davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

prise. The cost of building the road
was to be paid by the people, congress
had given criminally large area of
land to the company, and the proceeds
of the bonds which were issued were
to constitute the capital with which
the road was to be built. The $780,
600 subscribed and paid in by the
stockholders was the only contribution
they seem to have expected to make
to the road. !, ges
"This was slender provision, it
would seem, for road 1000 miles
long, through an uninhabited country,
without commerce at either terminus,
and without an important town on it's
whole route. But the projectors in
tended that congress should build the
road and put them in possession of it.
They secured a grant of nearly 50,-
100000 acres Of public land, and on
the security of this magnificent estate
they proposed to negotiate loan of
$1OO,O00,0C0. AS the estimated cost of
the road was only $85,OO0,000 this
loan would pay for the whole work and
leave a handsome surplus for con-
tingencies. The land is now worth,
say $125,O0O,0OO* or perhaps more;
'That was in 1878. It is worth billions. per
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08
GRANT TO RAILROADS
ROUSED THE FARMERS

It was not rates alone, as the old
book shows, that caused the farmer
to center his activity against the rail-
roads. The railroads were built
through government grants, but run
for private profit. The railroad stock
gambling made millionaires, while the
toiling farmers along the rights of
way eked out precarious living, pay
ing the greater part of their earnings
in freight rates. The government paid
for the railroads, the farmers sup
ported them, and the fnanciers and
stock gamblers made the profits.
There was also the corruption of legis-
lators, public officials and courts by
the. railroads. Their free passes,
favors and graft to public men, their
connection with the money power,
made it possible for them to dodge
taxes, charge excessive rates, obtain
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

privilege of giving it himself. He is unwilling,
however, to have his products stolen from him in
the name of charity.
It will also be said that def1ation is necessary.
Granted. But why begin on the farmer?
Why didn't the federal reserve banks begin on
the steel trust and debate the price of steel?
Why did they not defate the railroads squeeze
out the water from the stock on which the govern
ment guarantees dividends? Just the contrary oc-
CURED with the railroads. While those in control
of the nation were DEFEATING the farmers, they
were actually INITIATING the railroads by in
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

valuable privileges and dominate the political and
economic situation. :
The old farmer organizations, as the book shows,
exposed the wildcat financing of the railroads. The
following story of the organization of the Northern
Pacific railroad is an interesting chapter in the
book:
"In 1864 congress granted charter to the North
ern Pacific company and by this charter and subse-
quent acts authorized this company to build rail-
road from Lake Superior through the state of Min
nesota and the territories of Dakota, Montana and
Idaho. and Washington to Puget sound, by the
valley of the Columbia river through Portland, in
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

creasing the rates and guaranteeing rates high
enough that the railroads were sure of dividends.
Why did they not defate the lumber trust, the
cement trust the paint trust and the brick trust SO
that people might erect buildings again? Instead
they planned tariff to protect those industries.
Why did they not deflate the landlords and bring
down the price of rent so that wages in the cities
might be lowered?
Why did not the federal reserve banks defate
themselves, and thus reduce the price of interest?
The reserve banks now print all the money we use.
Continued on page 15)
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08


ization whose leaders were branded as crooks, in
cendaries and seditionsts. It to climax
in the old Farmers Alliance, Knights of Labor and
turn political conditions caused the first great
farmer reforms. Great progress was made by agri-
culture result of the farmers movement be-
ginning few years after the Civil war and end
ing in the early nineties, when the Peoples party
passed out.
Six years ago, with the birth and rapid organiza-
tion of the Nonpartsan league, new farmers
movement started facing the same kind of
fight, seeking relief by solid organization and
participation in politics. 1t is interesting, therefore,
in the midst of of farmer awakening, to
read what the old farmer leaders of 48 and SO years
ago said and did We have before us a book pub
lshed in 1878, entitled The History of the Grange
Movement, the Farmers War Against Monop-
olies," written by Edward Wnslow Martin, from
which quoted chapter in our last issue.
Writing in this book in 1878, Martin said:
"Every farmer will doubtless remember the ex-
pectatons that held out to him, when the rail-
road which he is principally dependent was
seeking the right of way and subscriptions toward
defraying the cost of it's construction. How he
dreamed of the days which were to come when he
could send his grain cheaply and rapidly to market!
"But alas, these dreams never realized!
The road once built, the rates were based upon
scale to meet the financial needs Of it's managers
and the farmers interests never considered
The road was built to make money for it's stock
holders, and the farmer must pay it's tolls or his
crops can not reach the market. The inducements
and promises made by the corporations at the out
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

