Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04
Taylor's Greatest Effort.
Full Text of the Speech by the Father of
the Railroad Bill

MADISON, Wis, March 21.-The session
of the senate last evening was devoted
to a consideration of the Taylor railroad
bill, and adjournment was finally taken
while motion by Senator Price to re-
commit the bill to the railroad com
mittee was before the house. Senator
Taylor's speech in defense of the bill
changed somewhat the current of feel
ing regarding it; whether it materially
affected the judgment of the senators
will be seen when vote on the question
is taken.
Mr.. Taylor spoke as follows.
Mr. President; / undertake the dis
cussion of this bill with considerable
embarrassment. Perhaps no measure
ever introduced into this legislature has
received more of preiudgment, growing
out OF a miscOnception as to its provis-
ions and the reasons of its origin, or has
excited more hostile criticism of a per
sonal and political nature. [ introduced
this bill pursuant to definite and imper-
alive instructions from the people who
elected zee to the seat / have the honor
to occupy upon this floor. This fact
ought to furnish me complete immunity
from any charge or suspicion that the
measure was of my own suggestion, and
was presented with other motives than
to promote the public good. But for
some reason or other, certain parties,
and | refer to the railway com panies,
those directly in their employ, or others
expecting favors or fearing injuries at
their hands, have seen fit to persistently
attempt to bring discredit upon the
measure by impunging the motives of
the senator who introduced it. This
method of attack upon the bill, which
can only be truthfully characterized as
unfair, if not disreputable, imposes up
on me the necessity of asking the in
diligence of the senate while | make a
few remarks of a somewhat personal
nature. The performance of this task,
unpleasant as it is, | cannot rightfully
avoid; and while l bring to its discharge
something of earnestness, [ hope there
may be nothing of temper. Long be-
fore line of this bill was written, be
fore it's provisions were formulated, or
it's scope decided upon, it was heralded,
throughout the state that the senator
from the Tenth district was to inaugur-
ate a war on railroads. Knowing only
that he had pledged the people of his
district to carry out their instructions,
the agents of the railroads assumed the
agents of the railroads assumed, with no
shadow of authority for SO doing, that
there was to be an unreasoning and de-
structiye assault made on the railway in
terests of the state. This was charged and
reiterated, and has been studiously and
steadfastly circulated by railroad news
papers, by political agents, salaried to
control elections and legislatures by
employees circulating remonstrances
against this bill, and by attorneys and
lrlNl I L
this legislature the story has been pour
ed into willing and unwilling ears until
it would seem like thrice told tale.
1T is said that feelings of revenge,
baffied ambition, a hope of future gain,
all these unworthy and wicked motives
prompted the authorship and introduce
tion of this bill. So assiduous and so
successful have been the attempt, to
create erroneous impressions about this
measure, before any of it's provisions
were known, that their baneful influence
permeated even the sacred precincts of
the executive chamber, and our able and
honored governor, who comes to us SO
fresh from the people, became alarmed,
and out OF the fullness of his misinfor-
ton, took occasion in his first official
communication to the legislature to
warn us to tread lightly on railroad
grounds, and against being controlled
on the railroad question, by feeling of
prejudice.
''Sir, it is the history of the world and
always will be, that vast aggregations of
capital, organized into cambined forces,
will exercise undue and dangerous in
fiuence in business and public affairs
II
times and everywhere deceived by the
sophistries and seduced by the blandish-
ments of corporate power And it is
sometimes true, alas, that upon impor-
tant questions weakness is often more to
be deplored than wickedness, and the
errors of ignorance are more disastrous
than the intrigues of design.
MIR. President and senators, | wish
here and now to disclaim any feeling of
hostility towards railroads. | deny, in
the aggregate and in detail, all the
charges or intimations to which | have
referred. | have no grievances, person
al, political or otherwise. In long bus
mess intercourse with railway compa-
MES | have been treated as well, and
suspect sometimes better, than have
most men. In aid of my political am bition
/ never asked, expected or desired their
support. No senator upon this floor will
resist more stoutly than will |, any as
saults or unjust attacks upon them For
thirty years have | consistently and de
votedly been their friend and defender
against injustice. | am as much their
friend today, as on any day before.
believe there has been legislation at
tempted and enacted in this state upon
the railroad question that was prema-
ture and unjust. But remember, times
have changed; roads that a few years
ago were poor, dependent and weak, are
now rich, arrogant and powerful.
Rights to which they were then fairly
entitled, if exercised now would be fla
grant abuses. Rates they could then
properly charge, if eXacted today would
be the rankest extortion.
Il have long been in favor of legisla-
tive control of railroads. | was in favor
of the interstate commerce law. In
1886, when | had the honor to be chair
man of the republican state central COM
mittee, insisted that a resolution must
go into the platform of the state conven-
ton, pledging the party to protect the
people from railroad abuses; and al
though several prominent railroad attor-
neys and agents advised strongly against
1t, claiming just as they do now that all
was quiet, and the question should not
be gitated and the people aroused, I
drew resolution, and it was unanimous
ly adopted by the convention, and will
be found in the platform of the party for
that year. | will read the resolution.
"'That the principle of the public reg
ulatIon of railway corporations is a wise
and salutary one for the protection of all
clnSSnS Of nannln and uhnn nlni1lct dis