The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-02-01


5Elearn of the epochical importance
Fof reform measures now. Stand
back of your representative and
tsenator. Let them understand that
you know as we'll as they that these
Questions have only two sides,
right and wrong, the side of the
people and the side of the corpora.
tions.
! Would again call attention to the
fight the Shippers and Receivers
Association is making against
these corporations. This organiza-
ttion lie composed of country busi-
ness men and the membership is
rapidly extending to every section
Eof the state. They are particularly
interested in railway reforms and
have already accomplished con-
siderable in that direction by the
creation of sentiment in favor of
the distance tariff, reciprocal de-
murrage, .anti-pass and the two
cent fare, all measures of the great
est consequence to the common
people of the entire state. -
| The distance tariff and reciprocal
ldemurrage mean millions to the
state at large, where two-cent fare
and anti.pass could only be
measured in thousands. The dis
lance tariff idea is particularly inn
portant because it strikes at freight
rate discriminati ton, and this evil,
persistently practiced by the rail-
roads, is alone responsible for the
fact that Minneapolis, st. Paul and
Duluth now monopolize all the
jobbing and manufacturing in.
stitutions of the state. The tendency
in Minnesota now is to concentrate
the whole state into three great
cities. If all railroads were com.
PEELED to charge reasonable fixed
freight rate per mile, it would tend
to reverse this congested condition
and bring people and prosperity to
hundreds of country towns instead
of only few large cities.
The Shippers Association is ready
to send speakers to every country
town where the people desire to get
in touch with their important work.
These speakers are all thoroughly
Uniformed on the question of rail
road abuses and come prepared
with facts and figures which prove
the importance of reform. If your
village is interested communicate
with George S. Lotus, commission
'ler, st. Paul, and he will arrange for
la meeting without cost to the
4 public. We could advise no better
method of getting information of
this character. Every such meet
Ting results in better understand.
ling of the meaning of rate dis.
Termination and the corrupt influ-
fences which seek to perpetuate it.
| In this connection it will be we'll
Ito bear in mind that the two-cent
fare bill will proba bly, pass because
the rank and file, in the three big
cities have Joined with the rest of
the state in demanding it's enact
ment. But in the fight for freight
rate reform-a measure of ten
times more importance - Min
neapolis, st. Paul and Duluth stand
solidly with the corporations be-
lcause with no further discrimina-
ton they would ultimately cease to
be the whole state commercially.
The attempt to appropriate $3.50
to each law giver for contingent
|expenses" will probably succeed,
but only after a fierce fight. Re-
representative Robertson expressed
the position of numerous members
when he said, 1.-THE people of the
state sent us here to give them two
cent fares, reciprocal demurrage,
and some other reforms. When we
have enacted those laws then I'll
talk with you fellows who want to
feel two hundred and fifty dollars
in your pockets. Let's give the
people what they want before we
gobble anything ourselves"
The temperance forces have
agreed upon the provisions of
county option law, and their bill
embodying desires along these
lines has been introduced by Sem
ator Thorpe, of Willmar. The big
/ breweries have noted the move.
| Adjudoed laseae.
Annie Callahan, of this city, was
on Wednesday examinedi in probate
court and adjudged insane. She
will be committed to the asylum at
! Fergus Falls.