The record-union., 1892-05-25
STAGNATION OF BUSINESS.
The Traffic Association Held Up in Its
True Light.
FaIlacy of Mr.. Leeds Position and
and What 1t VIII
Lead To.
lsan Francisco Argus, May 21st.I

Nothing for twenty years has more con-
clusively shown the animosity and
malice which exists, on the part of some
of our branches of government, upon
what is commonly called the railroad
question, than the action which has been
taken Of late by that association of mis-
anthropes and nobodies which terms it
self the Traffic Association. The high
priest Of the doctrine striven to be incul-
Gated, otherwise the manager of this
association, bears the name of Leeds, but
to the goal to which he leads no business
man of sound sense will follow. There
is no organization on the face of this
broad planet-sCcial, political, religious
or lnancial-which does not present some
point in its breastworks open to attack.
1t is living law of Nature that where
there is strength, no matter whether ami
maj, mineral or vegetable, chemical or
mechanical, there shall also be opposi-
ton. Politics and religion are shining
examples OF this truism, and the manage
ment OF financial incorporated bodies
1oflns no exception to the rule. 1t is all
very well Tor pessimists TO say that the
management OF the Southern Pacific Rail
road Is at the bottom of the stragnation
iiiNii Vie OF iillS clIN
or is supposed to be, laboring. That
such stagnation exists we are not
disposed to dispute, but that this cOndi-
uon OF affairs is due, in any degree, meas
ure, shape or ioIm to the rates or charges
put upon goods carried over its line by
the Southern Pacific Railroad manage
ment we must distinctly deny. The pur-
poses and motives OF the Traffic Associa-
ton are no doubt laudable and well
meant. in that the ends aimed at are the
I lowering OF freight rates between the
various industrial centGrS OF this State
ana those OF the Eastern states. But that
IL IS IN the power OF the management OF
/ the railroad to lower those rates at pleas
ure or to suit one particular class OF mer-
chants at the expense of some other par
tlcular class, is an argument which cOniers
nttlo distinction upon the common sense
OF It's employer Don GuiXOte was per
fectly Justified in charging turiOusIy at
! the windmill in one SENSE but that one
sense demonstrated that he had no sense
at ali. IN the same way, those who are
engaged III battling with imaginary
giants, IN the shape Of railroad corpora
| tlonS-nOt only the Southern Pacific, bat
others III the Eastern States, which are
now being made scapegOats to hang i'm
agInary wrongs upOn-must be taught.
as Don QuiXOte was taught that the
| demolition Of the obstruction his heated
! AMY NlSNeu WAS only imaginary
after all. We would ask Mr.
Leeds this plain question: If there
is not enough custom for one road
TO live and thrive upon, how can there
possibly be room for two? The intro
duction Of a new line into this city would
not by any means mean q lowering Of
freight rates; on the contrary, it would
mean lifting Of them, for the simple
reason that neither railroad would will
ingly go into bankruptcy. Mr.. Leeds
and the Traffic Association, well as they
may mean, must be educated up TO the
knowledge that commerce follows the
shortest line OF travel.
How is it possible that, with two COM
petfng roads III the north, running across
what is practically a great circle route,
the ever-lessening trade OF the Orient can
be reattracted 10 San Francisco? This is
the question which Mr.. Leeds and the
Traffic Association should SETTLE Driv-
ing railroad into bankruptcy is not the
! way to do it. But making the question a
! political issue is only making the matter
worse. 1t is, in short, dragging into poll
tics question which has no connection
with politics at all. The question is likely
to embroil either party which advocates
it. 1t will be a scandal to whichever
party-RepubliCan or Democrat-that
upholds the general policy outlined in the
suggestions Of Manager Leeds.