Year: 1871




for and which these Mormon wives have
obtained far ahead of their agitating sister
hood in the East will have proven indeed a
delusion and snare If it offers them no con-
ISOLATION in their present dire distress. Let
them vote and hope


Tho Westcrn Dcnocracy On Railroad Mo
noDolies-Nsw Issaos Looming Up.
The Illinois Democratic State Convention
has struck chord on the subject of railroad
monopoly and high rates that must vibrate
ere long from one end of the country to the
other. In the resolutions reported to that
body condemning the policy of tariff protec-
ton the ruinous cost of railroad Transports
ton is noticed. The resolution to that effect
says:-sThat to the same policy is chargeable
in large degree the heavy cost of railroad
transportation, the cost of such transportation
being always in proportion to the cost Of iron,
and that it is idle for the Western farmer, not
withstanding his superior advantages of soil
and climate, to expect to compete with other
parts of the world when his products are con-
veyed to market over rails which cost seventy
per cent more than they cost elsewhere. ="
This shows that the democrats of the West
feel in their material interests the damaging
effect of high railroad charges, and that they
begin to move for remedy. Mems political
views and affiliations are shaped more by in
terest than by prejudice, and the Western
farmers are likely to 60 with that party which
attacks high protective duties and railroad
monopolies. The action of the Illinois demo-
Gratis, therefore, is wise and opportune.
Though the question may not have great in
fuence in the approaching elections it must
become in time one Of paramount Importance.


The resolutions reported to the Illinois Con-
vention, however, touch only part of the
evil. A high protective tariff, which increases
the cost of railroad iron seventy per cent, is
but one of the causes of exorbitant rates of
freight and fare. No doubt the cost of iron
enters largely into the expense Of constructing
railroads and keeping them in repair, and con-
sequently adds very much to the charges upon
transportation. But the enormous profits and
extravaganza of railroad companies, the con-
soldation of lines and interests, and the growth
Of these into vast monopolies of late years, to-
gether with watering railroad stock and specu-
lations of the stockholders and managers, do
more than the construction or repairing cost
to oppress the industry of the West and the
farmers everywhere. The resolutions Of the
Illinois State Democratic Convention are we'll
enough as far as they 60, but they fail to grasp
all the evils Of railroad monopoly or all the
causes of high rates of freight.


Some of the great railroads of the country
have had their stock doubled or trebled to
enrich the managers Bonds have been issued
too often for the same purpose. This process
of watering-to use the term expressed in
Wall street-necessarily calls for larger re-
ceipts to pay interest, and every farmer or
merchant who transports anything, or every
passenger, is charged accordingly. If rail-
road which cost ten millions Of dollars in con-
strnction and equipment earned million
year good interest would be returned upon
the capital, with fair margin for repairs.
Suppose the original stock were equal to the
cost, and that by the familiar process Of water
ing it is increased to twenty or thirty millions,
the interest on this stock or bogus capital
would be double or treble, and the commu-
nifty are expected to pay freights and fares to
meet that. We say suppose this, but in reality
there is no supposition, for this is what has
been done with some of the railroads and is
being done all the time. Instead Of paying
one dollar for freight the people have to pay
two, and the industry and interior commerce
of the country is crippled for the benefit Of
railroad monopolists, managers and specula-
tors.


The evil is growing every year, and it can
not be long before remedy must be found.
The State Legislatures are for the most part
under the control of railroad monopoles.
Many of the members are directly interested
as stockholders, directors or managers, or are
bought up by the rich corporations. 1t is
much the same with Congress. There is little
hope for relief from the Legislatures of the
States. 1t must be made q national question,
and the party that will take hold of it earnestly
may rise into power by the issue. Though
the State Legislatures may not be so easily
forced to legislate against this monopoly the
public may be aroused so as to compel Con-
gress to act. There is no doubt that Congress
has the power under the clause of the constitu-
ton enabling it to regulate commerce among the
several States and to exercise control over the
railroads, for these are as much the arteries Of
commerce between different sections of the