/ A SHORT SKETCH
* 3ofHon. Geo. H. Hastlnors , Kopubll-
can Nominee for Attorney
General.
Crete Vidotte.
Goo. H. Hastings the republican
candidate for atb aoy general waa
torn on a farm , where his father and
mother still reside near Merenuo.
McHenry county. Illinois , on thoiiOth
d y of August , Jf > 40 ml cousyquentlv
is 41 , " years old His early years \vnre
spent upon tintarm whore he lean.ed
* 11 th. - derail * of a farmer's oc < : upation
received u liberal edueation and in
the fall of 1 SG9 came to Lincoln. Neb. ,
then a new village. The only means of
conveyance to and from that place
then being by stage. Hero ho found
Seth. Robinson , an old Illinoisan wheat
at that time was attorney general of
Nebraska , and at once went into his
office as a student. He completed
his stuey of too law which ho
commenced some time before coming
"west and in December , 1870 , was ad
mitted to the bar at Lincoln. Ho re
mained with Mr. Robinson and in his
office until July , 1871 , when he went to
Pleasant Hill , Saline county , Neb. ,
which has just been made the county
seat of that county , formed a copartner
ship with E E. McGintie under the firm
name of Hastings & McGintie and be
gan the practice of law , and strange as
it may seem that copartnership under
the same name still exists. In 1877 the
county seat of Saline county was re
moved from Pleasant Hill to Wilbur ,
and ? tr , Hastings went to Crete , and
Jdr. McGiutie to Wilbur and since then ,
while the firm has two offices , one
in each town , the firm has remained
as when first formed nineteen years
ago. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Hastings
"was elected county judge of Saline
county , which office he filled until Jan
uary , 1875 , when he resigned in order
to take his seat in the house of repre
sentatives , to which office he had been
elected in the fall of 1874. In the
presidential campaign of 1688 ins ie-
ceived the unsought nomination ol
presidential elector , almost unani
mously , and at the election received
more votes than any other elector
upon the ticket , and for this reason ho
was chosen as messenger to carry the
vote of Nebraska for Harrison and
Morton to Washington , which he did.
He has been the city attorney for the
"
city of Crete almost" since he has re
sided there in 1877 , and he still fills
that position. He is also serving his
( second term as county attorney ol Sa
line county , to which position he was
elected in 18S8 by a practically unani
mous vote of his county. Ho has the
absolute confidence of every man with
whom he is acquainted and his word ,
on any matter , is as * good as a bond.
He is six feet and a trifle over tall ,
straight and broad shouldered , weighs
190 pounds , dark complexion , dark hair ,
eyes and moustache. An easy , fluent
SBpaker , good debater and rattling
stumper. , In the Second congressional
.district , where he is best known , he will
command a large vote from the demo
cratic and independent parties as well
as a solid and enthusiastic support from
the republicans.
* *
*
' Hastings "is a splendid typo of .the
i -
oroad-minded manly man. As a lawyer
lis abilit3r and .his integrity stand un
challenged. With a clientage 'extend
ing all over the second congressional
district , composed of all classes of pee
pie , he has the confidence of those who
seek his services , the respect of the
court and the good will and warm , per
sonal friendship of the bar. He has
Bone/v of that secretive cunning , that
underhanded foxy shrewdness so much
attributed to lawyeis by those who are
inclined to distrust the profession. His
methods are open and fair , and his pro
fessional career will hear the daylight.
It would be impossible for George
Hastings to be the tool of any political
ling or any corporation. His'character
and personal make-up are directly an
tagonistic to such an attitude , while he
has noue of that arrn uiiv that make
men tyrannical. Win n in power. In-
has a certain personal ind > pendcuco
and manly bearing that itKtku him a
leader rather than a foll'-wer. He is
popular with farmers , laborers ami
working men wherever known , being
land in his manner and generous to a
fault. He will be elected attorney
general , and no Nebraskan will ever
have cause to apologi/e for any act.
of George H Hastings.
Augustus R. Humphrey , Republican
- Nominee for Commits.one of
Public Landsancf Buildings-
'Augustus R. Humptirey , commonly
caKed "Gus" by all who know him. is a
native of Indiana , and thirty-two years
of age. In early life he. removed with
his parents from Indiana to Davis
county , Iowa , and assisted in opening
up a farm in that then western country.
