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About The Monmouth herald. (Monmouth, Or.) 1908-1969 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1909)
Why it is Harmful. The constitution ought not to be amended so as to make it possible for the state to engage in the construction and opera tion of railroads. It is said, how ever, that such change could do no harm and might do much good. But it could do much harm, infinite harm. It was ex perience that showed the makers of our constitution the necessity of erecting a barrier against sudden hursts of speculation and fits of financial madness. To re move these barriers would open the door to extreme dancers. Not only would removal of the barriers open the door to an in considerable rush of speculative fury in boom times, now and again, but even in ordinary times it would be a danger, be cause a fraction of the people, some local bunch unobserved by the rest, might sneak into the policy of the state a scheme that would commit the state to a sys tem that would never be approv ed, on careful consideration, by the majority. People have a right to feel that they are secure, so they can sleep o' nights. The masses of the people want to go about their business and pursue their regular callings, without disturbance of these terrors. They don't want to be compelled to stand guard all the time, every year, night and day, against agitators, innovators, schemers and revolutionists. Hence we believe they will not break down the constitutional barrier, nor open the walls to let the fatal horse in. If this most vital part of the constitution shall be set aside, what's the use of a pretense of maintaining a constitution in any part? Why not abolish it at once by initia tive statute, and declare that the constitution resides solely in the breasts of the people, subject to their variable moods from one day to another? Oregonian Feb. 1(J. This is mighty good Harriman argument and along the line that one would naturally expect the Oregonian to take when there is a few dollars in sight. It has ever been the policy of that paper to discourage anything that savors of the common people helping themselves. The great and good editor of that paper has always had it in for the common herd. He doesn't associate with that class and the really aristocratic class will not tolerate him, so he herds by himself a good deal of the time and has thus become a great grunter. When an ordinary everyday mortal speaks to him he grunts, thats all. ' When the matter of voting on the bill, that was passed by the late lamented legislature allowing the people to do so, giving the state or certain districts the right to bond for the purpose of build ing railroads or roads, comes up we will wager our old hat that the majority for it will surprise even the bucolic editor of Port land's great paper. The fact of the matter is that it is one of the very few measures that were passed by that body that are really meritorious. It is time the people had some way of de fending themselves against giant monopolies and this is one of the best as against railroad dis crimination. Some of the little monkey and parrot imitators of the Oregonian have said that it would drive money away from the state, drive immigration away, but the fact is that there has been more activity among the Harrimrn interests since the act came before the legislature than for a long time before. We have had promise after promise of a railroad into Central Ore gon, but nothing has as yet come of it. If the people vote to build this road if will be built and if they build it, they can dispose of it at a good profit over the ex pense of building, for there will be active bidding by more than one great railway system to get hold of it. It is our humble opinion that a railway into east ern Oregon, or as it is termed central Oregon, will pay run ing expenses hauling the vast alkali beds of that country down here for the purpose of fertiliz ing this part of the state, mak ing it one of the most product ive that there is under the sun The people must rule or there will be trouble and such pomr ous old parasites as the one that presides over the destinies of the Oregonian's editorial depart ment will be largely responsible for the conditions that will sure ly come to pass unless there is a radical change in the political and financial conditions that now obtain in this country. Selling the Cows. Editor Oregon Agriculturist: In your comments on the criti cisms made at the recent State Dairy Association regarding dairymen selling their cows, you excuse the transaction on the rounds of the farmers o-pttW t) - o'v"iO rid of their star boarders, labor dimcluties, etc. Now, so far as the criticisms of the writer are concerned, they were made for the sole purpose 01 calling attention to what, to my mind, is a colossal blunder. It is certainly highly commend- aoie 01 tne iarmer to dispose of his star boarders, but they should not be sold to innocent, inexperi enced purchasers of dairy stock, but rather to the butcher. It is not the selling of the star board ers, or the logical disposal of sur plus cows that the criticism is made,- but the selling of our best nerds hy wholesale to dairvmen in other states. The writer has in mind one point from which it is estimated 500 cows and heifers were shipped last season and perhaps fully ninety per cent of these were purchased by Wash ington and Idaho dairvmon Large shipments have also been made trom other points in the vallev to these states. Tn fxot sales of cows have been so heavy during tne past year as to ma terially reduce the dairy output of many sections. This is indp unfortunate, for the cow surpass es an oi our tarm animals for yielding a sure revenue and for the rejuvenation of our farms. These cows cost their purchas ers at least twenty dollars in freight before thev reach their destination, and yet their pro duct is Drought m direct competi tion with our own. It is the too eeneral tendon of our farmers to treat dairying as an incidental industry and they thus readily dispose of their cows when offered a good price, wnicn we think is very unfortu nate. Dairying is one of the aorifnl- tural industries which gives the farmer no worry as to the market for the product. The creamery men of the state are virtually 'on their knees pleading with the far mers for more sweet cream, and are willing to pay a higher price tnan is paid Dy any other market in the United States. Let us have a Greater nn'de in the vocation, and let our optimism overcome all obstacles and thus build ud a dairy industry that will be the marvel of the nation. James Wlthvcomhe in firearm Agriculturist 5V 5v i''' IV TV IV 5V 5V XS? & f& 5& QT. 5 1 f3S VGS VOX VGA IftSl 1 Your Eggs Your Butter Your Your Potatoes Everything you have to sell Also your good will LINDSAY & CO. Noted for Bargains Ki&tmm v m v v m HANNA BROS. Independence Leading Hardware Store DEALERS IN- Hardware of all Kinds, Harness, Stoves, Vehicles, Farm Implements SOLE AGENTS FOR The Celebrated OLIVER Goods Plumbing a Specialty. Independence, - - - Oregon For Sale. One of the nicest residences in Monmouth, 12 rooms, hot and cold water, bath and pantry. Furnace heat. Four lots, some fruit trees and shrubbery to gether with almost entire furnish ings for $2700. Terms can be given on a part of this. Enquire of the Polk County Realty Co., at the Herald office. This price is far below real value and will only stand for a short time. Prize Peach a Pride of Oregon FLOUR Made in Polk County Lindsay & Co., Sole Agents Patronize home manufactured goods and help build up your home industries Bring your Job Work to the Herald Office