The San Francisco call., 1896-02-17

tion of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroads were commenced have become great
hnanc1ai powers in the Nation
Out OF the earnings of these people thousands
OF miles OF other roads have been constructed
anu are the private property of the men for
merly poor. Investments in other directions
almost Without limit have con tributed to swell
lnhnltely the fortunes of these men. The cities
OF San Francisco and Oakland are little less
tnan SO much OF their private property. They
own the street railway system there. The coal
IN goes through California is from the mines
OF tnese men, Never has q cent been returned
TO the Government for the money advanced by
II tor the construction OF these roads-neither
in principal nor in interest. The lands and
thelr revenues have been diverted to the bene-
NJ OF those who built the road on the Govern
ment credit. And every effort to have the
roads surrender to the Government has been
met with the determined opposition of those
who have become multi-millionaires through
the robbery of the people subject to the exac-
tions of the road. 1t is said that Mr. Hunting
ton is prepared to spend SIS, ,000, 900 in order TO
secure the passage of q bill that will leave the
railroad IN his control.
Now, the building OF this road has cost a
good deal more than the plant is worth to-day.
And the excuse for the extortionate rates in
vogue in the management of the road is that
IL cannot pay It's bonds because the value OF
the plant has gone down and it cannot meet
the competition OF less expensive roads, nor
can it afford to give the benefit of cheaper rates
to those CONF PEELED to trade with it because its
great cost makes high rates necessary. On this
plea and the further plea that incidental and
Otner interests have grown up about the road
which are innocent of any offenses against the
Government it is held that the road should be
permitted to remain in the hands of those that
began the work by system OF robbery and
who have never been able to escape the itch
then created and rati1ed to point where no
limit Can be fixed. The Credit Mobilier scan
dal has passed largely from the public mind
but there was such scandal connected with
the construction of the roads-a scandal which
only touched the very edge OF the lniquity,
since there was hardly a contractor or an en-
ploye OF the road, in any capacity, that in one
form or another was not partaker of some of
the benefits of the wholesale robbery that has
marked the full existence of the road, and
which also largely corrupted the people of the
whole country through which it has been ope-
nation in politics. and by the example of great
respect and power and place bestowed upon
the most notorious of public corruptionIsts.
Great powers were placed in the hands OF these
men which they have proStitu ted until whole
State is under their feet. They punish all that
will not serve them, and bestow the rewards
upon those that do serve and protect them in
their lniamles. Time and again men have
been sentenced TO death as traitors to their
country for offenses less than half as great as
these.
these men to enjoy their profits without per-
petuatiDg wrong on California it would mat
Ter little what was done with the road. But
California is to be Kept under q domination
that has already made her pay for the road
time and again in the unlawful rates charged
for the handling of her natural products and
to be imported by rail. But that she has
great stretch of seaboard which has compelled
concessions the State would yet be almost as
backward as parts of Alaska and her citizens
would be all but the absolute slaves OF the
railroad- owners and their property as much
subject TO their tolls as the fruit-raisers now in
that State and the property of serfS was
under the old feudal barons.
This is g. question that involves the liberty
ana the property OF the people OF the most
blessed State in the Union, so far as natural
resources concerned II involves no 6a-
velopment of all the wide region west of the
Colorado line. All those to be effected by the
result of the passage of such a bill as MIR.
Huntington wants, should make common
cause with California and Nevada, that the
people may be freed from the infamous con-
troll of the INSCRIPTIONS men nov determined
to maintain their power by the purchase of the
passage OF such a bill as viii suit them. Every
Congressman or Senator who votes for any
| measure receiving the support of Hunt
lngton may be recognized as wearing
the collar of that road and of having
had financial assistance from the corruptors
who by past robberies can now purchase d con-
tinuation OF the power to continue a system OF
railroad extortion in the future and of the es.
toppel and development in the railroad direc-
| tions for q long future. There sh ,uld be nc
excuse. Every Western representative of the
people should be made to understand that his
political life and the respect OF the community
are the prices he will pay for failing to vote Sc
as to secure to California and Nevada that lib
erty which is impossible while the present
high-handed corporation domination shall
continue.
The only hope for the opening OF a CONNER.
cial highway to the Pacific Ocean from Utah is
through the defeat OF the measure so earnestly
desired by the Central Pacific magnates. That
money viii be spent lavishly and, that the peo-
pie viii be made to pay it back as price oi
their temerity in trying to secure both politi.
cal and commercial liberty, may be assured.
The people of the whole Nation should be in.
teres ted in this grave issue. No Nation is free
where part OF its citizens are in slavery,
whether in fact or in name. And the wrong
that has so long been practiced upon Califor.
MA is q wrong that may come to the citizens
OF any other State at any time by corporation
combinations. A blow at the bare-faced de-
mands for the power of continued robbery
made by the Central Pacific is blow struck in
behalf of the rights of people everywhere. II
is q step in defense OF the right of the fathers
and mothers OF the Nation to have the ex-
ample that only thieves are successful no
longer temptingly spread before their children
The young life of the Nation is being corrupted
by wealth and political preferment and all
these questions are directly involved in the
issue now between the people of the West and
the Pacific railroads. Is it possible that the
citizens of other parts of the Nation are so lost
to all principle that they see no wrong and will
defend no right thing that does not directly
concern themselves? 1t is not so, and no lover
OF his country can believe il. Yours
ISAAC TRUMBO.