Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-20
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
Des Moines Correspondence.

OV1e VNtNOuOHu6 uN IVOO
Des Moines Correspondence.
After hard fought battle lasting
for weeks, during which O. B. & O.,
employees showed conclusively that
they were coerced into joining the
Burlington Relief Association, and
that it worked hardship against
them in different ways, particularly
in forcing them to either lose the in
surance for which they are forced to
pay or waive their right to sue the
company for damages they may incur
in case of accident, the Temple
amendment relative to this matter
was defeated in the senate by a vote
of % to 10. At one time the friends
of the measure thought they had
enough senators on their side to
carry the measure through, and
would have had could the senators
have seen their way clear to vote
their honest sentiments, but the
railroads massed their lobby, brought
In several of their paid attorneys,
held a meeting at the Slavery house
the night before and cracked. their
whip lash so vigorously that the
members who are under their thumb
dared not disregard the command.
This certainly ought to be a warning
to the people to be more careful in
the selection of legislative timber.
Railroad attorneys and men who are
in the habit of accepting favors from
the railroads are not fit men to repre-
sent the people. Neither is it safe to
allow political party that is known
to be ruled by corporations, and
monied interests to select the law
making bodies of the country, for
while the chosen members may,
themselves, be at heart honest and
above accepting a cash bride it's easy
enough for the railroads to remind
them of the favors they have hereto
tore received and warn them that no
Others will be granted, and that they
will be banished from their former
associations and be given no further
recognition, politically or otherwise,
and as they are fully aware of the
fact that no man can hope to get a
nomination for any responsible office
on the republican ticket who is not
perfectly satisfactory to the railroads
and other corporate interests they
must needs smother their honest con-
victions, run counter to the known
wishes of their constituents and vote
for measures against the best in
terests of their state or nation. The
State Register and Leader noticed
how this Temple amendment was
defeated, and openly charged that it
& was due to illegitimate pressure from
4 the railroads. This the members
took OCCASION to deny and to censure
q the reporters for drawing such con-
illusions but in the face of well known
facts, as. above stated, the denial
does not clear their skirts.
Not content with defeating the
Temple amendment, flushed with
& their success in forcing majority OF
Il the senate to bow to their will, the
railroad lobbyist, headed by Post
master Hunter, proceeded to push
through what is known as the Berry
amendment, which legalizes the
scheme and makes it impossible fol
the O., employees to even question
the right OF the road to refuse then
any further damages after the in
surance money is paid them. Thi'
may not go through. In fact the
the whole thing may be shut off ir
the house, but 1t is not very prob
able. But in as much as the supreme
court has just made ruling to thu
sffect that unless the men can prov
absolutely that they are forced t.
$ign the agreement that 1t is bind
ing, the railroads may be content tt
leave the law as it is.
Since the building and loan lobb
was 80 effectually exposed, the legis
allure is afraid to show those institu
IONS any fayors and are really gel
3ng in some good amendments calcu
lted to protect the public from tn
90 apaclty of saving banks and insul
nee companies. One amendment
% the effect that no loaning associa
ion shall be permitted to collec
lore than 10 per cent in interest an
senalties from a defaulting borrower
Another strikes at the fine prin
ut into insurance policies, whic
le average citizen is unabl,
understand and which FIRE
lently enables the company to ge
it Of paying losses.
The festive thresher engine come
for share of legislative attentio
o. 1t must not blow its whistl
allie passing along the highwa,
ID the county must not be held r.
onsible for damages it may occasio
soaring teams.
It is estimated that this legislator
costing the state 81, 400 every da
at it is in session, and as it is doin
thing but bubble over laws tina
ght just as we'll be left just as the,
!, it is glaring shame to be thu
wandering the taxes that are pait
the people at such terrible sacri
10. just think OF farmer selling