The record-union., 1894-09-28
RAILROAD DEADHEAD1sM.

little return in cash for their transporta-
ton. They are so heavy a burden that
every man who pays cash for transporta-
ton pays a certain part of this burden"
We are not familiar with the statistical
facts as to the mileage of free transporta-
ton over the railroads of the United
States except as TO one system.
The system referred to is one Of the
largest in the United States, and the
amount of its free transportation when
converted into money is considerably
over two millions of dollars per annum.
Outside of the journalists who receive
the editorial courtesy of free transporta-
ton, it is safe to say that the people who
are travelling free belong distinctively to
the class known as rich people. This
statement will not deter any one from
asking for free transportation. When
man acquires certain prominence. So
Cisl, political or financial, he concludes
that he is above the plane where contri-
button from him is expected. He has in
portation is in the nature of threat.
Prominent lawyers, large land holders.
large bankers, extensive merchants, poll
ticians, ministers of the gospel, Presi-
dents of colleges, State officers, members
of the Legislature, Judges, Sheriffs,
members of commissions, Supervisors of
counties, with large number whose only
claim to ''deadheadism" is social promi-
nence, have no hesitation in asking for
free transportation. There are exceptions
in all these categories. There are Judges
on the bench, especially in California,
who would scorn to accept free transport
alton from corporations which are liable
to appear in their courts as litigants; but
this is not universal. In fact, one of the
emoluments of public position and espec-
tally public position affecting the rail-
roads is free transportion. The unreason-
able agitation concerning railroads which
brings railroads themselves and their
management into abnormal prominence
is responsible for all this.
A railroad is simply an iron way over
which freight and persons are moved by
steam. The rates of transportation have
an important bearing upon the interests
of the people. but transportation by rail
possesses the same inherent capacity for
self-adjustment that is found in other
business. Men are not constantly at
tempting to regulate the manufacture of
flour and of textile fabrics, the sale of
merchandise, the rates of farm products,
but they are constantly tinkering with
another commercial commodity known
as transportation. Every wild-eyed fool
who concludes that he wants to run for
Congress. for Governor or for a public
Office thinks that the speediest road to
the attainment of his ambition is through
abuse Of the railroads, and we are stating
what is within the bounds of our own
knowledge when we say that nine out of
every ten of the men who as candidates
for public office are posing as fierce and
malignant enemies of the transportation
companies are not only ready and willing
to make arrangements with them for
their influence and support, but have
already done so. In these matters it is
the average man-the class of sober, in
dustrious people who constitute the
great background of the citizenship of the
country-that is fooled. They have pref
udices and cunning politicians make use
OF them. The cunning politician rides
free while they pay their fare. They pay
not only their own fare, but, as suggested
by the Chronicle. they pay his fare.
There is a long list of names of men
who have been fierce antagonists of the
railroads in California, and who in the
Senate and Assembly became the SUBJ
servient implements of railroad defense
and finally brought up with splendid
salaries in railroad employment. If one
man in five travels free, then the four
men who pay cash pay his fare.
In all this no possible blame can attach
to the railroads The prejudices of the
common people are worked upon and
arrayed into an attitude of hostility, and
as this is distinctively a government OF
public opinion, the men who make
themselves captains of public opinion
train the prejudices of the masses to their
pecuniary advantage. IL Railroads are
built with private money, either owned
or horrowad and their treatrnant bv the
public involves the question of vested
rights. The security they have for the
peaceable prosecution of their business
and the ownership of their property re-
sides in the civilized conception of legis-
lation and Jurisprudence
There are a vast number of people
who constantly denounce railroads, pro-
fess anti-railroad proclivities, and who
clap their hands at the close of we'll
rounded period of anti-railroad declama-
ton, who would be the very first to pro-
test against the confiscation of railroad
property, or the perpetration of any
legislative or judicial wrong to the rail
road. The danger is that they will no
perceive this wrong, that they will be
miseducated and misguided, and an un'
informed, unintelligent public opinion is
dangerous TO public rights. Out of this
danger a vast volume of "deadheadism'
arises, and the people who profit by i
accomplish their purpose through cum
,,;,e, 5aoartion of the masses who accep