Last issue the Leader published a
speech by S. M. Smith, a farmer and
leader in farmer organizations, deliv-
cred in 1878. We found the speech in
an old book called 'The History of the
Grange Movement, or the Farmers
War Against Monopolies" It showed
that the farmers problems 48 years
ago were much the same as now-the
same fight against low prices, high
freight rates, unreasonable. middle
mems charges and profits, bad credit
conditions, etc. This rare old book, by
Edward Winslow Martin, published in
1873, is so interesting and throws so
much light on the present agricultural
crisis, that we have decided to give our
readers another installment from it.
The present confiscatory railroad rates
and other transportation evils recall
the old fight of the farmers against
the railroads. The present article
deals with the railroad problem
as the farmers saw it in 1873.
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

which to hold his crop. The latter is a matter of
history and you readers will recall that the various
farmer organizations held a hurriedly called con-
vention in Washington and called Governor Hard
ing of the federal reserve banks the carpet, much
to that genteman's discontinue.
Now, these are the facts about the defation of
the farmers.
It may be said that grain, cotton and meat prices
were too high and that in charity for the starving
populations Of Europe we ought to have reduced
prices The answer to this is that if the farmer
has anything to give away he ought to have the
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

The the New York Stock exchange announcing the Of
which
result Of attempting finance wildcat railroad promotions The picture
the old which
of the farmers fight railroads
& rz
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08
Will the Farmer Ever Get Justice?
Another Insmn From Book Published Years Showing That
Then as Now the Farmer Was Thinking and Organizing

the state of Oregon. In aid of this road congress
made large grants of land, the amount now being
about 50,OO0,O00 acres. :
sThe charter was granted during the last year of
the Civil war, and matters were too unsettled then
to allow the company to commence the work at
once and it not until long after the close of the
Rebellion that the construction of the road was
fairly begun. \
EXPECTED GOVERNMENT AND
PEOPLE TO FURNISH CASH
''It was proposed to construct this road through
the most northern portion of the United States and
from Lake Superior to the Pacific, distance of
1000 miles. The expense of the undertaking
enormous, and the road was to be built through
a section of country that was simply Wilderness
There scarcely any settlements along it's line
great portion of which lay through the territory
of hostile Indians. Much Of the region through
which it was to pass was barren and unfit for set
tlement, and large part of the proposed route
lay through the sterile region of the Yellowstone
The entire route lay through the extreme northern
portion of the Republic, country which, it was
popularity believed, would long remain unsettled by
reason of the severity of the climate and the in
hospitable nature of the country. The best-nform-
ed men expressed grave doubts of the practicabity
of the scheme. They did not believe that this re-
gion would be sufficiently settled to warrant the
struction of such railroad for many years, and
they based this belief upon the fact that the region
offered scarcely any inducements to settlers. Con-
sequently people regarded the road with doubt and
when its bonds were offered held aloof from them
by the terms of the company's charter share
capital of $100000,000 authorized; but of this
amount only 100000 was required to be SUBJ
scrbed in advance and but 100000 to be paid in.
The last-named sum perhaps covered the prelimi-
nary expenses of the scheme, such as the cost of
surveys, OF legislation and such other operations as
were necessary Tor the commencement of the enter
prise. The cost of building the road
was to be paid by the people, congress
I4,lsSs Eh&1 had given criminally large area of
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

