all facilities for
transporting cheaply to the seaboard,
or between home producers and con
sumers, all the productions Of our
country. We adopt it as our fixed
purpose 10 open out the channels in
natures great arteries, that the life
blood of commerce may flow freely.
We are not enemies of railroads, navi-
gable and irrigating canals, nor OF
any corporation that will advance
our industrial interests, nor any labor
ing classes. In our noble Order there
is no communism, no agrarlanism.
We are opposed to such spirit and
management of any corporation or
enterprises as tends to Cypress the
people and rob them of their just
profits. We are not enemies to CAPT
tai, but We oppose the tyranny of mo-
nopolies."
The above is the Ignorant Granger
sentiment that prevails all over our
country. Mr.. Depew may be a gentle
man and good business man; he may
be good financier, and earn his large
salaries by his work for the Wander
bits, whose father uttered the memo
rable words, The public be; but,
like Dog Tray, he is in bad company.
The Granger element knows that the
roads he represents have two dollars
of watered stock for every dollar
really invested, and that the people
are taxed TO pay dividends on THIS
watered stock The Grange element
knows that railroads have influenced
legislation, purchased votes, laws and
judicial decisions, that President Gar
field said years ago, THE locomotive
is coming in contact with our institu
tons" The Granger element, by its
State and National railroad laws, has
said to corporations. THUS far
shalt thou go, and no further, in your
oppression of the people, and in the
abuse of the power the people have
granted to you" The Granger ele-
ment is not opposed to railroads, but
they do oppose the tyranny of mo-
nopolies."
Judge II. J. Ports, the eminent st.
Louis jurist, in late article on