Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-28
TO rHR FARMERS OF WISCONSIN,.
Must Assert Their Power at the Polls and Through
Organization

That 'in union there ia strength. has
never been more forcibly illustrated nor
more frequently resorted TO than at the
present time. / may safely say that
during the last decade scarcely rIofes-
sion or an industry at the presSht time
but has it's organization, calle1 by some
significant name as CLUB, order,
trades or by what name you will
The object is the same, viz: for the pur-
pose of protection and furthering their
respective intsrests. No one will dis
pute the fact that great good has been
accomplished thereby At any time in
the worlds history have such great
strides been made with different sciences
and arts. This can only be accounted
for by the association of persons of sim
liar tastes, inclinations or trades-this
being the motive power that has accom-
plished such results by encouraging the
genius of its members And we may
congratulate ourselves for having be-
born snd permitted to live during the
moss intellectual era of the worlds ex-
iste1ce whether this era shall increase
in wisdom and the enactment of just
laws for the masses remain alone with
us to determine.
The advance of agriculture IN Wis
consin has kept pace with any of the
other sciences and the consequence is
we find men at the plow handles as in
telligent and practically scientific as In
any OF the other vocations. The farmer
is coming year by year more of reader,
and consequently more of thinker.
The farmer of today being reading
and thinking man, and not the automa-
ton OF years gone by. sees more than
ever the necessity of unity in thought
and action, and also sees that to accom-
plish this they must brand themselves
and move upon the common enemy in
one long and solid phalanx. That there
is necessity for sdch movement upon
the enemy's breastworks is apparent to
any one who reads tie papers and notes
with what rapiditv the different indus
tries that receive special favors and re-
bates from the railroads are being con-
solidated into gigantic corporations or
monopolies; or in more significant terms,
tho ugh not less truthfuily, with what
avidity the ''tig fish swallow the little
ones. Witness the gigantic proportions
assumed by member of railway cor
poTations who will not submit to the
contingency of an election, but like the
boa-constrictor, crush and swallow any
line OF railroad that in any way inter
feres with their autocratic rule and
management. You may take up one
paper and read an account of Hill swal-
lowing some road whose stock he had
deprecated and rendered almost worth
less by some chicanery or other Then
IN week take up anct Their and see how
Vanderbilt swoopod down on some road
which was struggling for existence on
the bases of Tive and let live, " and car
ried 1t away with no more feeling than
an eagle for its victim. Or another, and
be surprised at the news of the purchase
OF this or that line of road which was
built with the avowed object OF compe-
tltlon with the pooled lines between the
eastern and western cities. And often
before the line was in operation, changed
owners and Sscame part Of 1Ao stu
pendous wAuie.
With such solid basis the railroads
can and do control the markets and trade
OF Wisconsin, by virtually cutting off
all competition and leaving the people
dependent upon their rates at the mercy
OF merciless men. Hence the need OF a
primary election law TIT will ena ole
you to send men TO the legislature that
will create commission as outlined by
La Toilette
Look at the doings of the Standard
OIL company; the consolidation of our
express companies, and if you wish to
look at subject that is of vital impor-
lance to the farmer Just try to compre-
bend, If you can, the vastness o. dealing
in futures in our grain markets, or rather
gambling in the necessities of lite. And
1t is of rare occurrence that our mar
kets have healthy tone governed by
the legitimate law, that of supply and
demand. How often a corner is run on
wheat corn, and other products of the
farm in the face of great crops, by
combination of men having at their
command millions of dollars This all
proves that in union there is strength. 81
Bat that strength is not always applied
for sS. public good. If the farmers of
this state will vote for q primary cleo
ton law that will enable them to nomi-
nate and elect honest men TO the United
States senate and congress in place of
corporation attorneys, the will not
long remain at the mercy of grasping
corporations, but will be able at all
times to resist their encroachn,euts
With honest men for railroad COM
missioners, backed mp by fearlesa gov
ernor. and an honest legislature, you
will he able 30 seize and hold the hands
of few railroad presidents, who ia five
minutes assembled, can raise the price
of freight on their road, whereby mil
lions OF dollars are taken ont of the far
mer's pockets and transferred to their
own, yearly. Do not, pray You, stand
idly by, while the thievery ia going on
and console yourself with the thought
that the consumer at the other end of
the line will pay the extra freight. No,
my dear sirs, the eastern grain markets
are cornered by the European markets
as rule, and do not fluctuate. And
when the railroad managers raise the
freight the farmers receive that much
less. Now | will put this question fairly
and squarely. Shall this state of things
continueY While all other vocations
have organized and are demanding their
rights, will you remain inert and allow
these gouls to wax fat on Your sub
stance2 Is it not time, high time, to
declare for primary elections
DO not let your chances,
Like suuheafns pass yua by,
For you never miss the water
Till the well runs dry "
say work while it is called today.
Now is the day of salvation, and 10 Your
redemption draweth nigh If you will
only make use of the powers within
your reach, A primary election law and
freight rate commission will be the NOV
ing levers TO accomplish these ends.
with brave governor to enforce them.
ERNEST X. SMELL.