"The cost of transportation eats up
about one-half of the value of the
products, and the farmers r~oft is
made small in order that tie heavy
freights may be paid and the large
profits of the middlemen gained"
The nonpartisan leader., 1921-08-08

HE first great agrarian movement in
the United States commenced soon
after the Civil war and was at it's first
intensity in the early seventies, 48 to
so years ago. 1t was fight that
L n
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23

be grown on every type Of soil IN
Louisiana, but they do best on light
well-drained sandy loan with a clsy
subsoil. They may be successfully
grown on almost pure sand provided
that commercial fertilizer are used
Soil that is too fertile should not Be
used, as the crop tends to run to
vines and does not make a good yield.
The potatoes produced are rough and
irregular in size and often do not
keep well.
Sweet potatoes d0 well on 'nsw
ground, especially after it has been
cultivated year or two, and most
of the stumps and roots are removed
On poor lands which have little organ
ic matter in the soil it is advisable
to plant sweet potatoes after a legume
crop. Planting potatoes in a rota,
tion is advisable also in order to keep
up the soil fertility and to control
disease.
1T is just as necessary to have
good drainage for sweet potatoes as
any other crop, and if the soil IS
not well drained the plants should BE-
set on high ridges so as to keep the
water from standing around them.
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23
AMERICAN LEGION NEWS

Again of forty-four posts OF the
American Legion and ninety-tnree uli-
i+s NJ its women's auxiliary was maze.
during the week ending March i.
Missouri department Of the Legion LED
with five posts chartered and Massa-
cbusetts and Kansas reported twelve
and eleven new units, respectively
of the auxiliary. There are now TO-
272 Legion posts and 1922 units OF
the womens auxiliary.
Architects from all parts of the
country will be invited to submit de-
signs and plans for the $15,OOO,OOo
Indiana war memorial building, which
will house national headquarters OF
the American Legion. A fund OF $780,
600 was granted by the Indiana legls-
lature for prizes and expenses Of the
contest. The national institution OF
architecture will determine the win
ner of the first prize OF $4,000.
F. w. Galbraith, Jr., national com
mander of the American Legion, has
ordered the Kansas department OF
that organization to make a thorough
investigation of the recent outrage
at Great Bend Kan, in which two or
ganizers of the non-partisan league
we're tarred and feathered. Although
the mob of residents of that vicinity
/ included a number of ex-service men,
there was no organized support from
Legion posts, according to press cor
respondents. Colonel Galbraith or
dered all Legion posts to refrain from
interference with the political activi-
ties of the non-partisan league several
months ago.
The increased cost of railroad fare
will not trouble the members of Sup
erior, Wis, post of the American Lee
gion, who will attend the Legion state
convention at Eau Claire in box cars.
1--WE travelled France in side door
Pullmans and we believe that we pre-
fer the Yankee type of bax cars to
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23

perimnt station, Louisiana State IN
iversity. These include system OF
crop rotation and the use of uncon-
taminated soil in the seed beds, hot
beds and cold frames. Tomatoes
should never be grown on the same
ground for more than one year out
of three, he says, while three-year
rotation will not entirely eliminate the
disease, it will reduce it to point
where &C rop can be grown.
For the seed beds, hot beds and
cold frames, fresh soil should be OBJ
tanned each season, and this should
be obtained from the woods or from
some fields that has never grown TO-
matoes or has received the wash FROM
tomato fields. BY using such soil, the
tomato plants will be healthy when
set in the field If infected soil is
used in the seed beds many of the
plants will be infected before trans
planting and the chances are that a
large percentage of the plants will die
before making any fruit Much of the
loss from tomato wilt in this state
is due to the fact that the young
plants have been grown in infected
soil.
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23

