IS THE UNION A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION t 



authentic statement at hand, they charged so largely for it 

 that after paying all expenses for running the road, inter- 

 est on bonds and all other interest for which they were 

 liable, rents and $20,000,000, called by them a miscel- 

 laneous fund, they still had $80,000,000 to divide among 

 themselves and leave in the treasury almost $20,000,000 as 

 surplus. When we think, we know we furnished the pro- 

 duce which they hauled, and bought the goods they 

 brought back, and that we paid to them the surplus mil- 

 lions, and this was the result of waiting many years for 

 railroad competition to regulate charges, we ought to be 

 able to unite in demanding by our votes that these giant 

 corporations be controlled in their charges in both freight 

 and passenger traffic, fixing them at such rates as will pay 

 the owners a reasonable percentage 4 upon the money act- 

 ually invested in them. When we unite in our demands 

 at the ballot box for these changes we will get them, and 

 not before. When we get them the nation will receive a 

 new lease of prosperity, the wheels of industry and com- 

 merce will start anew and the people will be content and 

 happy. ' ' 



Men who are nominated and elected on wishy-washy, 

 meaningless and ambiguous platforms are not bound to any 

 direct line of action. The Order has demonstrated its wis- 

 dom by making its demands on the existing parties, and 

 pledging itself to support only those who would promise 

 faithfully to carry out those measures. But it has fell short 

 of its own pledges, in many instances, by supporting, 

 for party's sake, men whose interests were antagonistic 

 to their own. And this, in many cases, where they had 

 the opportunity of voting for one of their own brethren. 

 Many have thus done what they condemn in the law- 

 makers served the interests of Mammon. But a new era 

 is dawning. The people are taking greater interest in the 

 political affairs of the country, and demanding relief from 



