The record-union., 1892-06-06
HAVE NO GRIEVANCE.
It is Only the Politicians Who Are
Making War.
Calm View of the Situation Taken
by a San Francisco
Newspaper.
[san Francisco City Argus, June 4th.I


The attack made upon the Southern
Pacific Company by the Fresno Conven-
ton has prompted President Hunting
ton OF that corporation to write an "open
letter." in which he sets forth some facts
that ought to set the people of California
to thinking. Mr.. Huntington very truly
declares that the earnings of his road
barely cover its fixed and current ex-
penses; and, this being so, it is very ap-
parent that rates cannot be reduced by
legislation, or in any other sudden or
arbitrary way, without bringing trouble
TO the railroads and also to the people
who use them. Mr.. Huntington then
points out way which would bring
about reduction of rates. He calls at
tentlon to the fact there should be more
manufactures established here. Fiber
should be gathered from the islands
OF the Pacific and Eastern Asia
and brought to California and made into
wool and other forms in sufficient quauti-
ties to supply to large extent the trade
OF the country. Then, too, there are
many things which could be grown in
this State, and manufactured here, which
are not, If the people would turn atten-
tlon in that direction. But this, of course,
would necessitate a complete change of
the policy now pursued by most Of the
wealthy people Of California, who at best
take but little interest in the building up
OF the State. With manufacturing enter
prlses In operation the railroads would do
their part in the distribution of their
products over the United States without
other profit than that gained in the estab-
lishment of the industries that would be
built up, out of which something could
be made. We quote:
"IhaSn THINGS all Saarp sn c1aar 70 mo
that l think they must be apparent to all
who take time to examine the subject,
and therefore l cannot help but believe
that the spoilsmen and demagogues Who
raise the cry of Monopoly do it to de-
ceive the people, hoping thereby to raise
themselves or their friends into places
they are unfit to fill, and in other ways to
reap without sowing, or to find some
place where they can take up something
without laying anything down. | be-
lieve that every place in the State where
railroads have been built the country has
been largely benefited by such improve
ments, and am satisfied that the great
mass OF people in the State who earn their
bread by the sweat Of their brow are
making little or no complaint: but this
outcry that is raised against corporations
IS mostly made by such men as Leeds
and others who think il an easier way to
get their bread than it is to earn it by
honest industry, and perhaps he should
be excused for making this outcry when
we consider that he gets $4,000 a year as
compensation for the noise he is MAX
ing"
There can be no question that the
Southern Pacific Company has done far
more for the State of California than the
State has done for it. Wherever a mile
of track has been laid property has more
than quadrupled in value and all classes
have
est vote be taken to-day, it would be
found that the great majority of the peo-
pie OF this State have no grievance against
the management or methods of the COM
pany. 1t is only the politicians who hope
to gain position, or otherwise feather
their nests, who are making war upon
the company. Now that its managers
are epdeavoring to keep the road out of
politics, these demagogues fear that there
Will be no sacks for them if they allow
it to succeed, and it was for this reason
that the Fresno resolutions were incu-
bated. 1t is also matter Of cold fact that
the howl for a competing road is prompted
solely by hope that the railroad will
silence with coin the howlers. If a dozen
competing roads were built eastward it
would in no way tend to reduce rates of
fare or freight, for capitalists do not put
money into railroads for the sole benefit
Of the people. They want to eat some of
the PIE, 100. ana everybody who knows
anything is well aware Of the fact that if
one road cannot do more than make
both ends meet at the present rates, that
two or more would only make matters
worse, for they would not be able to live
on the percentage Of the patronage they
would take from the Southern Pacific.
unless they increased rates. When the
people of California are made to realize
the fact that until they put their money
into industries that will bring labor to
this State, and make business for the
railroads, they cannot hope TOR reduced
rates-they will turn over a new leaf in
that direction, and both the State and the
roads will prosper, and the end desired
will be attained.