Mr. H. remained on the f.irm up to the
year 1882 , but during the Ia , t six yeais
of farm life he spent the fall and winter
in teaching and going to school. la 'Si
he finished the course of study : it the
S. I. N. at Bloomfield , Iowa , aad in
1882 graduated from tlu > law depart
ment ef the state university of Iowa.
In 1883 he taught school in Utoee.ounty.
Nebraska , and in 1884 entered the prac
ticc of law.
He has the entire confidence of the
whole community in which he resides ,
and is regarded as a successful practi
tioner and business man
Commencing life : is IK * did on the
farm , and following it until recurt
years , he is in a position to knou' the
wants and needs of the laboring uhi.-si 3
Alwa3'S a great student and a close ob
server , he has that other qualification
accessary to make a good Hommissionc.r
for a great state , viz. : Tin- backbone to
carry into effect what lie believes to
be just and equitable and right between
man and man and .between the people
and the corporations. In Custcrcoimty ,
where he is widely ami generally
Icnown , he will receive the hearty sup-
yortofboth the democrat ? and hide
pendent party , while not a iv.ubUcaD
will scratch the commissioner hccaust.
Gus is there. His interests and sym
pathies have been with the laboring
classes , and whatever he could do at
any time to assist the weak as against
the stronger , has tyeen doiie with
hearty good will.
THE RATE QUESTION ,
An All AbsorblngTopioto the
People of Nebraska.
What It Costs to Parallel a Road
Should be the Basis for Fixing
Freight Rates.
Progress Has Been Made.
Speech of Judie O. P. Mason delivered at
B okcn Bow Culler county.
i vill address myself briefly first to
the railroad rate question , that is trans
portation. Second , the finance ques
tion as it concerns the laboring classes
of the people. Let mo say at the open
ing that while all things are rapidly
sinking into that mysterious night of
death that must inevitably envelop the
whole human family , there yet remain
certain considerations which survive the
ravages of time. These are the united
efforts of communities , political , moral
and social , for the betterment of the
conditions or the human family ; and it
is well in thia republic where facilities
for free government and the hope of the
people depend upon the intelligence of
the masses that these great political
questions should be calmly considered
with judgment , with discretion , with
wisdom , and so ordered that our chil
dren may reap , where they have not
sown , gather where they have not
strewn , and enter into our toils pre
served and maintained by the fabric of
free institutions , intelligently and
morally guided.
At the outset of this transportation
question , let me address myself and ap
peal to the intelligence of the farmer
class , of the laboring class , and all
classes , and let me eliminate all pretext
and fraud of the single movement ; the
cry that goes up from every oemagoguo
in the land , from every socialist in the
land , from every man who lays his sac-
religious hand on the fabric of human
progress to pull it down. And preced
ing that question , let me say this to
you : You are householders ; you have
families. In those families you have a
class of help. Now , did one of you ever
have a man or woman in your family
who was simply a fault finder , finding
fault with everything , but doing nothing
to remedy the evils of which they com
plained , "and did you not feel like kick
ing them out of the back door ? [ Laugh-
terj
Now , does this alliance party do any
thing but find fault ? Do they offer any
remedy ? Are they simply fault finders
in the family , offering no remedy ?
Let me meet one question : I have
nearct it suggestea oy canaia men , oy
honest men. I have heard it on the
street today , they say our railroad
stocks are watered. . For instance , take
the Union Pacific , it is in debt one hun
dred thousand dollars per mile. Now
the farmers say : "That effects me. "
Stop a moment my friend. Does it mat
ter now much they owe or what they
nave watered their stock ? On what
should rates be based ? On the unmoor
of dollars it would take to parallel the
road or roads today , and that alone , is
what they ought to be permitted by the
interstate commerce commission and
by the state commission , on that alone
should they be permitted to earn four
or five per cent interest. If that rule is
applied , does it make any difference to
you what they'value , their road at
whether it is one hundred millions or
one million ? When you have got the
number of dollars that it would take.to
parallel the road , if it is twenty-five
thousand dollars a mile or twenty "thou
sand dollars a mile- that is the basis
upon winch rates should be made.
Oue other suggestion. Let me
appeal to any one of these
ftir't finders and'appeal to you , and
say , i.- not that so ? It' it is not , hold up
yo i'liHs. . do not go around to your
sn-tifhbors lying about it herr-after.
