The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-07-03

FUN WITH THE ENEMY.
HIS GYMNASTICS AMusE THE FARM
Err AND LABoRER.
A Few Examples Of the "Ravages Of the
Money Power Supplied to Certain Anx-
ious Inquirers-Railroad Corruptionists.
How Monopoly Corrupts Legislation.
Copyright, 1891. by the Reform Press News
Association. New York
The gymnastic performances of the
partisan Democratic and Republican
press are more wonderful and attractive
at this time than anything that has ever
happened from the days of the Olym-
plan games down to date. On one day
these papers will "authoritatively" and
soberly say that the particular party it
represents will stand firmly and solidly
together, and that the sspatriotism" of
the members will not allow them to be
divided and stampeded from the road
which they have travelled for thirty
years. The next day the same papers
will say that there are grave disturb
ances in the country which threaten to
disrupt and disintegrate their party"
and send their slime honored" Cbut
dead issues and theories to the rear.
And then, oh, what a plea they send up
for men to ''stand together and meet
the onset of the coming foe. !"
Another day these papers will fawn
upon the great organization known as the
Farmers Alliance and say its members
are the sturdy nobility of the land; that
they are tried and true men, and that
they will not be led away from their old
affiliations by new issues and new meas
ures. The very next day these same pa
pers will squirt steams of abuse and
SANDER and villifcation on the Alliance
and denounce the organization as vii
famous compound of cranks, socialists,
prohibitionists and anarchists, and its
officers as set of demagogues and un-
scrupulous schemers who have no object
in view save that of the disruption of
their party" and, of course, the con-
sequent ruin of the country.
4 4
Still another day these papers will Sc
riously estimate the strength of the ALI
ance, will wisely @ forecast its political
action, and will assert that the Alliance
movement must be taken into all calcu-
lations of a political nature, for it's force
and strength cannot be ignored. The
very Eext day these same papers will
print an interview with some Alliance
traitor and renegade, or will print a
flaming head over an announcement that
some sub-Alliance has repudiated ALI
ance principles. The sturdy working
man and the patient and loyal farmer
look on at these antics for while in I'M
disguised amazement, then they surren-
der Internationally to the ridiculous and
incongruous hurly burly thus presented
and laugh long and loud.
1t will be recognized without ques
ton that all legislation for the past
thirty years has come through either the
Democratic or Republican party. Some
Alliance and reform speakers have boldly
charged that both parties have been af-
fected, influenced and diseased by the
''ravages of the money power" This
phrase was used by President Polk in a
speech recently delivered in Washing
ton. The speech did not please the In
dianapolis Journal, which is the acknowl-
| edged organ of the present administra-
ton, and as a mark Of its displeasure it
called President Polk a ''howling dema-
gogue,' and quoting the phrase, ''rav-
ages of the money power" treated it con-
temptuously by exclaiming whatever
that is Well, it is too big thing to
tell all about at one time, but few
| illustrations may serve to show some
thing of ats size and shape.
X
In 1878 there was railroad quarrel in
New York state, and some of the ravages
were exposed. Mr.. J. Gould was on the
stand as a witness, and when being asked
questions with reference to the appoint
ment of a committee to investigate the
| management of the Erie railroad, said:
| 81 do not know how much paid toward
helping friendly men. We had four
states to look after, and we had to suit
| our politics to circumstances. In a
Democratic district was Democrat;
in Republican district was Republi-
can, and in doubtful district was
doubtful; but in every district and at all
times have always been an Erie man."
Mr.. Gould added the significant remark
when asked a question, that it would
be as impossible to specify the numer-
Gus instances as it would to recall to
mind the numerous freight cars sent
over the Erie road from day to day"
In New Jersey a railroad bill, known
as senate bill 1877, was passed in the in
terests of railroads that wanted to secure
the entire water front of Jersey City.
The measure was fragrant outrage, and
the governor vetoed it, The senate
passed it over the veto. but the house
hesitated, and then the ''ravages of the
money power" began. The story was
| told nv Hon 7 Fl Shipr x,,bo Gould not