The passage and repeal of Iowa's Granger Law, 1868-1878 / by Elaine Byassee Bailey.
| Author/creator | Bailey, Elaine Byassee author. |
| Other author | Steelman, Joseph F., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of History. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1974. |
| Description | 99 leaves ; 29 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The purpose of this paper is to explore the real economic and political forces which culminated in the passage of Iowa's "Granger Law" in 1874. For more than seventy five years after passage of this and similar railroad rate laws in the Midwestern states, it was thought that the farmer's organization, the Patrons of Husbandry, more popularly known as the Grange, was responsible for passage of these measures. The fact that the Grange mushroomed in membership coincident with passage of these regulatory laws and that the farmer seemed to be the primary beneficiary of railroad regulation gave credence to this point of view. However, research in this area by George Miller in regard to the Upper Mississippi Valley and Mildred Throne's studies of the period in Iowa lead to the view that desire for railroad regulation came from a long standing suspicion by lowans of all corporations and Eastern Investors, not only by farmers, but many small businessmen, both in the developed interior and along the Mississippi River. These people saw their suspicions confirmed as competing railroad lines trampled or ignored them in their frenzy to retain contracts with the larger shippers. Research for this particular study reveals that sentiment for the regulation of railroad rates followed in the wake of railroad construction as it spread north and west over the state. In addition, river merchants were vociferous in their demands for regulation because railroads were rapidly bringing the era of trade via river routes to a close. Finally, it was the formation of the Anti-Monopoly party, primarily by Democrats, who saw the growing resentment of outside monopolies as a vehicle for a return to power, which made for speedy passage of Iowa's regulatory law. A study of the Grange newspaper, the Iowa Homestead, and correO spondence of Grange members shows the movement for railroad regulation to be only one concern among many social and economic welfare. for the farmers In addition, the Grange sought diligently to remain separate from political partisanship; and in a large measure succeeded, as was evidenced by the number of Grangers working and voting for both parties in the election of 1873, which brought the so-called "Grange Legislature" to Des Moines. The study concludes with a review of the law which was known as Iowa's "Granger Law" and the reasons for its repeal in 1878. |
| General note | Submitted to the faculty of the Department of History. |
| General note | Advisor: Joseph F. Steelman |
| Dissertation note | M.A. East Carolina University 1974 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99). |
| Genre/form | masters theses. |
| Genre/form | theses. |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | doctoral dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | History. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
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