r. A. Franklin Of Dallas, Texas
connected with the Mackay-Postal-tel-
egraph and cable company, attended
to business matters in Opelousas dur
ing the past week. His company IS
stringing a new wire line from Dallas
to New Orleans, passing through ope-
lousas.
Mr.. Levy Campbell, prominent cilf
zen Of Whiteville, spent a few hours
IN OpeIousas Monday between TRAINS
DR. L. J. Bauman and little daugn'
ter Vera and Miss Ruby Gosln mot
ored to New Iberia Sunday and spent
the day with the doctors relatives IN
the Teche city.
Robert and Charles Budd, jeff HaW-
kins. Vincent Boagni and Dick Eek
arr all of this city, spent last sun
dav visiting friends in New Iberia.
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23
Propose to Export Rice

At a meeting of the board of di-
rectors of the Rice Farmers Co-opera-
tive Association, Inc, held in the city
of Crowley on March 10, it was un-
animously voted to devise ways and
means to export 40 per cent of the
remaining crop to European coun-
tries.
According to the members Of the
Rice Farmers Cooperative Association
at the meeting Tuesday, the export OF
40 per cent of the crop would be made
easy if the banks of the rice belt
would cooperate with them. They
propose to send representatives to
European countries for the purpose
of proposing to those countries that
they take the rice and exchange their
manufactured goods in payment In
view of the low value of foreign mon
ey, it is estimated that the farmers
would be able to dispose of their rice
at a profitable figure, since European
manufactured goods are in such de-
mand in this country.
Since the majority of the rice is
in the hands of the bankers, the fl
nancial institutions of the rice belt
will be asked to cooperate with the
farmers. A meeting of the bankers
will be asked for, at which the mem
bers of the Rice Farmers Cooperative
Association will reveal their plan in
detail.
Europe is starving" said one of
the directors, "but has surplus of
goods that represent an everyday need
/ to the American people. The goods,
such as musical instruments, tools.por
celain ware, toys and hardware, could
be exchanged for rice on a profitable
basis both for the American rice far
mers and the European people"
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23
WARM WEATHER
URGES PLANTING
COTTON SEEDING STARTS UP
AND SOME FARMERS REPORT
SOME OF CROP GROWING

The record-breaking warm temper
AZURE has been a great incentive to
the farmers throughout this section OF
the cotton belt to get their planters
in the field and start the seeding OF
the 1921 crop. Some of the cautious
ones, however, are not placing any
trust in the antics of the weather clerk
and are holding back until they are
certain no cold spell will hit the coun-
try.
One we'll known farmer, residing
about rine miles from Opelousas, in
formed a newspaper man last week
that he had planted some cotton and
that his son had planted two weeks
ago and the acreage then planted
was up to a fine stand and growing
nicely,
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23

d. D. Nuckolls, Of Plaquemine, for
merly Of this city, is spending several
days here visiting friends.
Delegates Dupre, Sandoz and Per-
rault, representing St. Landry in the
constitutional convention, departed
Monday to resume their seats in the
body for the fourth's week session.
Mrs. Ben VI. Anderson of Palmetto
was a visitor to Opelousas Friday.
i'm. Sanders returned home Sunday
after an extended trip to New Or
leans and Birmingham, having gone
TO the latter city to attend a meeting
of life insurance agents. On his way
home he came through Memphis.
Mrs. L. A. Andrepont and children
of Crowley are here for weeks Visit
with the family of Mr.. Yves andre
pont.
Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Hanks Of Port
Barre attended the picture show. mere
Sunday night.
Hon. Peyton R. sandoz and wife
spent Monday and Tuesday in Ne"
orleans attending to business AFFAIRS
Miss Rose Chachere returned one
day last week from New Orleans al
ter spending several weeks with rel
atives and friends.
EB. McNaspy attended to business
in Lafayette Tuesday Of last week
Nathan Roos of Lafayette visited
his parents here last Tuesday.
Misses Evelyn Lewis and Helen Har-
manson attended dance in Lafayette
Saturday night, which was given at
the Gordon Hotel.
Mr.. and Mrs. John M. DufilhO are
receiving the congratulations from
friends and relatives on the recent
arrival of bouncing baby boy in their
home. This young man is the ninth
child in the Duflho family and Papa
John is as happy as a boy with nj;
first pair of red-top boots.
Mrs. Pat Ducharme of Alexandria il
here on a visit to her mother, Mrs
Clara Breaux. who has been quite Il
for some time. Mrs. Durcharme vii
be here for three months while hel
husband is attending the school Of
pharmacy in New Orleans.
w. NJ. Knight of Shreveport rep
resenting the well known paper house
OF E. c. Palmer & Co., of New Or
leans, was in Opelousas Saturday call
ing on his trade.
E. B. Shanks of Kinder, former news
paper man Of the Allen parish town
and now connected with the Gulf
Coast Lines at DeQuincey, spent Fri.
day and Saturday here visiting old
friends.
w. F. Nolan, manager of the Star
Progress, went to Crowley Saturday
afternoon on business, returning here
Saturday.
Mayor Dudley Berwick, Henry Leg
gett and Bob Kleiser of Eunice were
business visitors to Opelousas Monday,
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23

