Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-10-31
Farmer Patriotism.

Farmers around Mappsburg, Va,
the other day determined to do
something to help the election of
Bryan and Sewall. They drove into
town, each with load of sweet
potatoes, the staple crop in that
section and made up carload of
produce, which they consigned to
0livit Bros, the commission mer-
chants at Washington and Harrison
streets, directing them to turn the
proceeds OF the sale over to the
Journal for the benefit Of the cam
paign fund.
The sweet potatoes were sold in
the market at IS cents a; barrel, and
total of $3.50 was realized. Olivit
Bros. generously refused to charge
any commission so the farmers con-
tribution to the fund might be as
much as possible, but the freight
charges had to come out of the
amount, and the check the commits
sion men were able to send to the
Journal, with the following letter,
was only $1,000. The charges Of the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company for
bringing the farmers donation to
New York amount to TWO thirds the
gross proceeds of the consignment.
The railroad took $5l OF the farmers
gift and left the actual money from
the sale of the produce less than 2G
cents barrel Is it any wonder the
farmers are poor and the railroads
rich
Though the Journals fund for the
democratic campaign has been closed
and the money turned over so it may
pe used before election, the contri-
button Of the patriotic farmers OF
Mappsburg is accepted, and that
they may have full credit for their
generosity, the Journal will make
up for the eXtortion of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad by paying the freight
charges, and will present the full
amount, $3.50, to the Democratic
National Committee in the name Of
the farmers of Mappsburg. Here is
Olivit Brothers letter:
w. r. Hearst, the Journal:
Dear Sir-Enclosed we beg to hand
YOU sales of car No. 1910, contain
ing 102 barrels of sweet potatoes,
consigned to you by the citizens of
Mappsburg, Va, TO be sold for the
benefit of Che Bryan and Sewall cam
paign fund.
We regret very much the condition
OF our market on them; nevertheless,
trust the proceeds will be appreciated,
as 40 doubt they viii be, coming as
it does from the tillers of the soil,
who il no instance this season have
gotten the cost Of production for any
II their crops. VERY truly YOURS,
OIVIT BROTHERS.
The eXorbitant charge for bringing
the carload is explained by the state
ment that the freight rate is 80 cents
and the price of the barrels for ship
meut % cents apiece.
Generosity is not a quality, the
exercise of which is TO be demanded,
but if the railroad company had
brought this contribution for some
thing less than the highest rate it
could charge it would be more popu-
lar among the farmers who are COM
pelled to patronize it than it is. This
was a donation to q cause for educa-
tional purposes. The produce was
plainly marked, so the railroad
officials could not have but known
that the shipment was not an ordl-
nary transaction Of trade. 1t might
have been Il contribution to charity,
relief donation in time of famine,
but the rich railroad cooperation
would not have let go it's hold the
throat of the farmer whatever the
occasion.
There is no lack of free special
trains TO bring all who will go to
Canton to do honor to the candidate
OF one party, but this little shipment
by poor men who took this means of
tes5ifying their approval OF the
principles voiced by the candidate
OF the other had to be cut down two
thirds. Suppose that carload of sweet
potatoes had been sent to swell the
millions raised by Mr.. Hanna in MIR.
Mckinley's interest, does anybody
suppose two-thirds Of its price would
be taken by the transporting corpo-
ration?
chat the railrord companies are
partisan il this election has often
been stated, but this is short-sighted
partisansb;p, surely. That Sol freight
bin will do more than $51 damage to
the cause Of which the big corpora
lions are adherents among the farm
ers The incident Of car No. 11,540
will be heard of again before the
votes are counted Oh election day
New Iork Journal.