The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-11-27
RroHrlNo A GREAT WRONG.

CFrom the Chicago Tribune. Nov 7. 1870
This nrst gun IN wln, is destined 10 be-
a determined battle Tor the preservation
of tho htirtncss Interests OF the country
Nnn fred al the Union League club FRI
day. tho occasion bcing a luncheon
given hy the executive officers of the Ma
tiona, Association OF Merchants and
rrnvclcrs which has placed hself fairly
and Hauar,sy on record as opposed 10
the past ami present workings ~ the In
icrstaie commerce law. The initial
meeting Of the association In the cam
paign II has hegul 20 wage ngains, an
outrage on the commerce ~ many COM
muultics wgs attended 10y representa-
tives Of nearly every business house
which Is factor In the wholesale trade
of tho city. and also by representatives
~ leading railway lines which are fully
In accord and working IN co-opcration
with tho association one of the results
OF the meeting was the adoption OF the
following resolution:
"Rceolv~d. Tint thc National Associl-
ton Of Merchants and Travolcrs urFc
upon congress prompt legislation IN con.
formlty with the r'pc0tcd rcCommenda-
tions OF the Interstate commerce COM
mission, and especially to pass without
delay what is known as the anti-scalp-
ing bill"
This resolution makes apparent tho fact
that the most pronounccd evils from
which th~ commercial and railway in.
tercsts OF the country sufrcr are, rcspcc.
lively the impcrfoctiona ot the Interstate
commerce bin and the operations OF the
tickct scllpcr, In thus ocatlng the
cause OF many Of their nnncial Ills both
tho business and railroad men have with
out doubt made correct diagnosis. md
In an attempt to secure needed relief
are unQucstlonahly entitled TO the use Of
such propcr influences as may he brought
TO bar through congress or elsewhere
The weak fcaturc uf the interstate COM
morce law haa always boon the fact that
the commission could only MAKE recon.
mcndotions along the line Of corrcrting
commercial evils, hcing wholly without
power to enforce the same. And when
the railroad corporations of the country
Rsk for the abollshment Of ticket scalp
ing, It may safely De conclnded ths M
tcrcst best qualified to Judge has Anally
decided thc ubiquitous ticket scalper Is
nuisance which should he abated. and
the authority to arrive at thls conclusion
should not he questioned
So far Os the desirs and Intentions Of
the business mon have materlalised.
there Is nothing unreasonable In them.
Tho cause espouscd by the association is
an altogether Just and meritorlous one.
and should succeed. Powerful allies are
10 b' enlisted to this end Boards OF
trade at all the prominent commercial
| centers throughout the country will he
asked 10 lend a hand In bringing about
the results sought to b. attainsh, The
business Of the cause should insure its
success
The whole question Is purely CONNER.
cial In Its character having connected
with II no shade of politics. In this com.
mcrclai era the leading interests Of The
country are acting the part OF wisdom
when they Join forces for the preserva.
tion OF that commerce In which all have
lively and diving interest. The inter
csts are Identical and the relations
should he reciprocal All that Is 20 bt
asked for ts d recognition OF the rights
OF common equity It Is not an extrava
CANT claim that one industry is entitled
to tho same fairness ANY other industry
receives. Among practical traffic mer
II Is n well known fact that universe
and lncessant warfare OF discrimination
Is being wNged to the detrlment Of rail
way revenues, weaker markets, anC
smaller merchants. To certain exten
the great markets Of the country cal
/ tako care Of themselves because OF thei
slrcngth. hut the smaller unquestlonabl!
need protection.
Railway discrimination as now prac
ticed makes and unmakes markets. IT
effect Is Identical with the condition.
that would exist in u ease whore mer