Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-03-29
CONalUNEC3TED.
THE RAILROAD VS.. THE PEG
PIE OF w. VA
ARTICLE NO. =


ply proposed the courts should investi-
sa,e and ascertain the legal rights and
he legal duties of the railroad. But
The corporation don't want its rights
and duties ascertained its policy is TO
leave the question open until 1t has oh.
tanned complete and p!enary control OF
the State. Hence. rs soon as this reso
luton passed, the company set diligent-
" to work 20 procure It's repeal. Inc
Legislature was bullGozed and subdued;
the Rail Road was triumphant;
the Legislature backed down, and lis
inelorious SURRENDER was called a CON-
The lion and the lamb once
made compromise; the lion eat the
lamb.
1t will be interesting. and possibly
instructive. to consider some of the in
strumeutalities by which the corpora
ton achieved this most remarkable re-
suit
FIRST. Our politicians preserved
cautious neutrality; they stood by in 81
lence while the railroad hoodwinked the
people and bullied the Legislature.
There were the candidates lug-rolilng
COR Governor, Congress and the Senate,
and yet not one Of them gave single
word Of advice or expressed an opinion
upon this most vital issue; they did
nothing TO shape public opinion or to
instruct the people. Here is their d.
lemma: they were either competent to
give advice in this matter, or they were
incompetent If competent, their silence
at that critical juucture was almost
crime if they were incompetent, then
they are unfit Tor the positions to which
they aspire. it won't do TO say they
had ne authority TO interfere with q
question before the Legislature, because
when the rights of the people are at
stake it is the duty Of every man to
take sides ard speak out his sentiments.
No man is fit Tor Governor, Congress
or the Senate unless he is able and will
lag to instruct the people upon qnes-
tons Of this character.
This neutrality assumed by our most
prominent and most successful polltl-
clans had its effect upon the smaIltry,
and they too courted the favor and
friendship of the railroad.
Again, it was Wanted that no one
could prosper in West Virginia politics
unless Of approved fidelity TO the road.
Crhis will be developed in future artl,
c!e.)
And, again, it is not unlikely money
was used to influence certain men OF
doubtful neutrality. But this is mere
submissive have no reliable inioIma-
ton on the subject.
SECOND. \ mistaken public sentiment
was manufactured in favor Of the road
and against the Legislature. The PEG
pie were made TO believe that the q
W. resolution was persecution designed
TO break down the corporation and i'm
pair its usefulness; it was characterized
as "crude and ill.considered legislation !;
the offspring of ignorance and malice.
Again, a threat was circulated that,
unless the resolution was repealed, the
road would suddenly advance its charges
and bankrupt all business along the line.
The newspapers, in the interests Of the
corporation, published this threat, and
the people were made TO believe they
were at the mercy Of the railroad, and
that the only way to escape disaster
was to submit and beg for chariiy. And
yet, as proven in our previous article,
the company dared not execute this
threat.
And, again, the SPECIAL EATE-MEN
doctored public sentiment. 1t has been
the practice of the road to give large
shippers special rates. Thus: the frei GIT
on wheat at Charlestown was II cents !;
now a spcculator, shipping large guam
titles, was charged only y cents-he
was given cents advantage over his
neighbors. These sptcial-rate-men made
money. Ifthe price in Baltimore was
SlOO, and the freight II cents, then
wheat was worth in Charlestown only
SO cents. Hence. the buyer cleared )
cents on each bushel. 1t only required,
say, a week TO complete the operation,
so he made ) cents on an investment Of
83 cents every seven days; this was over
800 per cent year.
The company published 4 notice that
the Q. w. resolution compelled it 10
withdraw these special rates. This was
not true (as we will explain hereafter),
but that notice subserved its purpose; it
made these srecial-rale. exert al
their personal Influence TO procure re-
peal Of the resolution.
It will be observed we make no quar-
rel with these special-rate-men; their
business was Legitimate and benefit TO
the community, because the more bDy-
ers the better for the sellers. We ouy
point out the fact that they were used
by the corporation 10 pull the chestnuts
oat of the fire. Again, we doubt very
much whether these special rates viola
ted the charter of the company; the
complaint is that many people are
charged 100 much, not that a feD poo
pie are charged TOO HHe. ! don't care
what my nei9h6or pays provided l am
not charged too high.
THIRD. All the many men employed
by the road set up perfect howl for
the repeal of This resolution from the
humble switch-tendcr in his little box,
up to the immaculate Mr.. Garrett in his
private palace car, there came ore long,
loud shout, in perfect harmony-"the
State must not sue the road"
1t is a curious fact, fact as curious