The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-07-06

Of oats than they do for :, whole one.
! tApplau.e.t
The interstate commerce law was pur-
poSely drawn in obscure and cunning
phrases and filled with wort5s OF doubt,
ful import. Even the author Of the bill
said that he did not know exactly what
it meant. but he thought il was Il step
in the right direction. (->pplal,>c and
laughter. Here is the principal see
| ton: tell me wha: it means: They the
| railroads. shall not charge more for a
| short hau1 than they do for long one.
contemporaneously. under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions.
running III the same direction. over the
same road and the same class Of goods. "
Laughter.) Now can all the lawyers in
Philadelphia put together tell what ali
that means: (Applause.( Let Us sup
pose that our Father when he handed
down the ten commandments TO Moses
on the Mount. had said: Thou shalt
not kill. thou shalt not coyct. thou shalt
not Steal etc. contnmpuraneuuSly. un-
der substantially similar circumstances
and conditions. running in the same
direction. over the same road and the
same class of goods" Great laughter. J
II lie had done this the world would
have been without moral law from Mt
Sina to Philadelphia. jApplausc.1 This
law was Intentionally drawn IN an OBJ
>cule manner in the interest Of coruor-
atlons and to enable them to rob the
people. (Applausc.l \ law can be
plainly framed if its author wishes it TO
be. But how not to do it was the de-
sign when this statute was nenncd. and
there is not much left of il now that the
courts have had their turn at guessing
at its meaning. (Applausc.l
The government has been usurpeu
and literally given over to the corpora
tlons. The three great Instruments Of
commerce. representing and cmbolying
the sovereign power of the great re-
public have all been wrcnchtd and sto-
len from the people. (Applausr.) The
control OF our money. our transporta-
tion and the transmission of intelligence
all gone. (Applauso.)
This triple power is not exercised by
congress. it is exercised by individual
corporations. and about all that is left
of yonr government is its police force.
and that is used to hold up the people
while the corporations othrouyh their
pockets Lauyhter.) They cxcrcs,
the sovereign power of government.
: and to-day this government is not Il GOV
crnmcnt, is not Il government for tn,
people.
Now what is the remedy? Why. tn.
remedy Is very simple. Just let the con.
stltutlon have its way: let congress tax,
charge Of this question of issuing none.
| Tor the good of the people: let them cs
] tablish once and for all this principle
| Then let them take charge Of the publi,
, highways of the country. That is tn,
next great remedy. Operate them a,
: cost for the beneti, of the people Gap
, plause.l Then let them take charge O
: the telegraph and establish telegraph,
communication throughout the cnun;r,
to DC operated at cost. and let the GOV
ernment have charge. Then these rrcar
utilities will exist for the public good
: (Applausc. When the government
. takes charge it will take these pcopl.
/ out of politics. They are in polite.
now. and corruptly 50. Who control.
: up here at Harrisburg: Who control:
down at Washington. who elects tn.
} Judges Of the courts and who control:
: them: Our design is to take them uu
of politics. Is West Point in politics:
} What makes this condition Of things a
t West l'ointf There one young man has
, the same chance As another Young man
), without regard to his politics--it is non
| partisan and We want to take these rail
). roads and the telegraph lines out Of POL
) ltlcs and put them under a non part iSat
l board. That is in the PLATFORM: ant
} that they shall be operated FOR the ben
eft OF the people at actual cost OF tn.
service. That is our doctrine. w,
: WANT the government 10 exercise 1t
: constitutional functions in regard 10 tn,
t telegraph. Fhcn it will BE- possible t,
: send twcnty-word dispatch for % o
: - cents and leave revenue TO I'll.
treasury. sen. dispatch TO this city
. only one word. to NY friend. and it eos
: me % cents. from the city OF Dc> Moincs
: In EnrlanI I co1lld have -,u+ :, -,ran.,-
: word day dispatch for % cents. The,
+ charge here four times as much. The,
: are robbing the people. They are ex
ercl>irs tie functions OF congress- ane
We want TO bring the republic back L
r the plain letter and spirit OF the consti
. tuition.
want TO say anothe: thing and lc
go Gu, 10 the world-we chalieng.
h. i l. 4 L