The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-23
TO THE FARMERS
And Shippers OF Farm Products Of
Minnesota.

minnesota.
In this state there is a law, which has been
on tne statute books during the past twenty
years. requiring agents of railroad COM
pan1es to issue to every person shipping grain
over every line OF railroad a receipt for the
number of bushels delivered to them for
shipment. The railroad companies have, dur
ing all this time, persistently violated and
still continue to violate the law by refusing
TO weigh or issue such receipts. l have fire.
quently called on the railroad commissioners
requesting them to enforce this law but to
no purpose. l have also appeared before the
railroad committee Of the present house Of
effect.
have become satisfied from the condition
ana general demeanor Of it's members through
OUT my interviews with them, that there
was no redress to be obtained at their hands
OF any action to protect the rights of ia
ers. They even declined to permit the rem
house. - W
=, Finding myself defeated at every point by
tnose whose duty it was to protect the in
CereSts ana rights of the most industrious
CLASS OF our citizens, l next turned my atten-
Ton 10 enforcing the present law Last
oamuai was shlpplng grain from my farm,
every DuShel of which was weighed before
lC lett the farm, and the returns from seven
cars snow shortage of seventy eight bush
els. one car on another occasion shows a
snortage or nifty bushels. Having received the
reDuns referred to, I concluded to prosecute
the railroad company for noncompliance with
the law In refusing to weigh or issue re-
celpts Tor the number Of bushels so deliv-
e.eu; sWofe out warrant for the arrest
or the agent of the railroad company here
at Lake City. The case had hearing yes
Ieroay before Justice Paine in the city of
o wapasha. FOR the first time we routed the
enemy horse foot and dragons, and got a.
judgment against the railroad company
, now appeal to the farmers of this state
HVlng on every line of road and at every
shlpplng point in the state, to get together
car OF grain for shipment to the agent at
your shipping point, and demand Of him to
Welgn your grain and issue receipt to
you for the number of bushels so delivered
In case he refuses, do as l have done, Swear
out warrant for the agents arrest It is
the DUTY or the county attorney to prosecute
the case IN the name of the state.
brother farmers, remember you give help to
the roads by using them, and are as much
entitled to consideration as those who con-
tribute to build them, unless there is no
equality for citizens before the law. BY
your actions you must prove to the people
Chat you enter your protest against the
courts, high or low, who protect stock and
bondholders in their determination to secure
pIohts by hctitious capitalization. The stock
ana pondholders are presumed to have in
vested with your eyes open and if it was a
mistake, 1t is no duty of the court TO pro-
tect them from the consequences of their own
error. The state means by legislation to
stop fictitious capitalization. but if the courts
Will dare to uphold the right to profits on
fictitious capitalization they nullify the policy
OF the state. If the courts will hold that
corporations must take their chances like
individuals in business they would work for
those things which would tend to promote
the general welfare. Knowing your rights,
IL you fail to defend them you deserve still
more abuse than you have received at the
bands of corporations during the past thirty
years. Remember, if you don't defend your
rights, nobody else will. If you pursue the
course l have here outlined the railroad
companies will
OF d1sobeying the laws sooner than the state
VIII weary of compelling them to obey the
law
The following is copy of the complaint to
be used:
"The complaint of P H. Rahilly, of said
county, made before H. ]. Paine, one Of
the Justices of the peace in and for said
county after being first duly sworn, on oath
says that the Chicago, Milwaukee G. st. Paul
Railway company is and has been for more
than one year last past a corporation duly
organized; created and EXISTING under the
laws of the state of Wisconsin and operating
a line Of railroad between the city of St
Paul. Mimi, through the city Of Lake City,
Mimi, to the city of Winona, Mimi: that
said railroad company is and has been for all
OF said time common carrier doing bust
ness within this state and at said Lake City
and has been for more than one year last
past and was then and there engaged in
Burdick was. on the 18th day of January
A. ID. 1897, the agent of said common car
rier and has been for some time prior thereto
at the said city of Lake City in said Wa
basha county that on the said 18th day of
January, A. D.. 1897, affiant delivered to
said F. II. Burdiek, then and there acting
as agent of said common carrier $50 bushels
of grain, to wit: go bushels of barley to be
transported over said line of road by said
common carrier and requested of said agent
a receipt for the number of bushels deliv-
cred to him as agent of said common carrier
for transportation as aforesaid that said
F. H. Burdick did then and there unlawfully
refuse to give receipt for the number Of
transportation over said line of road against
the form Of the statute for such case made
and provided and against the peace and
dignity of the state of Minnesota, and prays
that the said F. H. Burdick may be ar
rested and dealt with according to law"
| desire to call your attention to one more
point. In my Judgment. the present house
of representatives of this state has proved
itself, to say the least. to be the most
derelict in its duty to the agricultural inter-
ests of the state Of any we have had for
the past thirty years. Now for a remedy
pay no attention to party, never vote under
any circumstances to return any of the pres
ent members to iegisate for you unless you
have satisfactory proof that said member de-
Tended your cause in the present issue. Re-
member, a rule it is only through fear
of your votes that the average legislator re-
Trains from corruption.
In the interests of the agricuturlsts Of the
state and in behalf of justice and law.
ask the state papers to please publish this
fully. p. II. Rahilly.