[ i. f.itrhler and applause. ] In the ! is-
c"-s .1.1 oi'fore the stute hoard , of trans
irmn. when Mr. Kimball said ws
MO".00 ! ) n , mile , some gentleman
it Mate hoard of traiisportatiou
i 'A 1 at difference docs it. make to
P.al is not the question. It is
HV cold dollars will it take to
, /oiirroid ? If it is 825.000 or
' < ' / . i nit is the basis on which the
> - < . - . 'I th'j people that are paying
" "
- . . . ' ! pay on. Xow , taking "that
loea uoi that end the contro
- . i is no ! tins watered stock , 01
> nil buine.all trumperyy
j.-- it , matter if I have a farm in
i .jv that is wo Lh , say , a half a
. .oiiars. and a man wants to
. i I ho < r ts it ata I'ent cm th-
? ty , S .OiJO , is he hurt if in my
: I swell osit like a hisMmj : nf-
-ty , it is worth lour millions ?
t is with t.'iu nil I road question
one other qiii'Siion 1 desire
, " : nr ; attention to plainly ami
They will tell you that Gur.id
they ivii ! ! ihe.ir money out of
. 'u ot'railroads. . That Ls not
. - Hiruiti tlit-'ir money byvreek -
{ uitis : ; by watering stock-
vii'ing these stocks to
> r * not in operating roa'is
* ' ti is is oft what 1 was abotn to
i.-y. ( ho fan ! flinders , approach
rly cQinmunifetiu principles
y would lay their saerelhiious
' '
i'any man's'property to coulis-
Kor once # ive these uouunu-
te of blow ! , and what be-oines
nncrsaixi sin-ail holdre when
Mrale a communistic , ' : ) - > ' < 'y
' "ia : ire roote'l and located ,
iM.y aliars and your hearth-
id youi houses and lands uin- :
ii . uov Ml. Yon euunotqueneh
. . . ' ' . ai d wlr lle for your dogs
v o av. ay. You have got to stick
ie in this community urn ! you
re-ted in tin : well beinjr of the
iiiric and its preservation. The
-r. of all men. should be the fur-
- remove.d from anything that sa-
. nr communistic principles. lie
- o < l shun that as he loves his clul-
> i i , i > he loves his home the only
- it'i'Ml place of earth. Now having said
} i. ' ! t me say one other thing. Sup-
po-ti , ou , tliis audience , owns the fifty
.t.iliioiH or the hundred millions of
Gould or Vanderbilt , could we use it to
u bolter purpose than spanning the
micrhty rivers of the country with iron
bridjjes ; tunnelling the "mountains ,
cru&ing the gieat morasses and bttild-
Ing great highways of commerce the
poor man's highway for his household
goods and products. Compare this in
vestment of surplus capital with the in
vestments that were made six hundred
year ago. Two hundred years of the
world's earnings were put into the-
cathedral of Milan , with the fourteen
thousand saints stuck up in the niches
cut out of marble , shimmering in the
sunshine , mocking at the labors of the
world. Monuments of superstition ! To
day that money goes into rail
roads , into bridges spanning mighty
rivers , into causeways , crossing
great oswamps , into tunnels passing
through the mountains carrying the
rich products of the hand of industry
making a highway for the toilers of the
world and a Messing to mankind. And.
yel , listen to this voice of raillery that
goes up from every demagogue in the
land , that would tear down the spirit of
progress.
Now having said this much let me
pass from these geneeal principles more
in 'It-tail , to the rate question , and to
the farinur cla-s ; let me say that there
"
are some tilings in this "state which
might be complained against. There
are also many thinjis which are greatly
to jour favor. L t me s.iy to yon sigri-
eulluvalists. wliii" you -trujrgle with
want I don't mean want I will say
with poverty , coin f i uv \ < > nr condition
wil > the -peo5 > le ol Xebra ka in 1838
and iSK ( ) . 1 met men here today who
live in this ' ta'.e then There is not a
uin aere but that will tell you that it
was more trouble 4iid labor to get live
dollars then , than to gt oue hundred
dollars todav Thene sod our
dre.-sed pork at one dollar and one dollar
lar and twenty-five cunts j > er hundred
pound ? . . Wesold ourA\li al and hauled
it many niiU-s o the nun' . , * lor tlnrty-
live cents a bushel in it > > S we had
seven territorial hunks and they all
busted 1'Ui one and lull lli ' currency in
the hands of the farmer ? nd the hands
of thu laborer. That was inn-r ! demo
cratic rule. No democrat complained ,
but now the alliance and { he democrat
S"iid up the wolfibh howl against United
States banks Why , it is not the.Uniled
States banks chat arc hurting you people
ple out x"etU law puiii-i ! -s tlieMi.
