The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15
KEEP THE RAILROAD OUT OF
POLITICS.

Some OF our citizens who profit from the
railroads control Of parties in California
say, Keep the railroad company out of
politics" This advice will doubtless please
certain persons, those, for instance, who
obtain much lighter freight rates than those
conceded TO the general public. II will also
please those persons who obtain Office
through the trickeTy of tie agents Of the
company and coutrive TO enrich themselves
by selling Offices, accepting bribes and in
various other ways with which the public
are familiar. 1t would be acceptable ad-
vice IL the community could obtain redress
for the wrongs which it endures, but there
seems to be no likelihood Of such a result.
The railroad is IN politics, not only in this
city and State, but it is in politics at Wash
ngtOn. and it has been in politics for some
time past. It's managers have struggled for
Goat Island. They struggled for 640 acres
of land in the bay. near the front of the
city, and il has actually obtained about 100
acres where their offices and warehouses are
now located. The company has avoided
paying taxes in this State. 1t has avoided
paying the interest on its Indebtedness to
the General Government and Is now de-
vising plans TO avoid the payment
Of the principal These various facts are
well understood. The railroad is in politics,
and it means to stay there to the injury Of
the State, and win unless it can be dis
lodged. its aiders tell the people to sit
quietly down and allow themselves to be
pIundered, to be robbed outright in various
ways and not even to stir hand. Nice,
isn't il? The CALL is in favor Of clean
politics, but Il is sure we have not had clean
politics, nor does ii believe we can have
clean politics while the men who are now
plundering as are permitted 10 remain in
power. What then? The inhabitants of this
State will be compelled TO bestir themselves.
1t is beyond conception that an intelligent
people viii indefinitely permit few men to
run both political parties through boss
agencies, corrupting every interest in the
State. 1t is enough to make the blood boil
in an honest mans veins to learn that few
men actually hire a steam ship company and
several lines of railroads TO put up ireights
so as to enrich themselves beyond all pre-
cedent at the expense of the varied indus
trial interests in this city and State. No,
the outrage viii not be endured,
and the sooner that the parties con-
cerned realize this the better will It
be for them. Keep the railroad question
out OF politics." say certain persons who
have enriched themselves at the expense Of
the public. Keep out OF politics" doubtless
say the men who have held Office by means
Of money paid to such miscreants as Buck
ley. 1t is an utter impossibility to keep the
railroad question cut Of politics unless the
railroad company drops politics. The rail-
road managers may be able, however, for a
time, to corrupt a certain number of per-
sons; il may corrupt individuals; it may
purchase or sUbsidize newspapers as it has
subsidized steamships, sailing vessels and
several lines Of railroad, even going to Can
ada TO do this in one instance. keep the
railroad out Of politics" is good advice if it
is made TO mean drive the railroad out Of
politics, as we believe California viii do ere
long, and then elect its own officers.