ganda we heard so much about during
the war We don't know where it is
or where it started Ii is the same
about these blue laws. 1t is the prop
uganda of the evil one. What we need
everywhere now is an awakening Of
personal conscience. We need more
religion"
Miss Robertson declared, two moral
laws, if observed, would do more than
anything else to regulate human con.
duct. She said "If we follow the in.
junction Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart and with al
thy soul and with all thy mind and
thy shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self we will not get into trouble
Miss Robertson tonight attended the
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23
ROTATE TOMATO PLOT
TO CHECK DISEASE

In some sections of Louisiana it is
often difficult to raise a satisfactory
crop of tomatoes on accour! OF .hs
tomato wilt disease. This disease
first attacks the roots and then passes
up through the stems, causing the
plants to wilt and finally die. The
disease is readily identified by cut
ting a suspected plant. A diseased
plant has the inside of the stem more
or less blackened.
This disease can usually be kept in
check to some extent by the use OF
sanitary measures, according to c.
w. Edgerton, plant pathologist, ex.
ST. Patrick's day ball given by the 10
cal American Legion post
q can never deny these boys she
said, so l am going for little while
do not know whether / shall wear a
| green dress or not"
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23

Indianapolis national survey Of
conditions surrounding the care OF
disabled world war veterans has been
adopted by the 500 Rotary clubs of
the country, according. to a letter re-
ceiyed at the American Legion's ma
tional headquarters here, from Ches-
ley H. Perry, secretary Of the Rotary
clubs association. The purpose OF
the survey. says the letter, is ito prove
whether American Legion reports are
based on hysteria or upon actual
facts"
In making the letter public, the LIE
gion issued this statement by F. w
Galbraith, Jr., national commander.
81 hope the findings will be give1
the widest publicity. 1t will be founC
the legion has not overstated the cas-,
in any particular"
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23
BIG TRUCK HAULs PIPE
TO THE TEST oil WELL

The big Nash Quad truck of Sam
Ostravosky, with a crew of men
aboard, has been busy the first of the
week hauling casing for the test oil
well on the Creswell farm. The truck
has heavy wagon hooked to the
rear and on this wagon is loaded six
of the 2O-feet length of pipes. Sew
eral trips are made each day from the
railroad station to the oil well, about
three miles out of town
The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-23
DEVICE OF EVIL ONE
MISS ALLEGES OPINION

Washington, March 17.-More re-
ligions and less agitation is what Miss
Alice Robertson, representative in con
gress of the second Oklahoma district
advocated in a talk to newspaper men
to day. She made it plain she does
not believe in trying to legislate NOR
ais. but believes there are better ways
to improve humanity.
This blue law agitation" said Miss
Robertson, lis like the German propa-