i : eis 10 et iifiMt n of .irupur:1 : , J ! t y
taku lo u.\ceed toil per cout. i will toil
you what is hurling you , it is these little
swindling shaving shops. Since I have
been in Lincoln , three boys have grad
uated from my law office. They came
out into these western communi
ties , they borrowed fifteen hun
dred dollars , they went to
loaning that out and they got from our
farmers four and live per cent a month ,
on an average , that would send a
United States bank to the penitentiary ,
and one of these boys today is worth
, hfty thousand dollars and another one
twenty five thousand dollars and they
borrowed their money at six per cent ,
fifteen hundred dollars apiece , started a
little shaving hop. Those are the in
stitutions that are killing you grangers ,
you Alliance men , and not the United
States banks. ( Applause. )
coir ) . ' 'Thorn sponiB fn hn
but three ways for a nation to acquire
wealth. The first is by war , as the Ro
mans did in plundering their conquered
neighbors. This is robbery. The second
end is by commerce , which is generally
cheating. The third is by agriculture ,
the only honest " \yay , wherein man re
ceives a real increase of the seed thrown
in the ground , in a kind of continued
miracle wrought by the hand of God in
his favor as a reward for his innocent
life and virtuous industry. "
But whether this be so or not , you
represent in a largo measure the labor-
ng element of society the great sub
stantial interest upon which we all de
pend ; no feudal service , no predial toiler
or irksome drudgery by one race , sub
ject , on account of their color or condi
tion , to another ; but labor , intelligent ,
manly , independent , thinking and act
ing bi' itself , earning its own wages ,
accumulating those wages into capital ,
educating children , maintaining wor
ship and schools , exercising the right of
elective franchise and upholding the
great fabric of the state : that is Ameri
can labor , and all my sympathies are
with it , and my voice , till I am dum'b ,
will be for it. I sometim-es
(
think that excessive wealth is
noc desirable , it brings neither
glory nor happiness. TJje cold sordid
wretch who thinks only of himself , who
draws his head within his shell and
never puts it out but for the purpose of
lucre ostentation or political preferment
who looks upon his fellow creatures ,
not only without sympathy but with
arrogance and insolence as if they were
made to be his vassals and he to be their
lord , as if they were made for no other
purpose than to pamper his avarice ,
and toil to contribute to his aggrandise
ment ; such a man may be rich , but
trust me. he can never be happy , nor
virtuous , nor good , nor great. There is
in the acquisition of fortune , a golden
mean which is the appropriate region
of virtue , intelligence and goodness.
The agriculture I communities of this
country , in a large degree , occupy this
region. Be content with thatand'if the
horn of plenty overflows , let the drop
pings fall upon your fellow man ; let
them fall like the droppings of honey in
the wilderness to cheer the faint and
weary pilgrim. The farmers have been
struggling against ruinously low prices
for their nroducfc for several
and against high freight rates and are a
long distance trorn the market. Your
E resent law , establishing the state
oard of transportation , so far as the
regulation of local rates is concerned ,
is all that could be desired ; and it is
simply a question of its efficient ad
ministration. The commission or board
should be elected by the people instead
of dividing up responsibility , as at the
present time. There is a growing sen
timent in this country , unfavorable to
the accumulation of enormous fortunes
in single hands , "and as a reverse of this ,
is a disposition on the part of those who
are possessed of enormous fortunes , or
who are in the way to acquire them , to
strengthen themselves against the
feeling , hostile to them. This can
not be done in any way so effectively
as by multiplying the holders of
enormous fortunes , and enlisting the
zeal of their followers and combining
against the people. By their influence
in the press , in the national and state
legislatures , in the courts , in official
life , in political parties , and in primary
conventions , in solid ramifications , in
literature , in the pulpit , in social life ,
we see developed a body of opinions
which comes to be a part of the. state
and national life , and the sentiment
which aims to dislodge it is reprobated
Hiid denounced as communism or revo
lution , to be suppressed summarily.
The .source of this spirit is not in tfie
walks of oommeriM ) tis they have been i
Known , mercantile banking , manufac
turing , but in that relation which a class
bears to a republic wherein the public
has no alternative but to accept the
offices of this class in such spirit and
such manner as it chooses to render
them , unchecked by competition which
governs ordinary commercial relations ,
and so amenable only to public senti
ment which is nowgroping its way to
find out how to asp < r.elf attentively.
