Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/99

 regulations of the State, properly legislative in its nature, which includes the power to regulate, consistently with the charter, all of the franchises granted and to prescribe and limit the amount of toll or charges.”

The case was appealed by the railroad company to the Supreme Court of the United States which confirmed the decision of Judge Dillon. M. E. Cutts, who was the Attorney-General for Iowa, argued the case before the two courts and was assisted in the preparation of the case by Senator Campbell who was familiar with every section of the act. Mr. Cutts met the ablest attorneys in the country, who had been employed by the combined railroad interests, and won a victory of great magnitude in its far reaching effects. It was regarded as one of the most important decisions ever rendered by a court in which the interests of the people came in conflict with those of corporations. It was hailed by the people of Iowa and the country in general with great satisfaction. The issues involved reached deeply the material prosperity of every farmer in the State for all time to come. Under this decision corporations could be restrained from practicing extortion in conveying the products of the farms to distant markets and returning the supplies that every farm must have from the eastern cities and factories. Without this restraining power unlimited extortion could be enforced upon the people for an indefinite period of time, for which no remedy would exist. This decision added much to the value of Iowa farms and insured to the tillers of the soil a fair compensation for the capital and labor invested in their pursuit. The untiring effort of the farmers in the Granges of the State was the most potent influence brought to bear upon the legislators to secure the enactment of the law fixing and limiting railroad charges. It was their united effort that compelled the two strong political parties to incorporate the demand into their platforms, thus committing these powerful organizations to the advocacy of the reform.

A State Convention of the Democrats and