The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-06-19

the legislature. and it was q subject
Of congratulation among those rep.
resentatiyes and senators who voted
for the measure land here let me
state that there were some who did
mott that the railroad question had
been settled for q long time to come,
and that they would be practically
eliminated from politics of the state
for some time to. come.
But some mysterious influence has
been at work. The railroads have
decided to break their faith with
the people, and I want to say here
that as certain as the courts Of the
United States sustain the railroads
IN their broken pledges and their
intentions to harrass and rob the
people that just as certain will a
day Of awful retribution arrive.
need not but tell you Of the sly
and cunning methods adopted by
these corporations within the past
three weeks apparently at work
ever since the legislature adjourned.
Too many Of you know the details.
Thru certain stockholders of the
various companies doing business in
this state, and thru weak and in
firm judge of one Of the courts. an
injunction has been issued against
the attorney general and the rail-
road and warehouse commissioners
from putting these rates into effect.
! realize with what feeling we in
this great American Republic have
been taught to regard the bench.
but the acts Of the courts are as
open to criticism as are those of the
individuals, and it is a sad comment
airy on the bench when Judge will
place his signature to any document
without even knowing it's contents.
Think Of it. When a newspaper re-
porter asked him whether the two
cent fare law was also in the iniunc-
ton the judge stated that it certain
" was, and had he known that it
was going to create such stir
among the people of the state he
would have read what the railroad
attorneys gave him to sign before
attaching his signature.
| am still Of the opinion that as a
result Of the penal clause of the
commodity rate bill each and every
citizen of Minnesota has the right to
place his wares and merchandise in
the hands of any agent Of any rail-
road company in the state, and to
demand of him the shipment to it's
marked destination at the tariff rate
fixed upon by the last legislature
and that went into effect on June
1st last. And | believe that as GER
tain as the agent refused that the
aggrieved person can step into
court Of justice and have the agent
and dealt with according to
that penal clause, and that it is the
duty of every county attorney to
prosecute such, a case until he is
openly enjoined by the federal Judge
who issued the temporary writ
against the; attorney general and
railroad commissioners. | do not
believe that the enioining Of three
or four men enioins the entire state
in this case, and the judge in ques-
ton would find considerable of time
in personally enjoining nearly two
millions of people in Minnesota inn
order. to, carry out the spirit Of the
railroad attorneys.
The two cent fare bill and the
commodity tariff bill. both as laws,
given complete effect, would work
am annual saving in the cost Of rail-
road transportation to the people of
the state of Minnesota Of mot less
than between five and six million
dollars.
At your annual picnic in 1905 it
was my pleasant duty to give you
some idea of a proposed law to
bring about reciprocal demurrage.
| told you then Of the contest that
was Waged against this bill in the
senate and made prediction that
it would be enacted in 1907. That
prediction has come true. The ques-
ton has been agitating the people
for years. The railroads have been
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