Now , gentleman , where 0003 * that
public opinion , which is seeking to as
sert itself , eventually find its most effi
cient co-workers ? You are to decide.
You have heard what Mr. Dodge said
about the republican party its legisla
tion in that direction. I might pause
here and read to you many pages as to
what they have done. But it is for you
to decide at the polls. It is for you to
converse with your neighboring friends
and say whether you find that efficient
agent to accomplish these results'in the
republican party ; finding its great sup
porters in Grant , in Abraham Lincoln ,
in Seward , in Cogkling and the great
writers of the present age ; or do you
find that efficient agent in such dema
gogues as Van Wyck , Kem and the bal
ance of these men ?
Railroad transportation , telegraph
and telephone transportation in connec
tion with the enormous landed interests ,
which go with the former , are ttie chief
objects toward which reform legislation
is now directed. My faith in the future
of this country is unshaken and knows
no limit. God has watched over and
guarded and guided its counsels in
peace and in war and overruled all for
'eood. He was with the nation at Mon-
mouth , Saratoga and Yorktown , at
Wilmington , Lookout Mountain , and
Appomattox. He was with the coun
cils of the nation in its financial strug
gle'after the war and through the dark
days of 1873. And when \ve look back
a il has been overruled for good. Legis
lation on the subject of railroad rates
has made progress , and in the inter
est of the people and not to
the injury of the railroad. Pro
gress has been made. That the
movement against railroads should
come , was inevitable. When first
granges -were formed , the 'purpose of
the or ani/ttioa was to render the farm
er's homes attractive ; and secondly mak
ing farming attractive ; as a means to this
second , they sought to diminish the ex
penses and one of the most important
elements was the cost of getting goods
to the market. It was thus that they
became interested as an organization in
the question of transportation and of
railroad control. Their utterances on
this matter were moderate. It was
gradually they became instruments of
popular agitation. The first tangible
result was reached in Illinois. The con
stitutional convention of 1870 made an
important declaration concerning the
state control of rates , on the basis of
which , a law was passed in 1871. extab-
lishing a system of maxima. The law
was pronounced unconstitutional by
Judge Lawrence. The result was , he
immediately failed of a re-election on
4 1.if fTt.m-in.1 olorio TVin flnfAofnf
Llllll * LI A. V.1 I * U V4 , lL J4Vy. . * _ % > VIV1AW WA
Judge Lawrence showed the true sig
nificance of the farmer's movement.
They engaged in securing what they felt
to be their rights , and they were not
willing that any constitutional barriers
should be made to defeat their v ill.
They had reached the point whorev
were dangerously ncr revolution , ut
they did iiot pass the point. The Illi
nois law of 1873 avpided the issue , raised
by Judge Lawrence ugainst that of 1871.
Instead of directly fixing a maxima , it
provided that rates must be reasonable ,
and further provided for a commission
to fix reasonable rates. Similar laws
were passed by Iovra and Minnesota al
most immediately afterwards. The leg
islature of Wisconsin went even further ,
fixing by the so-called Potter law , the
rates on different classes of roads at a
figure which proved unremunerative.
The railroads made a vain attempt to
contest these regulations in the
'uirts. They were defeated again
and agin , and finally , in 1877 , the
supreme court of the United States sus
tained the constitutionality of the Potter
law. But a more powerful force than
constitutional , or statutory law , or the
decision of the courts "was working
ag ainst this-system of regulation of fix
ing rates by statute. This was the
power of the laws of trade and com
merce. The laws of trade and com
merce could not be violated with tm-
puuitv. The efTect cf the law was most
sharnlv felt in Wisconsin. The ; law fix-
a maximum rate and reducing rail
road rates to the basis which competi
tive points enjoyed left nothing to pay
fixed charges. In the second jrearof its
operation no Wisconsin railroad paid a
dividend , and onljr four paid interest on
their railroad bonds. Railroad con
struction in the state ceased and the
facilities on existing roads could not be
kept up. Foreign capital refused to in
vest in Wisconsin and such as could
withdrew their capital from the state.
The development of the state was
sharply checked. The very men who
most favored the law found themselves
heavy losers. These points were plain
to every one. They formed the gist and
theme of the governor's message at the
beginning of 187G. The very men who
passed the law in 1874 hurr'edly re
pealed it after two years trial. We
should at this time heed the lesson
taucht bv this experience. Auv legis
lation which seriously affects railroad
profits , reduces them below cost and
fixed charges , will check the increase of
railroad facilities. Such increase of
facilities is essential to the development
of any growing American community.
