The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-22
RAILROADS AND RAILROAD
COMMISSIONS.
No. l3.
[Cor. Scotland Neck Democrat

said has not convinced the readers of
The Democrat of the necessity of such
a commission, and its legal constitu.
tional power to regulate the tariff and
freights OF roads acting under char
ters granted by the State, they would
not be convinced if more forcible
arguments were used.
In this discussion, | have attempted
to do justice to the railroads
and the people. [ have endeav,
ored to show the wrongs committed
by the corporations against the peo,
pie, and wrongs by the public against
the corporations; and at the same
time to point out, so far az I was able,
the surest remedy and the most equit-
able.
The corporations are rich and power
full, fully able to defend their rights.
The Individual patrons of these cor
porations r comparatively poor and
helpless, and ought to be protected
from oppression by the State, which
granted these corporations the special
and exclusive privileges.
No single individual can afford to
contend with these corporations single
handed; and the laws are such that
the people cannot combine in suits.
In nine cases out of ten, he who goes
to law with a railroad loses ten dollars
for every one collected out of them.
So people submit to the wrongs rather
than incur the expense Of a suit. 1t
is nonsense to tell the shipper, who
has paid too much freight, that the
courts are open to him. He knows
that as we'll as any one, and he knows,
too, that if he sues and wins his case
he is still defeated in obtaining justice,
and is the loser in the end. If he
has collected his fifty cents Or five
dollars, he has paid lawyers fees and
lost time and money besides. l be-
lieve an honest railroad commission
would remedy all these wrongs. At
all events, we ought to try the expert
ment. If a commission can do no
good it certainly can do no harm. If
it prove a blessing, it can be continued.
If it prove a curse it can be abolished.
To get a commission you must con-
vince the roads that you mean business
and mean to assert and maintain your
rights, and that you do not intend to
longer submit to their dictation,
nor do you intend to infict, or permit
to be inflicted, any wrongsupon them,
but that you will have justice at all
hazards and at any cost.
In order to get a commission that
will be worth anything to the people,
you must teach the demagogue, the
trickster and the political "thimble-
rigger" some lessons. He must be
taught that you have no confidence in
his public declarations; that you have
no faith in his political integrity;
and that his calling is gone never to
return. You must elect men to the
next legislature who cannot be ap-
preached, much less corrupted, by
free passes, railroad wines, cigars, and
money.
A man to represent the people
ought to be above suspicion; he ought
to be weighed in the scales and found
not wanting. I remember to have
heard the strongest opponent of a
railroad commission in the last legis-
lature say he would vote for a com
mission if one was offered without
power to interfere with the railroads.
So do not be deceived in the coming
contest. Be sure you know what
sort of a commission your men will
vote for before you vote for him. A
commission without power to regulate
freights would be an expensive NUS
ance, and a valuable aid to the roads.
A weak, corrupt commission would
be of invaluable service to the o r
porations, and would help them, if
they so desired, to rob the people, and
justify the robbery and give legal
countenance to the wrong.
The farmers have it in their power
by combination and unity in action to
accomplish great good for the coun-
try. They have been the bearers Of
burdens, the hewers of wood and
drawers of water since my manhood;
and if they do not bestir themselves
they will still be servants for a long
time to come.
Relief must come, if it come at all,
through the laborers. They must
dictate to the political parties or the
political parties must dictate to them.
We have tried the Republicans from
1865 up to 1890, with the exception
of four years, and during all that time
we have not e a ray Of hope from
that party. Instead Of being light
ened our burdens nave been increased.
The principles of the Democratic
party are found in justice, equity and
are as fixed in the hearts Of some men
as the stars are in the armament. But
they have long since been banished
from the councils and legislative halls
of the party as now controlled. But