Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-23
GULF TO THE RED RIVER.
SUGGESTION THAT THE STATE
BUILD A RAILROAD.
II Would he for the Purpose of Pro-
tectins tho People Against Com
hines of Both Railroads md
Lnbor-Gibbs Suggestion.

II lHt YAH "a why
TO protect their citizenship against
railroad trusts. commercial trusts and
labor trusts. They are all enemies Of
free institutions and Of the vine and
fig tree civilization. One by cunning
and corrupt combination levies an ex-
tortlonate tribute on the masses The
other attempts bv force 10 obtain n
division OF the plumber. II each rail-
road and Its employees were independ-
ent Of each other there would be
healthy competition. The combination
OF the various railroad lines Is natur-
ally followed by the combination Of
their employees. The railroad companies
enter Into Il combination and say to
the producer and merchant You can't
do business with any OF us except on
our trust terms. even II your stun rots
in the field or on the SHELF The
railroad employees combine and say to
the railroads You can't turn Il wheel
except on our terms. The masses OF
the people suMer both ways. II Texas
will abandon political homeopathy she
ean protect her peopl2. She can give
them an outlet 10 the sea that viii
be Independent OF railroad and labor
combinations Whatever relief we get
from combinations and whatever pro-
lection we get for life and property
must come from the state government.
Every dollars worth Of national Eovs
ernmcnt costs the people $40 and with
or without u constitution, can't be Ell
fective as a substitute for local gov
eminent Nothing but a vigorous en-
f0rcement OF the law of each state can
preserve republican institutions The
general government could not main
tain standing army large enough TO
protect railroad or other property as
well MS few shcrifts and deputies,
backed up by a local posse, determined
10 protect the reputation and safety
of their state ana county. The history
oi an state governments with absolute
or pleuary power Is that they sooner
or later DRIFT into partnership with
individual avarice and rely more ON
force ana less uu patriotism. Politicians
and newspapers In the East taught the
people That the constitution was
league with and covenant with
the devil and that there Is higher
law, hence this resort 10 unconstitutiOn-
al methods OF violence to remedy griev-
anceH.
''Thc government must deal honestly
and fairly with It, peacefully and in
du rioualy Inclined people, and 1t can
dppend upon them on short notice TO
enforce It's decrces against that ele-
msnt Inclined 10 violence and disre-
gard VI laws. NO government can
1--WE ANNA IeIlh4AA MALLIu II any tIkAil-
iauul, whether corporation 1r Labor,
r,rouHrr than the government Itself
aud ms Laws. II farms out the pow
ar government or permits redress
uf grievances In any case, except by
CONS l-ut uuul methods. 1. TX marked for
carry decay, EVERY government must
liFp by the sword in Tie hands of
lItr,uH1 citizens aud not Ia the hands
as hirpllng5. The general government
n'Ha 9lieh TO It's delegated powers and
the states enforce thcir lnwc and fulml
~ dutps required By their reserved
raEts
Texas Is IN position to build our
own upiiHt of transportation to The
high seas and escape th2 irorclad
iraight combinations OF railroads. or
tine effects OF trouble between them
and their employees She has vigor and
force enough to protect them In their
property rights and at the same time
60 rid herself OF their domination Nc
power on earth can prevent hCr build
ing competing line TO the gulf, where
intercourse with the world Is unt1t-
tered by railroad or labor combine
tons. IL Will not only be moro eject
i've. but In the end viii cost less than
state or interstate commission leglsla-
ton and agitation. II the federal gov
ernment ever owns the railroads
Texas may need just as much the rra-
lection and commercial independence
guaranteed by ownership OF her own
lines or road. II Texas owns her own
line to the gulf. three or four freight
men cannot get IN a hotel room and
fix the market value of her products,
or three or four labor leaders get In
a hotel room and say they can't go
90 market at all, II the federal gov
eminent owned the railroads 1t might
not establish any better freight rate
for Texas than the interstate commits
sion. but II she owns her own railroad
to the gulf she viii take caro- of her
own interests under any and every
condition. Owning the tie timber the
iron and the labor. It ia not much of
nm undertaking for Texas TO build the
road. II an operating success the
small cost of construction would en-
able the state to sell at a profit
However the present strike results,
Il will be only temporary adjustment
between the corporations and their ems
plOyea. and not one word viii be said
on either side about the interests OF
the people who are neither owners or
employers OF railroads. 1t may have
been instlgated. aided or nbe.ted by
the political outs against the political
Ing. as high official salaries and nu-
nitrous costs and perduisites have
made us nation OF desperate office
suckers, seeking to serve the country
for the money there is In g. The pres
ont conditions viii result In something
besiA,g temporiang with corporation
and labor organizations. II Will result
In tho election OF n congress not TOO
intimutc with trusts, or too scared OF
labor organizations. In the meantime
let Texas protect herself"
Under existing conditions strikes Will
he periodical and even without any
resort to violence. may become more
effective and OF longer duration as in
England recently, Government Will
have to remove the cause or guard
against the effects OF both freight and
labor combinations, for both excessive
freight rates and stoppage OF com
merce iniuriously eject the masses who
are Mother owners or employees OF rail-
roads AN this talk of a auougur Gems
trial government IL rot unless the gov
eminent assumes 4 monopoly OF guns
and munitions Of war as in Russia.
Even the au;ocratlc government of
the cznr ruling over n people used
TO subsection, to edicts can't suppress
violence whore the opportunities 10
exercise 1t are FAR less. The law Will
have to he enforced by local author
ity backed by the patriotism OF the
people, and the law will have TO be
strictly enforced to preserve govern-
ment Ianzares. CoasaclyH or regulars
are the last and ineffective resort OF
governments to preserve that which
Cnu only be ppesQrye1 nv tho natriof =