If such a community passes laws hostile
to the railroad interests , it soon feels
the evil effects. The Potter law of
Wisconsin ian instance on this point.
This lesson should admonish us at this
time. The great reduction in rates
caused a reduction of profits. This
stopped the growth aud construction of
railroads. The growth of the state was
thereby brought to a standstill. The very
interests which were most clamorous for
the law in 1874 , were most urgent for
its repeal in 1870.
The spring flies up with a force pro
portionate to that which has pressed
it down. The pendulum which is drawn
far in one direction swings as far in the
other. The joyous madness of intoxi
cation in the evening is followed by the
languor and nausea on the morrow ,
and so it is in politics. It is the sure
law that every excess shall generate its
opposite. The man or political party
does not deserve the name of states
man who strikes or legislates without
calculating the effects of the rebound.
It is too often that such calculation is
infinitly beyond the authors of popular
agitation. Be sure if you go to ex
tremes , to the crippling of the railroad
interests of the state by reducing rates
boiow actual cost ot trail spoliation an
fixed charges , the j cacti ou will be sure
to come. It will strike hardest the
agricultural and industrial interests of
the -jtate. It will create a reign of
terror , capital wil. leave the state and
will cease to come here. The history of
Wisconsin from 1874 to lb7G will be re
peated. On the other hand , a rate too
nigh or an extortionate rate brings th i
same calamity upon the agricultural
aud industrial classes. In the medium ,
safety and prosperity lies. All our
through freight is subject to a long
haul. In other words wo are at the enu
of a long haul , and nine tenths of our
tonnage is carried over this long haul.
The problem is comparatively new
in the Uiiited States. It is old in Eu
rope and the result of European experi
ence has been to give up trying to pro
hibit pools and discrimination , at the
same time. The question presented to
the state board of transportation In Ne
braska is , how can the law be most ef
fectively applied or administered to
benefit the public without detriment or
injury to the railroad interests of the
state. This can be best accomplished in
my judgment by using the power over
local rates to crowd down through rates
to the lowest point practicable. The
great virtue of the law'is not in the use
of the power it confers , but in the po
tential power to exercise the authority ,
if necessary. I have been willing to
pay a comparative high local rate in
Nebraska , if thereby we could secure
low through , interstate rates , and for
the following reasons :
First We pay about ten dollars'
through or interstate to every one d . i-
lar in local rates. A cut , therefore , of
one per cent per hundred pounds on the
through or interstate rates Is equal in
benefit to the people of the state to a cut
of ten cents ou the hundred pounds on
the local ; and I ought to add in this
connection that the thro ugh or interstate
tonnage is largely more than ten times
as'great as the local tariff. It was for
these reasons that I was willing to com
promise -with the rail-roads and accept a
cut off , from three to five cents , per
hundred , on through rates or interstate
rates and reduce locals to the B. & M.
local tariff. The B. & M. have always
had the lowest local tariff in the
state ; and threu years ago when it was
my duty to deal with these matters , the
B. & M. local tariff was fully twenty-
five per cent lower than any road in the
state , and the locals on all roads in the
state were reduced , by the voluntary
actions of the railroads , from three to
five cents per hundred pounds. The
people of the state under this arrange
ment saved from oiia and a half mil
lions to two and a naif million dollars ,
annually in amount paid on freight ,
and it was further stipulated at that
time with the roads , interested , that
they would use their influence and pow
er to crowd down through or interstate
rates , and upon their doing so , locals
would not be seriously disturbed. This
"
arrangement , so far "as I am advised ,
has been fairly well carried out by both
railroads and the State Board of Trans-
oortation.
I illustrate the situation of Nebraska
rts compared with the shipments to oth
er states. The figures are for the dis
tance of five hundred , five hundred and
fifty , six hundred , six hundred and litty ,
seven hundred , seven hundred and fifty
and eight hundred miles from the bas
ing point of making rates , and the
points are supposed to be equal dis
tances from Chicago.
