154 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



railroads which was so strong in 1873 and 1874, but had practi- 

 cally disappeared by the end of the decade. 



The policy upon which the railroad forces relied the most, 

 however, in their campaign for the repeal of the law, was that 

 of making the legislation as unpopular as possible by causing 

 it to appear to be contrary to the best interest of the state. 

 In this work a considerable part of the press of the state was 

 interested, as well as a number of the more influential eastern 

 newspapers. It was asserted from the beginning of the move- 

 ment that any interference with the railroads would prevent 

 all further construction in the state and thus retard its develop- 

 ment; it was asserted that eastern and foreign capitalists would 

 no longer invest money in railroads in a state in which the roads 

 were liable to regulation which practically amounted to con- 

 fiscation. Just at this time there did come a decided decline 

 in the extension of railroad lines, which, although it is possible 

 to point out many causes for it besides the Granger movement, 

 made the railroad argument seem plausible. 1 Doubtless many 

 people were induced to oppose regulation by this argument, 

 for the desire for more railroads was still considerable in many 

 parts of the state. 2 



The first shot in the campaign for the repeal of the law of 

 1873 was fired on the very day upon which it became a law, 

 May 2, 1873, when four members of the Senate presented to 

 that body a formal written protest against the measure. In 

 this they admitted the necessity of legislation on the subject, 

 but declared that the measure adopted was unconstitutional, 

 and that it would paralyze the commercial and industrial inter- 

 ests of the state. The second shot came on the day upon which 

 the law (with the exception of the schedule feature) went into 

 effect, when the railroads, apparently by a preconcerted agree- 

 ment, raised the former competitive rates to the level of the 



1 Railroad Commission, Reports, 1876, pp. 18-21; Nation, xvi. 384, 397, xvii. 

 49, 156, 218 (1873). 



2 Threats were made that the quality of the service on the railroads would be 

 lowered, but no evidence of such action has been found. See Nation, xvi. 309 

 (May 8, 1873). This method of making the restrictive laws unpopular was used 

 in some of the other Granger states. See below, p. 163. 



