Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-04

The Telegraph War-No Monopoly of
| Knowledge.
| To the Editor of the Globe:
The days of the Western Union telegraph
monopoly are numbered. The downfall of
this monopoly will be hailed with satisfac
ton by the whole country. 1t has been op
pressive, e1acting and e1orbitant. A few
years ago, when the Atlantic & Pacific under
| took to compete with the monster, and to
| relieve the business community and the
whole people of its heavy burdens,
all competition was throttled by the
magnates and millionaires of the Western
Union. They purchased a controlling in
terest in the Atlantic and Pacific, crushed
out all contemplated reduction of rates, and
tackled on the new company as an append
age.
Every one was disappointed. The rates
were increased rather than diminished, and
the people have had to submit to this NAM
moth iniquitous scheme of robbery. The
Western Union, with q capital of over
forty-one millions of dollars, by
! reason of exorbitant charges,
could pay eight to twelve per cent dividends,
and accumulate an immense surplus besides.
Who paid? The business community. Every
one compelled by business or other cause to
send message, was robbed to enrich these
monopolists. They claimed to own all the
routes, to have the exclusive control of all
the railroad lines, and perpetuity of exclu-
sive privilege. 1t is time that these out
rageous exactions should cease and l, for
one, rejoice at the establishment of the Anne
rican Union, and hope that its managers
and owners will carry on the war until tho
Western Union is compelled to cease its rob-
berries and to reduce its rates. Congress
has already passed law which forbids these
exclusive franchises, and should not hesitate
| to supplement it by additional legislation.
If there is anything on earth that should be
free, open to all competition, it is intel
ligence. So great had become the over
reaching ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the Western
Union, that, at one time, it was serious
ly proposed that the government
| should assume control of the entire system
of telegraphy. This might have been an
| evil of greater magnitude. The espionage
established by the Republican party over the
mails is quite sufficient without adding the
telegraph.
1t appears to me to be eminently fit and
proper that business men, railroad officials,
public officers, the representatives of the
l H0SRA0 ~ OoASAOooS OAohAOCAb VI COAuAo1Co
and the whole people themselves should en-
courage and support by public opinion and by
legislation if necessary, the establishment of
the American Union telegraph company,
and thus relieve the commerce of the
| country of millions of taxation now
paid into the pockets of the grasping
| Western Union monopoly.
Do not think desire to appear in print
or care fig for notoriety. write simply
because these subjects have had my atten-
ton for years, and out of the ever present
wish for the people to throw off the Jokes
and burdens now crushing upon the indus
tries, commerce and general welfare of the
country in the interests of the few whose
only gods are avarice and gold.
The Baltimore & Ohio and Union Pacific
| railroads have severed all connections with
| the Western Union and made contracts with
the American Union. ALI other railroads
should follow those brave examples until the
Western Union is deprived of all exclusive
franchises to impose OIL the necessities of the
people. OSCAR STEPHENSON.