Let me say in this connection that wo
runabout live hundred miles from
Chicago and we strike Nebraska. So
in this table I start at the five hundred
mile point. Then I take three points ;
one in Dakota , oue in Kansas , one in
Nebraska , and give the rates to the
points ; Onasalka , Wisconsin , that is for
live hundred miles I will skip and
come down to six hundred miles , Lens-
dale , Minnesota ; Fairmont , Nebraska
and Council Grove , Kansas. The dis
tance of each of these points is six hun
dred miles from Chicago. I will only
give the figures in a few instances.
First class from Chicago to Fairmont is
81.05 ; Lousdale , the same distance , $ L-
22 ; and to Council Grove. Kansas , SI.19
Now in first class I do not suppose
many of the audience understand this
classification. But in a general way ,
first class freight includes timers and all
bulky wares such as baskets ; it includes
frail breakable articles that are likely
to break. But in the fourth class is
where the farmer is interested. It is
them his sugar is shipped , his coffee , his
tea , tus groceries , nis flour and ins liara-
\varo and nearly everything comes in
the fourth class. I say that by way of
explanation. And they give you a rate
of six huudred miles on fourth class ,
Lousdale , Minnesota , . 57 : Fairmont ,
Nebraska , 53 ; Council Grove , Kansas ,
55.
You observe from the above figures ,
Nebraska enjoys a cheaper rate for the
same distance "than that given to Kan
sas , Minnesota or Dakota because the
volume of traffic is much greater in Ne
braska , than in sparcely settled Dakota ;
but the volume of traffic in Kansas and
Minnesota , and the population to the
miles of railroad compare favorably
with Nebraska.
Is'ow , I do not say tnat there is no
cause for complaint at the present time ,
but I do desire to say before I close that
the board of transportation has saved
the state at least two and a half million
dollars every year. A greater saving is
possible under the exigencies , it may be
true , but it is possible you may go as
far as they went in Wisconsin and the
reaction will come , fatally crippling
the progress of the state , and crippling
your lands by crowding down prices.
And , let me sny further , that while you
hear these men complain of some state
officers , Mr. Benton , for instance , I can
say this for him ; he has a great many
legal questions come before him , the
registration of bonds , and a great many
others , and so far in his past official life
for two years he has never made a mis
take. They have gone to the supreme
court iu some ten cases , the attorney
general against him , and in every in
stance his decision has been main
tained. He is a young man , but he has
efficiently discharged his duties. The
reason I name him especially is because
they seem to be making an especial
figliit on him that is , the granger ele
ment as I hear it but no more efficient
officer has ever occupied a place in the
state.
< vow , in conclusion , the hopes of this
state in my judament are in the repub
lican party. Turn to the state of your
condition compared with that of Kan
sas , which is endowed just as richly
with , a school fund a- your state , and
come with that school fund ; with
her six hundred thousand more people
than yourb , liur tchool t'umi amounts to
'nf nerh-tos. Unee millions :
- yours to twenty immona 10 uio
and more than forty millions in lands.
Whose hand has husbanded this for tha
rich inheritance of the children that
are. and are ynt to bo , whose hand , except -
copt the hand ot the republican party ?
You never have had a defalcation
among the republican officers of the
state. Show mo the place yrhevo , the
democrats' have had the power , either
in city , county or state , that they do
not have two defalcations a year. Now ,
I sav this , not to traduce or abuse anv-
bodv , but to call upon you. by the
memory of the past by the memory ol
from 'GO to ' 65 , by the memory of a Garfield -
field , by the memory ol a Grant , by the
memory of a Lincoln , by the memory
of the hosts of dead that fell upon the
battlefield , to stand by these drvmest
blessings , that have been transmitted
through the agency of tbe republican
party. And not only stand by them ,
but go into the field and work for them ,
now , when the grand old party is as
sailed by those who have been and'
ought now to be her friends , and labor
with them , hand to hand , upon Novem
ber next , you wrest victory for the state -
and the national ticket. [ Applause. ]
First Congressional District Ropuo-
llcan Platform.
We , the republicans of the First con
gressional district of Nebraska , in con
vention assembled at Plattsmouth thia
28rd day of September , 1890. do adopt-
the following as our platform :
1. We reaffirm our adherence to the
principles so clearly and strongly enun
ciated in the republican national plat
form of 1888 , and by the resolutions-
adopted at the republican stale conven
tion recently held at Lincoln , Ne
braska. .
3. We cordialty endorse the admin
istration 'of President Harrison and.
congratulate the country upon the wise-
and able meaner in which he lias dis
charged the duties of his high office.
