PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 151 



are looked on as the only body that speaks for the producer— the widely scattered 

 growers— and we are asked to point out the way for changes and reforms in prac- 

 tices that oppress the poor and weak. 



Monopolies are cruel, and would crush the life out of opponents, and it is left 

 for us to initiate the measure that will bring relief. When a measure is planned, 

 carefully considered, and advocated, the agitation that can be carried on by our 

 local organizations, the influence that can be brought to bear on freight solicitors, 

 on local agents, will after a while be felt by the general agents of the roads, 

 and the persistent work will be effectual. 



The boycott is an ugly, un-American word, and I will not use it, but content 

 myself by saying, "Commerce will follow the lines of the least resistance." 



If a puffed-up, self-important man be in charge of a transportation line, he is 

 offering "resistance" to traffic, that will in the end be felt. I know of one trunk 

 line between the east and west, magnificently equipped for business, that can 

 not get a pound of freight from some heavy shippers, simply because of the pig- 

 headed policy of those in charge of its interests. It is scarcely felt now, but 

 will be in time to come. 



Where a road has a positive monopoly, it may for a while pursue the "public 

 be d d" policy, but it will not win. 



One trunk line leading into the City of Chicago, possessing all the material 

 advantages that it is possible to imagine, for twenty years acted on that line, 

 but every advantage was taken of competition, and every pound of freight that 

 could go to competitive points went by other lines, till the management saw their 

 folly and quietly changed their methods, until now no road will do more to 

 accommodate its patrons than that line. 



It is not the matter of transporting the goods alone that enters into the 

 problem— terminal facilities are requisite, and decent treatment at the terminals. 

 Every reasonable facility to promptly handle the goods should be afforded as a 

 matter of right, not courtesy, and we should demand, and are entitled to, recogni- 

 tion as honest men. 



We do not object to reasonable safeguards against imposition, on the part of 

 the companies, but do object against unnecessary delays and vexatious regulations 

 that are unnecessary. They are "obstx'uctions to commerce" that should be 

 removed. 



Briefly, then, let us demand just service for compensation paid, the quickest 

 time for the transportation of perishable products, the prompt removal of all 

 obstructions to commerce, or go around them and pledge ourselves to persistent 

 agitation, and work for the accomplisliment of these objects. 



I can not go into details or illustrations in a brief paper, as you all have daily 

 illustrations of the points indicated. The report of the transportation committee 

 will have additional matter on this subject, that will develop the ideas above 

 set forth. Better to confine ourselves to something specific, and work steadily 

 for its accomplishment, than to scatter our efforts until they are of no avail. 

 Discussion wilh bring out points and illustrations to emphasize the above, for 

 from practical experience we must draw ovir arguments to convince our railway 

 friends of the justice of our claim, and I believe what I have said will indicate 

 the course we should pursue. 



