EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PAET III. 159 



demonstration in our state. In 1896 the electric railways of our 

 state were beginning to prepare themselves to carry light freight 

 and express packages. After some of them had got their equip- 

 ments and received their cars, the legislature happened to be in 

 session — and in the twinkle of an eye, there was a bill passed pro- 

 hibiting electric railways from carrying freight. We were weak at 

 that time in our state; we had less than 2,000 members in our 

 organization. Two years ago, some of our members began to real- 

 ize the fact that our rights had been taken away from us. We pre- 

 pared a bill through the organization repealing the act of 1896 and 

 giving us what rightfully belonged to us. Some of my friends 

 said: "What is the matter with you; do you have any idea you 

 can get that measure passed through this legislature, that has been 

 practically elected and controlled by the railroads of the state ? " I 

 said: "It won't do any harm to try; it is only asking for some- 

 thing along the line of fairness and justice and equity of what the 

 people demand, whether farmer or business man; it is for the 

 greatest good to the greatest number." We prepared our bill and 

 had it introduced in the senate. It was referred to the committee 

 on railroads and canals — a pretty tough proposition. We had a 

 hearing — had sent word to some of the subordinate granges to be 

 there — it was impossible for me to be there at the time. The rail- 

 way people were there and they defeated them. They telephoned 

 me, and I sent word back to stick to it and have another hearing, 

 and for two of our members to go to Atlantic City, the home of the 

 chairman of that committee, and tell him that there is an organiza- 

 tion back of this movement, and asked one of them to come and see 

 me. The result of this movement was, that the gentleman got busy, 

 taking notice of his constituents. We prepared telegrams and sent 

 them to the hundred subordinate lodges, and we prepared a letter 

 to follow the telegrams, that there was to be a hearing, and by 

 twelve o'clock we had over two hundred farmers, their wives and 

 boys present at the state house — ^we had become organized; we had 

 a set of resolutions passed by the various agricultural societies, 

 whose executive conunittees had called them in special session, and 

 all these resolutions were in line with the bill which was prepared. 

 At three o'clock we marched 200 strong into the senate chamber. 

 You should have seen the members of the legislature of the state 

 of New Jersey sitting up and taking notice. "What is the trouble 

 with these rubes; what are they doing here — they were there mak- 

 ing a strenuous effort to secure the passage of the Trolley Freight 

 Bill. The result was, when we entered the senate chamber, we 

 filled it. Our representatives had a list of names of those who were 