3. We approve of such methods and
rules as are now existing , or which may
hereafter bo adopted by the United
States or house of representatives as-
will permit the transaction of the legis
lative business of the nation. While we
favor a full and fair presentation and
consideration of the views of &
minority ; we are opposed to the
methods and tactics whereby obstruc
tionists seek to prevent the transaction-
of public business. A majority must
be permitted to legislate for it alone la
responsible to the country. f
4. On all economic questions we fa
vor independence of action by Western
representatives in the interest of the
great and growing Northwest. Wo
cordially approve and endorse the
course of our representative in congress ,
tin' Hon. William J. Conuell , ami cor-
dia'.tv finiii mi Mm to to the voters ol
the jfirst cougruastuuul district of Ne il
braska as worthy of their support. Wo
especially commend him to independent
voters as well as to all republicans in I
the district , for his independent advo
cacy of free and unlimited coinage of
silver , and for his able and successful
efforts in securing the passage of the
eig nt nour" out auu otner measures.in
thelnterest of workmen , laborers and
mechanics. -
5. We most heartily approve the ac
tion of the republicans of th ° present
congress in passing so many measures
in the interests of the agricultural and
laboring classes ; prohibiting trusts ; pro
viding for meat inspection ; endowing j' *
agricultural colleges ; preventing the '
fraudulent branding of farm products ;
providing for the purchase of 4,000,000
ounces of silver each month , thereby
greatly increabing the supply of the
circulating medium ; declaring that
eight hours shall constitute a day'a
work for all laborers , workmen and
mechanics employed by the government
or government contracts ; and providing
for the protection of free labor against
contract labor and alien contract labor.
C. We condemn the democratic doc
trine of free trade , under the operation
of which thousands now engaged in
manufacturing , mining , and like indus
tries must be driven from their present
occupation and compelled to indulge in-
agricultural pursuits , thereby unduly
increasing our farm products and de
stroying a remunerative market there
for. i
7. We believe that a home marked
with millions of consumers engaged in Hi
the various industries is the best mar
ket in the worl ! and for any perishable-
artiele the only available one. I ?
8. We favor the most radical reduction - i
tion of the' tariff nossible consistent - ?
with the protection of American indus
tries and free American labor ; such re
duction to be made as far as possible
on the necessaries of life and articles
in eii'un'on use. At the same time we
favoi MIC ! ) : t tariff upon the imported
product * of low-priced foreign labor ,
fairly -ind justly distributed as will pro-
tcet tl e interests of American wage-
workers without adding to their bur-
deiit >
'JVa most heartily endorse the sys
tem of reciprocity in trade , proposed by
the ! Ion James G Bhune , as a fitting-
suj' | > lt ment to the republican theory of
proU'cMiMi
10V approve the action of the pres
ent nvuMicuu congress in restoring to-
the jut ibe domain over eight million-
aenMf 1-nid heretofore granted to rail-
roa > ' - . \Ve are opposed to the granting ,
of any cart of the public domain to cor-
1 1 UV favor such wise national legislation -
islation in th regulation of commerce
betn . .MHlates asvil ! prevent extortion.
b' - . neil carriers and securu for the
! /r r the. transportation of his pro-
in i > ad in irkcts at a roa on-ibeand )
pn- i > ; < t ami xvunout unjust uiscnm-
ii -i In favor of any class , interest or
section
i- \Ve declare our approval of the
JH.I.ind constant republican policy o !
ai ! < - * ' ! _ r yeucroMs pensions to depend
ent id 4l. ih.ed
a union soldiers , and as <
a'jju IM a i democratic promises and pre-
teii' ' x We proudly recall the fact that
all important pension legislation h a
been phe.-d ou the statute books by ro-
pubii-tns ! We favor the enactment of
such a-i'litional
pension legislation as
will fiitsHi eun-v Dl * drre made by a loyal
peopV to defenders and preservers
of our lonntry.
18 We cordially endorse the bill in-
troilm-fil in congress by Hon. W. J. ,
Conn..l for the location of a Unite'd %
Stat. > - ( .ranch mint within the limits ol
the -t"i - . .f Nebraska. Since there is a
genenu demand for more coinage and
the pre-ent capacity of the mints is
known to be too limited , and as we are *
in favor of extending foreign trade
through reciprocity between this and
other countries , aud Omaha furnishes
one fourth of the silver required by the
United States treasury department , we
would respectfully ask congress to pass
the Counell bill in order to provide for
the necessary demand for gold and sil
ver coinage.
