The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-06-13
HOUCK TALKS.
He Answers the Republic
Article.
Some OF the Ways that are Dark and
Tricks that are Vain Practiced
by the Big Corporations Expos
To the Editor OF The Republic.

ST. LOUIS. June SIN your rail-
road column of June : you take oc,
casion to warn the average citizen
to not become tangled mp with d
small railroad.
You take occasion to single out the
ST. Louis. kennett and Southern
Railroad. You do not seem to know
that this is one of the most valuable
small railroads In the State, that il
has promptly paid its interest for
years. and that in addition it has con-
ferred great benefit on two southeast
counties by giving them Il needed
railroad outlet and river competition
You also refer to the litigation to
which this railroad has been subject
ed. But you do not give your readers
history of the litigation. and your
readers are led to infer that this rail
road is a Jim crow road which will
ruin the private fortunes of some good
but ignorant and deluded people.
So to set you and your readers right
permit me to say that the Kennett
road has only bonded debt of 1896,
900 on - miles of railroad, and in ad-
dition a small floating debt. No credi-
tor complains. Its bondholders are
satisfied. But on April ii a stock
holder, owning $40, 800 of its capital
stock out of a total of $430, 900, and
also being discharged employe, filed
a suit in the Dunklin County Circuit
Court. averring that the company was
not properly managed, that it had
been extended and consolidated with
another line without his consent. that
the directors We're trying to wreck the
property, although as a matter of fact
owning all the other stock, and also
trying to defraud him, ETC., etc. Upon
this petition Judge Wear, without
notice, and without giving the com
pany an opportunity by affidavits to
SHOW the falsIty of these charges, APP
pointed Il receiver, selecting for this
purpose Samuel w. Fordyce, Presi-
dent of the Cotton Belt Railroad, a
competing railroad with this road in
this territory. President Fordyce was
only too willing to get hold of the lit
tie ''jim-crow" and came down on a
special train on April 13. Of course.
he gave no notice of his appointment
secretly made, nor did he advise our
superintendent or company of his mis-
sion. On the contrary, arrived at the
junction point of the "Kennetto road
with the Cotton Belt" he caused
Cotton Belt official to wire for per-
mission to run an engine and special
car to kennett. and this without re-
vealing his personal presence or bust
ness. and our superintendent extended
this courtesy. After his special train
got Oh our road on further inquiry by
our superintendent the Cotton Belt"
official wired that he was coming down
with party of friends
When the special train arrived at
kcnnett the superintendent of the little
''iim-crow'' was ushered into the pres
ence of Colonel Fordyce. who stands
so high. and then, much to his sur
prise. Colonel Fordyce demanded i'm
mediate possession of the road as re-
ceiver appointed by Judge Wear.
Possession was refused, and by force
a part of the property came into his
hands on the fourteenth day of April.
The little ''jim-crow' road then with
an audacity that seemed to be born
Of ignorance applied to the Supreme
Court for Il writ OF prohibition on
april 20, 1886. IN alternative writ
"a> issued on the next day. The case
was subsequently argued and sub
mitted to The court in banc. and on
june ;, 1896. an order was made re-
storing the roaG 70 ilsowrcr and Gust
ing Colonel Eordvce.
Eat 4 seems that mi, road lu-
strange attraction or fascination Tor
to.oae- fordyce ana the interests hrt
SO lealon--L represents. ro. ou .:aae
j. ra. Original nl..n-iI ia the ease .a-.
-.--a..a Ia iuU-. Wears court. .av-
.a- .- 81. last tea ddE- o.cun. . ..--
i-.a' of ,.a ~-&-r at Arkansas. a- h-.
aE-#~. .r.n-z ID similar aGi-. setting
u. substantially ..c same guu-. a-.