The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-04-02
TFor THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
SOME OF THE ILLS WHICH AF-
FLICT THE AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY AND OPPRESS
THE FARMERS.
No. 3.
by Maj. R. L. Ragland, of Hyco, Val
COMBINATIONS AND TRUSTS.


COMBINATIONS AND TRUSTS.
By far the most extensive combina-
tions effecting injuriously the rights
and interests of the producing class
are the railroad combinations. Under
the winsome plea of opening up rapid
and cheap transportation needed be-
tween important points and extending
it over every portion of this vast
country as the necessities of the peo-
pie and trade demanded, the incorpo-
rators were granted 'the right of emf
nent domain" to condemn and use
private property largely belonging to
agriculturalists for public use" and
thus were chartered great lines Of
railroad.
Enterprise opened up line upon line
and thus created competition which
for time brought freight charges
down to reasonable rates, and in some
instances caused heavy cutting in
rates, which for time was used to the
benefit of shippers. The railroad war
waxed fierce and was continued in
some instances till railway stocks went
down, down, and not few went into
the heads Of receivers-some through
dishonest management. The ex-
tremity of all such was the oppor-
tunity of capitalists who bought up
the stock and consolidated road after
road, purchasing the right to do SO in
some instances through venal Legis-
lures, till now the transportation of
the country has centered into few
great railroad lines where remorseless
capital regulates freight tariffs and
discrimination is made in favor Of
trusts and combinations and against
Individual producers, and largely in
favor of long and against short hauls.
In other words, capital is favored in
being conceded cut rates while pro-
ducers pay full charges.
There is hope, however, of reaching
these soulless corporations chartered
by the Legislatures of the people for
public use in exacting from them ade-
quate returns for the special privileges
granted them and by law requiring
them to fix reasonable and fair freight
tariffs and impartially to pro rate per
ton per mile for five or five thousand
miles. And this will be surely done
when the rGght choice is made Of Rep
resentatives to execute this much
needed reform.
TRUSTS.
Of all the combinations of men and
capital ever concocted into conspira-
cies to prey upon the honest business
and avocations Of man and fleece
from him his means and hard-wrought
earnings, trusts, so-called, are the
most reprehensible because the most
powerful far-reaching and remorseless.
They endanger the peace and good
order Of society and tend to provoke
strife and violence by perpetrating
monster wrongs against the people
and the peace Of society. And if
speedy legislation does not reach and
curtail or nullify their powers for
mischief trouble dire will be provoked
and at no distant period.
Combinations and conspiraces to in
crease the cost of the peoples meat
and other necessaries of life have ever
been a fruitful source of demoraizing
and exasperating the people and pro
voking violence.
Nothing but sense Of duty prompt
ed by patriotism, we trust, causes us
to write thus plainly on critical as
we'll as distasteful subject. We are
no sensatlonalist but sound the warn
ing breakers ahead. Let the crew
manning the ship of State take warn
ing in time.
We would gladly look on the bright
side if there was one, but confess our
main hope is in the sturdy sense and
forbearance of our agricultural people
till they can organize to grapple with
and abate the tyran1cal organizations
falsely called trusts. Let them do so
and set to work to restore peace,
plenty, prosperity and contentment to
our suffering and distracted land
'For what avail our unexhausted stores,
Our DlOOmy mountains and our sunny snoree,
With all the gifts that heaven and earth impart,
The smiles of nature and the charms of art
While proud oppression in valleys reigns,
And tyranny usurps our happy plains -
ROCKINGHAM, Richmond Co., n. G..
Mr.. Notwithstanding we
have legally appointed Correspond
ing Secretary, am not aware of ever
seeing word from or concerning our
grand, heroic invincibles, the Zion
Farmers Alliance, No. 35. They or
ganized, I believe, in June, 1887. Our