Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1886-06-30
THE RAILROAD,


not exclusive IN its peculiar manage
ment. 1t seems to be the same i'll
veterate absorber of everybody's pro-
| fits and the same answering oppo-
nent whenever it has the opportunity.
Great Britain at the same time is
showing the same restlessness under
railroad management as the people OF
this country are showing. There is
immense capital invested in railroads
in the United Kingdom, and although
| the prevailing rate of interest upon
money in that country has not been
over three per cent for years, the
capital in railroads has insisted upon
net profit of two or three times
more than that. Discrimination, too,
has been crying evil, and although
the courts have been able to do
something to hold 1t
somewhat in check, it still exists to
most irritating and damaging extent.
The people have tired Of the wrongs,
as any people will tire under a steady
infiiction of injustice, and it is pro-
posed to put final stop to them;
and half way measures are not con-
templated. 1t is proposed to have
the government take the roads, own
them and operate them. This is favor
eddy some of the most prominent and
able of English statesmen. The Eng
lish government already operates the
telegraph and that has been success
full under its management. Hence it
is argued that it can manage the rail-
roads without difficulty.
We refer to the matter i'll order to
show our people that there is nothing
| at all in our proposed reform of rail-
road management in this country
| which Is so radical as to be repug-
nant. Our people have not generally
demanded that the government
should take the roads.
Many have advocated that, and the
advocacy has not been without merit.
But the American people are very
conservative up to certain point.
Beyond that if they are driven beyond
it they are always radical in the eX-
treme. If the promoters of wrong
systems will meet our people half
way they will De granted even extra
ordinary privileges. Rut if they will
concede nothing it is only a matter
of time when they will arouse the
people to pitch of excitement that
will turn things upside down. The
Western Rural has repeatedly told
the railroads of this country that their
own best interests demanded large
concessions to the people. But the
managers have been blind to see it;
and the result has been that day by
day public sentiment has been
created and is being created that will
eventually twist these fellows until
they scream. Our people are SO long
suffering and are of such q f9rgiving
nature that if the roads should lower
their rates and stop their discrimina-
ton the people will be content, though
the rates might still be too high. But
with the power to squeeze and fitch,
the monopoly cannot resist'the temta-
ton. Still the people have only de-
manded that the government shall
supervise the business of transporta.
ton, still leaving the property in the
hands of those who now own the
roads, and thus giving them the OPP
portunlty to reap the certain and fail
profits which railroad capital will al
ways he permitted to earn in thi.
country.
Yet the roads are doggedly opposed
to such a reasonable and lust measure
They haye fought the people at ever,
step and have not been above Ysin,
f even corrupting means 10 gain thei
!. euGs, 1t may oe that the people, still
forbearing, may be satisfied will
government surveillance of the bust
, ness of transportation. On the othe
, hand this continued opposition OIL
the paEt of the monopoly, and the con
slant slaughter of bills that are Offered
, in Congress to protect the people il
, their rights, may finally arouse then
, to make the demand that the govern
, ment shall own the roads. The West
ern Rural does not care how the ob
ject is accomplished, but it demands
3 that our railroads shall be made t.
! serve and not Cypress the people. l
r will not complain If the most radica
measures, consistent with Justice t.
oil parties, are adopted, and after al
! these years of Injustice which til
! roads could have remedied at an,
time, they certainly have no right t
, complain ifno injustice is done them
They need not fear that the peopl
t will be unjust toward them, but the,
r should not be surprised if the mos
a radical justice was insisted upon a
any time.-Western Rural.
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