Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1891 — UNCLE SAM AFTER THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM AFTER THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.

F or The Republican. (Continued from last week.) God bless our dear, good, innocent Uncle Sam. Only his enemies will counsel that he turn business man, by running a bank; engags in transportation by building and operating railways or ware-houses; Sam is not made that way. “Brother farmers”!. We are taking a look over the field of common Industries. We can see signs of great wealth: some men have obtained large fortunes, there are many millionaires and money kings; very many more than there used to be when we were boys. We know that in our humble calling, there are no millionaires, or if there are they did not become so from tilling the soil We may live many years, toil all our lives, and have the best of crops, and there is not a possibility that we can become millionaire . But suppose we don’t, are we not getting from this life as much of good, as much of content, and enjoyment that comes from the satisfaction of leading an honest, industrious life, as does the millionaire with the excitement and restless activity which his possessions entails? Let us remember that those gieat fortunes are often the result of unholy gains, gambling in stocks. As lessors, playing fast and loose with for the time being the property leased in order to buy cheap: obtaining a majority of stock in roads and practice the same plan to squeeze

out the minority of stock owners, and thereby procuring property for less than fair value. . All this is stealing, and the majority of great fortunes in railways were made in this way. And when the original stockholders have been plundered, then the stock is watered and the farmer is taxed in freights to pay dividends on it This is one thing that we look to law for relief, and we should put our vote where it will do the most good, as the rail--ruad thieves did with their money when they wanted legislation. We do not want their illgotten wealth; we do want? justice, and that quickly. We as farmers are willing to live, and let live; we are willing the merchant and trader shall have a fair profit on their capital invested, and to pay a fair interest for the use of money when we have to borrow; lo pay a reasonable fee to an att< rney or doctor when we employ them; we are glad to pay our fair share of tax to support Church, School and State; but we are not willing to be robbed by corporations for the benefit of a few men; and we respectfully maintain that it is the duty of the State to hold in reasonable check the corporate children she has turned loose among us. —The individual is amenable to the law, Corporations mustalsobe required to observe the laws of honesty and justice, and the State and “Uncle Sam” will for the present find their hands full to break in some of these corporation children so long running loose.

We want the watered stock evaporated, and all corporations held to the honest fulfillment of their obligations to the public, whether- they be public curriers., bankers, warehousemen or whatI'ever their business is, that they be I not allowed to practice extortion, j nor to have an undue influence . over the legislation ofthjs country, i ( . “Uncle Sam has a duty to per- | form in the industrial affairs of this country. I have said that he is a poor business man, and that is true from every stand point, but he is well qualified for the place and duty where we need him most; while he ’can’t make money, he would with the proper law behind him make a grand overseer. A watch hasDumerous wheels, each in its place has a work to perform, but over all, and without which it will not keep good time is a regulator; this regulator could not successfully fill the place of any one of the little wheels in the watch, but it, controling the whole, results in what is wanted —good time. So Uncle Sam should be the regulator over the incorporated industrial affairs of the nation. Someof the large industrial wheels, like the railway, is expected to go fast it needs water in the boiler for purposes of steam, but no water in the stock to float the freights to excessive rates. Uncle Sam has shirked his duty, and the farmers are getting re«dy to punch him up with a sharp stick. “Brother farmers!” Let .us take a lesson from the old soldiers, who settle in their cocunils what they want of Congress, and then make their demands, and Congress hears them. Congress has ears like a Jackass and can hear a long way, and when the farmers of this land formulate a proper demand, Congress will respond. The several states in there individual capacity have been more to blame than the general government for the overeaching conduct of railway corporations. The people being anxious for roads, the states to procure- them, have allowed corporations to make their own contract, and given everything they asked for, and hired them to take it. Nearly every charter of corporations comes from State instead of National authority, which has been occupied with Territorial and National subsidized lines of transportation, And much relief should be had from state legislation. Let us then hold fast to our demand for State and National control of transportation within reasonable bounds. And while Uncle Sam may not be a loaner of money, he can be safely trusted as a repository or custodian of the peoples funds, giving theiefor certificates of deposit for both silver and gold, and occasionally throwing in a green-back or two as a kind of spice for the circulation. Asking pardon of the editor of the Republican and its readers for the large room I have occupied in its columns. I am Respectfully Wm W. Gilman.