The Railroad That Threatened to Make Serfs of Us All

In the matter of land grant forfeiture, the House has only partially fulfilled its pledges. Bills to forfeit unearned grants to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company and other roads have passed the House, but the bill to forfeit the unearned land grant of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company remains on the House calendar. The railroad lobby has succeeded in deferring a vote until the next session, but the question will return when Congress reassembles.

The following open letter was addressed to Democrats of Washington Territory:

"We take this method of calling the attention of our fellow Democrats throughout the Territory to an important matter vitally affecting the welfare of our entire population. … The managers and leaders of the Republican party have been indifferent to the wishes of the mass of its followers touching the forfeiture of land withheld from settlement for the benefit of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company; the taxation of railroad property under the same rules applicable to individual citizens; the right and duty of the law-enacting power to regulate the freights and fares of all incorporated transportation companies, so as to prevent imposition and unjust discrimination between persons and localities; and other legislation necessary to curb and keep within proper control corporate power. … We believe that the time has come for the people, irrespective of party, to organize against this monopoly, which threatens to make serfs of us all. … No one should be sent as our delegate to Congress who is lukewarm on the foregoing propositions, and who is not unmistakably against the grasping greed and overbearing dictation of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company."

The letter asked Democrats to answer two questions: whether the party should nominate a candidate for delegate, and whether a nonpartisan people's movement should demand forfeiture of all unearned railroad lands, equal taxation of railroad property, and regulation of freight and fares. Replies were to be sent to Albert M. Snyder at Seattle. It was signed by Luke McRedmond, Albert M. Snyder, Thomas Burke and others.