The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-11
TIE Railroads and
tie Farmers. 4: ::
Oudge Norman G. Kittrell.)

tue Vphgauon TO speak to you with tnnt
frankness and candor which Is demanded
alike by my respect for you, my own self.
respect and the importance OF the theme
assigned me to discuss before you.
The call to meet you here was 80 totally
unexpected, and the time since the iuyi-
tation was extended has been SO short that
have not had the Sine 70 preplre any
very elaborate address. for which | have
no doubt you win be sincerely thankful.
desire to say here ana now that 1t has
not been limited or suggested 10 me by
any man what ! Should say here today.
nave not discussed Tor . moment with
any person whatsoever the character Of
tue address | should make, but 1 simply
nave responded TO the courteous invitation
70 come here and tals 90 you upon the
subject OF the railroaIs and the farmers.
Those who did me tue honor to invite
me knew that 1 Would utter no sentiment
mat did not reflect my honest convictions,
auG that . would say what seemed TO me
proper 70 be said and say IL upon my own
aesPonsiniilty, and stand ready to defend
The question OF the railroads and the
farmers Is one of obvious and profound I'm.
portance, and shall treat 1t from the
stahdpoint Of one who belolss 70 neither
cIass represented by my theme. Though
! was raised on Il farm, aud am familiar
by long and practical experience with every
eharacter OF farm labor yet / am not
yer, am not professionally connected with
any railroad nor have l ever been, nor have
/ ever appeared for O-e before legislative
committee. Therefore, am here 70 speak
TO you from sense OF public duty and
without compensation, simply as d private
citizen OF Texas who Eluries In The past,
Felo!ces In the present ana has an abiding
confidence In the future ef his State, and
UI
submit every Issue to the patriotism, the
Intelligence and the sense OF Justice OF her
citizens
recognize before me- today JoIy OF
representative farmers ana ! snail fua con.
Venience designate the farmers OF Texas
by the pronoun you, BECAUSE you fairly
and justly reflect their Views and thelr
Inspirations. and whatever interests you is of
equnl Importance TO the whole vast body
Of which you are Important Individual units.
RAILROADS A FACTOR OF DEVELOP
MENT
1t needs no argument or illustration he.
fore such u body as this TO prove in how
great degree the rapid growth and Increase
Of Texas in population and wealth is at
tributable to the increase OF her railroad
facilities. Your Intelligence has already dis
counted such an argument and rendered It
unnecessary.
Neither need tell you how intimately
and reciprocally connected are the inter
ests Of the farmers and Of the railroads
Favorable seasons aud abundant haryests
mean as much to the one as to the other.
The elbow grease Of the strong steady
sturdy farmers Of 'fpYas furnishes The es-
sentlal lubricatog for every car wheel that
turns IN this state.
No farmer looks out more eagerly or
anxlously for the needed rains or he favor
railroad manager.
When the boil weeyil perces the young
boil with his bllghtins I'LL the Keen and
destructive thrust Is not felt more kcenly
by tho man who planted the cotton tlau
by him who expects 70 pub II TO narkft
When the caterpillar begins ~ hatch Her
multitudlnous brood. the min who hocd the
cotton crop is not racked by greater anxiety
than is he whose gains must be made Dy
the haul Of It.
IL, indeed. we can compare and measure
the degree OF their interest and apprchen-
sion, perhaps the mllruad man may have
the greater ground for anxiety, because In
proportion as the haul to market is les
sened so will be the revenue derived from
the return freight for which the farmers
products are in Il practical sense exchanged,
and TO the railroad man the difference be
tween agricultural success and agricultural
failure. between an abundant harvest and
light one Is represented by the difference
between loaded cars hauled both ways and
ioaded cars hauled only one way.
1t nelnE true Lheu lHdl tue luleieHlS OF
the farmers and OF the railroads are so
intimate and intcrdependent. 1t Is obviously
important that between the Two there
should exist clear understanding as to
their respective powers rights and ohliga-
tiOus to the end that error and prejudice,
II they exist, may be supplanted by truth
and just Judgment
WORLD DEPENDS UPON THE FARMER
1t Is to state trite aud automatic truth
to hat hn fnr ia no TN
portant factor In the economic system That
he feeds them all' has become proyerb.
He upon whom the world depends for food
and clothing outranks all others In the
measure of his Importance to the social
and economic welfare.
Those who have Increased In n few years
the cotton crop OF Texas from 10000 to
100000 bales, and placed her In the
worlds lead as producer Of material
essential TO the clothing of the human
race, are those upon whose success and
prosperity depend In larger degree than
upon any other agency the welfare and pro
gless of the state.
The farmers OF Texas have wrought this
great work, and as they constitute ma
jorlty OF her citizenship, they have a right
to demand that every agency which they
have created for the promotion OF the
public welfare and convenience, and TO
aid In the growth and development of
the State shall accord to the agricultural
interests OF the state absolutely fair treat,
ment.
| use tho phrase every agency which
they have created" because every railroad
In Texas exists by virtue OF the consent
and by the authority of the farmers OF
Texas Every railroad Is a corporation, an
artificial creature OF the law, spoken into
legal and corporate existence by legislators
nine-tenths OF whom were chosen by YOU
and by you vested with the power to give
such railroads legal life with all the power
which legally followed upon such corporate
creation,
This being true there exists between you
and the railroads mutual and reciprocal
obligations.
When you conferred. upon them the right
Of eminent domain that Is the right TO
condemn and appropriate private properly
10 their exclusive use. and gave to them
continual existence, or In a sense corporate
Immortality, powers which can not be con.
ferred on individuals, the acceptance OF
your gift devolved upon them the legal
obligation 10 carry on their business I'm
strict accordance with the law OF the land
and 10 refrain from any combinations or
Determinations that were harmful 10 tho
public, to nix and maintain reasonable /
freight and passenger rates, aud 60 treat
with absolute impartlallty every citizen |
aud every stations along their lines
The obligation on your part involved IN |
and implied by the creation of every "a IL /
road corporation. was that since Won hnd
invited and authorized the Investment I'M |