The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-28

Called by n Railroad President and
the pops" Back Down.
Now vo,l- IIaral5
New York Herald.

Talk is cheap, but it takes money to run
a railroad. This is the conclusion arrived
at by former Congressman John Davis, OF
Kansas, and other Populist agitaters OF
the woolly West. who were recently forced
TO meet a remarkable proposition from T.
r. Ripley, president of the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. Mr..
Ripley offered to lease Mr.. Davis train
for a year at actual cost of operation, IN
order that he might demonstrate the feast
bility of his cherished theory OF pubic
ownership and control of railroads. Alter
much figuring and a general consultation
with his political associates Mr.. Davis has
decided not to attempt 10 put the theory
into practical operation. The proposition
has, therefore, been declined.
Several months ago Mr.. Davis wrote an
article on government ownership and con-
troll of railroads for q Kansas paper. IL
fell under the eye Of President Ripley. and
he replied to it. This called forth an am
swer from Mr.. Davis. and the two men have
been engaged in a wordy war over the rail-
road question ever since Mr. Davis had the
Populist theory figured out TO nlcetyII,,on
paper. He is skilled in the art of Juggling
with figures. His ability along this line took
him out of dingy country newspapers OF
flee and landed him in Congress on the wave
of POpulsm In his controversy with Presi-
dent Ripley Mr.. Davis had figured ii all out
how the AtchisOn could reduce its rate one
half and still make d reasonable return on
the capital invested.
could stand, and he resolved to give Davis
an opportunity of demonstrating his asser-
tions. He published official proposition
to the effect that the Santa Re road was
at the disposal of Mr.. Davis, his party or
any responsible company or syndicate TO
be named for proof of theories or settle
ment of agitation He was willing TO let
Mr.. Davis or anybody else VINO pleaseu
carry out his theories and get all the proht
from it.
ITO show that we are in earnest said
Mr. Ripley 1.-The Santa Fe road will lease
to Mr. Davis, if he can assure of his
responsibility, or to any other responsible
person, party syndicate or company III the
State of Kansas, a train to run from any
point in Kansas on our lines to any other
point every day i'm the year at a rental OF
81 a mile The parties renting the train shall
receive all fares They will only have TO
pay us $40 each way if the train runs ten
miles, or 500 each way if the train runs
one hundred miles. They can make the pas pas
travel, or they can do with it as they
please.
a serious business proposition. If Ii is a
fact that somebody else can make more
money out of the passenger service on the
Santa Re road than we can by , fn4r thns
should make it. / shall be very glad to nave
this offer taken up.
Davis. He had not expected anything ike
this While he understood the railroad bust
ness thoroughly. it was only on paper and
for political purposes. However. he resorted
to his old practice, figuring. He also held
several conferences with his political assoc
ciates. 1t SO happened that the Populists
were nOlu1nS a state COHlSISHSS lOPSneA
when the proposition was made. The mat
ter was taken up and discussed by the con-
ference Many were in favor of accepting
the offer and attempting to demonstrate to
the world the feasibility and wisdom of the
pet plank in the Populist platfornr-govern-
ment control of the railroads.
Governor Leedy,. however, poured cold
water on such action by advising the con-
ference not to attempt to carry the bluit
any further. He told them that Ripley had
called" them and caught them with poor
hand upon which to make a blum; that
while the government ownership and control
issue was an attractive thing for political
purposes, it would not stand practical
test. 1t was accordingly voted to let the
matter drop.
All the trains on the Atchison are still
being operated by the company. They will
year. Mr.. Davis has not accepted Mr.. Rip
leys proposition. He never will. He was
obliged to put up or shut up" He chose
the latter.