Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-19
IBLICHTINC PUBLIC MORALS
Destructive Effect of Corporation Influence
in Politics.
C0RRUPTlNG POWER OF THE PASS
Honest, Courageous Omcials Secretly As.
allied and Driven from Ohice-A
Gigantic Evil Usurping the Eunc-
tions of Government.

Governor William Ldrrdbee-"The Rdtlroad
Question:, 1898,
The question might be asked how the rail
road companies for many years in succession
have been able to prevent state control and
pursue q policy SO detrimental to the best
interest of the public. One might think
that in q republic where the people are the
source of all power and where all officers are
directly or indirectly selected By the people
TO carry out their wishes and to administer
tie government in their interest a cotcrie
Of men bent on pecuniary gain would not be
permitted to subvert those. principles of the
common law and public economy which from
time %immemorial have been the recognized
anchors OF the Anglo-Saxon race.
TIE statement that under a free govern
ment it is possible for n few to suppress the
many might almost sound absurd to q mon
archist, and yet it is true that for the past
twenty-iv years the public affairs of the
country have been unduly controlled by n
few hundred railroad managers.
To perpetuate without molestation their
unjust practices, and prevent any approach
to an assertion of the principle of state con-
troll of railroad transportation, railroad man
ayers have secured, wherever possible, the
cooperation Of public officials, and in fact, of
every semi-public and private agency ca
pablo of affecting public opinion. Their
great wealth ana power has made it possible
for them to influence to a'greater or less ex.
tent every department of the national and
state governments. Their influence extends
from the township assessors office to the
national capital, from the publisher of the
small crossroads paper to the editorial staff
OF the metropolitan daily. 1t is felt in every
caucus. in every nominating convention, and
at every election. Typical railroad mer
draw no party lines, advocate no principles
and take little interest in any but their owr
cause; they are, as Mr.. Gould expressed it
democrats In democratic and republicans II
republican districts. The large means a
the command of railroad companies, thei
favors, their vast army OF employees anC
attorneys, and their Almost equally larg,
force OF special retainers are feeely em
ployed to carry into execution their politica
designs, and tho standard OF ethics recog
nized by railroad managers in these exploit
Is an exceedingly low one.
Turning Down the Unfriendiy.
1t Is a settled principle of these men that
II they can prevent II, no person not know
to be friendly to their cause must be place
into any public office where he might hay
an opportunity TO aid or injure their inter
ests. The records Of the various candidate
of tho principal parties for city, county
state and national offices are therefore care
fully canvassed previous TO the primaries
the most acceptable among the candidate
of each party are selected as the railroa
candidates, and the local representatives 0
the railroad interest in each party are IL
structed 10 use all means in their power I
secure their nomination.
II none but candidates who are servile I
the railroad interest are nominated by tn
principal parties, tho election is permitte
ID taka ifg own COnrse. for whlelexer side
successful the railroad interest is safe. /
however, there is reason TO believe that
nominee Is not as devoted TO their interest
as the nominee Of the opposing party, Ii
latter is sure TO receive at the polls VIVA
ever support railroad influence can give hin