The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-01-20
rhROTTLlMo THE FAIR.
Things That 1t WIN DO to Say After
the Election.


rhRoTTLlNo THE FAIR.
Things That 1t VIII DO to Say After
the Election.
Had the following. from the Chi
cago Tribune been published before
election it would have proven an ex-
cellent campaign document for the
People, party:
Full rates to and from the fair ex-
cept to those who are willing to
travel at the slow speed OF emigrant
trains" is substan TALLY the resolve of
the trunk line magnates who met in
convention in New York. Apparent
ly they want TO do by the fair as An
| archist Fielden proposed to do by
the Law throttle'' it. For they
must know and doubtless do know
we'll that the exaction Of full rates on
travel to ana from the Columbian ex-
hibition would result in vastly
smaller attendance by those residing
at great distances from this city than
would be the case if the charges were
made attractive to the masses. They
must be well aware that if the West
ern roads follow the example the con-
sequences will be light attenda nee
from afar.
He must be an ignorant man. for a
railroad official who does not know
that this full rate business was tried
at the worlds fair gatherings of Phil
adelphia and Paris and found to be a
failure. In both cases the attendance
was light. The French people soon
found this out aud applied the rem
edy. The Americans were more
tardy in learning the lesson sixteen
years ago. but they saw and acknowl-
edged the error in time TO prevent
the affair from being a failure and
demonstrate the wisdom OF the low
fare policy for securing a big tide of
travel If those things had occurred
in the last century or the first half of
this there might be some excuse for
not remembering it. But some are so
recent as to be within the recollection
of the average railroad magnate. and
it is almost impossible TO believe that
the resolve for full rates to and from
Chicago except for those who will be
content to travel second Or third
class has any other motive than a
wish to cater to the desires OF the
few at the East who would like to see
the fair fall short of a grand success.
Indeed, there is not even a promise
of lower rates for inferior class travel.
The intimation is thrown out that
there may be 20 per cent reduction
from full rates for those willing to
travel slowly. and that beggarly con-
cession is the utmost these presidents
,. talk of. They cannot expect the
public to 60 en- masse to the fair on
such terms. and seem to prefer q
, moderate patronage at full prices to
!. a much bigger revenue that could be
. realized from the policy OF inviting
:, the people to come in. that the house
!. may be filled.
It is reported that well attended
meeting of presidents of the trunk
lines of railroad have decided to form
: a pool. They are said to have con-
cluded that this is the only solution
Il of long existing difficulties and there
: fore have resolved on the actor
though admitting it to be illegal or
freight traffic which is and must b.
9 the principal field of operations Gov
g cred by pool. The dispatch said
e The esta Adjustment of pool ha!
e always been regarded as useless
IS challenge of the law put the situa
u ton has become so desperate that tn
J. presidents saw no other way out O
> the mire"
10 Such plain defiance would hardl.
y be entered upon without tho inten
and expectation to influence legisla
e ton on the subject at Washington
n and possibly not without assurance
~ of support IN high places. For it ]
II we'll known that one of the reason
for pressing the passage of the inter
state commerce law was a hope tina
VI it would put a stop to pooling. /
le fact it may be said this was the chic
81 object sought to be attained by tn
D. measure, as careful observers OF tn
10 situation had become convinced thu
~ com binations between competing line
s. were the great means of oppression
IN and that if these could be abolished th
OF public would stand much bette
~ chance of being dealt with fairly b
ne the transportation companies. So
er it be permitted to ignore this prov
SION Gu0 WuO1O law OOSOuAOS " ~ -
We tie value that it would protect NJ
g body.
~ The issue is an open one
ne the railroads are allowed to combine
O. as they have resolved to do the p u
us lie will be again at the mercy OF the
managers obliged to pay whatev'
terms are demanded for service. tho
X terms being much higher than tt
IN present ones and be subject to gro
or inequalities of charge in which favo
en- itism of persons and places by the G
Is ficers will be the rule instead OF Il
ng exception. The people who lo'
mt at the injustice how practiced
rs. spite of the law and think that is
M reason for wishing TO return to Q
he time conditions do not seem to
IRE aware that under those conditions t
ere iniquity of favoritism was ten tim
greater than at present and that
The abolish the safeguard would probat
ed be to furnish parallel to the SCRIP
re- ure statement about the man who
,od last state shall be worse than t
Ina first
thy If this trunk line pooling Is allow
re. the step to a similar pooling all ov
the United States would be only
352 short one. and tho people would til
'el- be placed under the heel OF "
Is consolidation taking on the most {