Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-14


recollection of many l see before me
when we had but two millionaires. and
ROW they can be counted by the thou
sands, with a rapid increase, it does not
make us feel very comfortable; especially
when we know we are 80 per cent .-of the
population $50 in Texas and, thirty
years ago, owned one half the wealth
of the nation, and now less than
one-fourth. This is = anything but
pleasant in the face of the-fact that We
are the great wealth producing class
If some plan cannot be devised that
will cause the great body Of farmers to
think and act for themselves, uniting
/ them in their efforts OF reform, increas-
ing confidence and begetting fraternal
feeling, thereby enabling them to see
that they have it in their power to dis
band every trust formed to unjustly tax
their industry, the future is dark and
gloomy. The Grange, organized TWEEN
! ty-two years ago, adopted plan that is
broad enough to raise the farmer from
! the bottom of the ladder where he has
! long been struggling because Of his
standing alone, and where he will con-
time to struggle sc long as his efforts
/ are not united with his brother farmer.
There are few corporations. If any,
/ that have more power over the
! peoples purses than railroads.
! Their first work, when estab-
| lished, is to put out of use every other
mode of transportation possible. This
| leaves them clear field to charge all the
articles viii bear. The national govern
! ment reserved the right to regulate COM
n1erce. Our constitution declares that
''the legislature shall pass laws to cor
rect abuses and prevent unjust discrim-
ination and eXtortion in Rates of freight
and passenger tariffs on the different
railroads in this state, and shall, from
time to time, pass laws establishing rea-
sonable maximum rates of charges, ETC.,
and enforce all such laws by adequate
penalties. From the number Of bills
introduced during the twenty first ses-
sion of our legislature, and the recent
convention held in Dallas TO solve the
problem of freight rates, it appears that
railroad legislation is really becoming
popular. The Grange thinks that q little
is needed, and has said so for number
of years. But we don It want to cripple
the roads. We need them, but they
need us more. Our interests are mutual,
and the sooner they recognize this and
show q Willingness to cooperate with the
producers and. consumers instead of the
stand betweens, the better. The farmers
and stocllraisers of Texas are the main
support of the roads and why they should
give dealers such advantage in rates as
to force the producers to sell to
spectators Gotten below the cost of
production) and at the same time the
consumer is paying a fair per cent.
profit on the cost of production and
handling, which the middle men reap,
are questions that are hard for any but
Tai RI
should discriminate against Texas, that
has done so much for them, and force
our people to send to other states for
necessaries of life when an abundance
is in the hands of home producers, and
discriminate against the natural outlets
for our exports, and in many other ways
not necessary to Inefition, are questions
the people want answered.
The mere assertion through the col
umns of their paid organs that such
and such legislation will be ruinous to
the roads will not longer satisfy. The
reasons must be given, THESE ,corpor-
ations have the power to, -settl5 these.
questions and they should do.it and put
an end to the ga agonisfn before it |
eliminates in such Legislation as may |
prove detrimental to their interests. !
This, we hope, viii never be the case, |
stop until willingness on the part of |
these corporations Is manifested TO meet |
them on equitable terms. Railroad /
men have no fears of being crushed by |
legislation, but they do fear that their
profits will be reduced. Railroad |
legislation that is before the people
should be settled at the next legislature.
1t is costing the state very heavy
at each session, and, if it be, as stated,
progress is impeded by this continuous
attempted legislation, these are good
reasons why it should be settled. The
best proof the people have that com
mission would prove beneficial to them is
the strong opposition made against it by
the roads. Our order does not want
that will do injustice to them.
We want law that clearly defines the
rights of these corporations and the
rights of the people-laws that will posi-
lively prohibit discrimination and excess
sive charges, and force the delivery of
freight and express goods within a rea-
sonable time, and the penalties made SO
heavy and redress so speedy that none
dare violate. Appeals to higher courts
should be avoided that the small dealer
may not be deferred from seeking redress.
For years the Grange stood alone in its
position towards railroads, but recently
other classes have found out there is such
a thing as extorti6n and discrimination
and declare that it must be stopped.
They should be very'cautious not to check
the extensions of railroads or injure those
already built, but should well consider
every step taken. We do not approve
called session of the legislature. We cansl
wait until the twenty second session
rather than incur this expense.
POLITICS VS.. THE GRANGE.
The order, from its inception, has es-
chewed politics.
Can a republican form of government
stand that levies a tax upon the many
for the benefit of the few? tt is claimed
that protection gives the farmers bet
ter market. Statistics DO not show this;
they do show that the foreign market
consumes nearly three times as much of
the farmers produce as our protected
and mechanics of all
kinds, and we submit TO an-annual taxa
ton which draws from the country not
ess than one hundred million dollars in
excess of anything which honest govern
nent requires, and between five and
seven hundred million dollars in excess
'ive price of domestic manufacturers.
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