Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-22
GEORGE W. VINTON.

years. after which time he assumed an
interest in the business, aud was made
general travelling agent, and transacted
business in ell the departments, selling
collecting testing of plows from Port
land to Portland and the south He re-
NAMED in this position till 1877, when he
closed out his entire connection with the
firm. In 1880 he went to Burlington,
Iowa. where he took an interest in the
Burlington Wheel Co. He was
elected president of this company but he
was never active in the business, owing
tn poor health. In 1889 the factory
burned up. II was rebuilt the same year.
In April. 1890, he sold his entire interest
in the same His reasons for
selling out were that trust
had been formed in the wheel business
owning eighty per cent of The entire
manufactures. Being opposed TO trusts
he closed his entire interests out. He
then invested in farm property near Mo-
line. For ten years previous he had
owned and carried on farm of four hun
dred acres in Clinton county, Iowa. do
ing general farming business, buying
and selling, feeding and shipping stock.
He is engaged IN no other business but
farming, snd is only interested in farm
ing and farm property. He was re-
publican up TO the time of Horace Gree
ley's nomination for president. He voted
for Greeley, and has been identified with
the democratic party since He was
elected alderman at Burlington, and
served on five different committees. He
was chairman OF the democratic county
committee in 1885 He has never
been before the people for public Office
until the present time
The Edford, Henry County. Farmers
Alliance recently addressed Mr. Vinton
letter on his opinion regarding various
legislative matters of interest and concern
TO the farming community, to which Mr..
Vinton wrote the following vigorous re-
ply:
GENTs;-Your letter of the 1st was re-
ceived. improve the first opportunity
TO answer, as l have been sick 10 bed for
the past ten days, and you will please ex.
cuse the delay. The questions named in
your letter cover a broad field to answer
in detail. However l will briefly give
you my views in this letter
First, as TO your question, What is
your opinion as to the practice of rail
road corporations making presents of
free passes or mileage tickets to public
othcersT In answer / would say if
public officer accepted same, 1t would be
q breach OF trust, and compromise of
honor, tscit understanding, implied if |
not expressed, that he would favor anv |
enterprise that might come up for legis- |
lation or otherwise. He places himself |
IN that position. and the person or per- !
sons accepting such bIibe-for such IL |
is-knows full well that it is calculated to |
warp his judgment at the compromise of |
his principles, and he compromises the |
constituency that elected him. would |
favor q law making punishable by fine |
and imprisonment anyone who is elected |
or placed in any public position by the |
people that would be found guilty of ac- |
cepting
second question Your opinion re-
garding the justice of reducing by legis-
iatlve action the present extOrtionate
charges OF the Union Stock Yards COM
psny, of Chicago. for service rendered, to
charges within the bounds of reason7v
The Chicago Stock Yards company is one
oil the most gigantic institutions OF
monopoly in this state under its present
management, and the most oppressive
monopoly to the farming community.
Ihey have several times already doubled
thelr capital stock. and no legislation has
yet been enacted to my knowledge to con.
troll their extortionste charges. We shin
our stock to the commission man. The
Ireleht yardaRe, feed. etc, are deducted
from the sale as per their regulations. and
We are compelled to take what thew will
give and come home And when the
buyers come no one bids over the other.
10 my judgment. The prices are fixed
and we are compelled to take what thew
VIII give. would favor such legislation
tnat could be made that they should re.
eeiVe talr compensation, but not a nickel
more. am shipper of stock. and know
rom actual experience. and hope that
the investigation Of the Stock Yards com.
pany' and also the beef trust, will he
prooed 10 the bottom. 1t is a great trust
OF aggregated capital, and is defiant even
70 the u 3. senate: but 1t can and sbould
De reached. This stock yard Legislation
mas been winked at long enough and
needs thorough investigation and l.ois.
lative enactment.
Third question: Your opipion 70
Arolng the justice or advisabiIity of an c
aactment OF bill making the fictitious {
seiliDg OF farm products = criminal ~. I
renee, etc. Farm products are who, ?
'ustsin life. People must have than ?
ineir prices are not at all times regina. t
ed by the demand or supply; by what "a s
;aheo Board of Trade. or like institu
lons' mat have no fixed principles of
'usin ess, OF any legitimate way OF con.
luctng same; but meet like crazy men
no run prices up or down without re J
ara 10 value. sometimes by mutual nm.
lerstanding, TO swindle the producer and :
urich themselves, without dollar invee,- !.
nent. =
This idea of buying and selling nm |.
margins should be stopped. The Chicago
'oard OF trade Is not calculated only for
swindling institution in the manner in v
Thich IL is conducted, and for the bio
sh to eat up the little ones, and demors 2
Ike the prices OF farmers products l :