The Advocate and news., 1898-11-30

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The kindly light in the darkness guides
the mariner on his way and warns him
from dangerous rocks. Who placed the
lights in these dangerous places, and
who maintains them every night through
all the year and every year? The gov
ernment. And they serve every ship Of
whatever nationality comes within their
range. And the story is only begun.
When fog gathers and becomes so dense
that the lights cannot penetrate it, fog
horns are blown and their dismal sound
is the sweetest music to the sailor In
danger of being dashed upon the rocks.
AS the ship approaches port, buoys,
lighted buoys bell buoys, whistling
buoys, ETC., guide safely to the wharf or
place Of anchor. But years ago the gov
ernment removed specially dangerous
rocks, deepened channels, ETC., and every
year one Of the largest appropriations
that Congress makes Is the river and
harbor appropriation, for the improve
ment of rivers and harbors These pub
lie duties in relation to transportation
by water are recognized by every cOun-
try. Look about your house, upon your
dinner table, etc, and you will see to
what extent articles beyond the sea enter
into our daily life.
What would a country be without
public roads? Imagine town or city
without public streets!
Not many of the necessities and COM
forts Of life are produced in your imme-
date vicinity.
Think over all these things and then
say il you think that transportation Is
properly a public question Say Ii you
think it Is an important question.
When you say yes to these propositions,
reflect over the fact that the mud roads
and here and there a graveled road be-
long to the public, upon which the horse,
mule and OK may be used as motive
forces, while the roads Of iron and steel,
with the putting, swift and never-tiring
locomotive, are owned and operated by
private companies for private profit.
Distant communities are as interdepend-
ent upon one another as adjoining COM
munities once were, and the railroads
absolutely control this interdependence.
Should such control, such an important
public function, be intrusted to private
corporations which exist only for profit?
Most other countries have long ago dis
covered that private control Of so i'm
portant a public function is inimical to
the public welfare. When will we make
this discovery? How long after we have
made the discovery will we proceed to
act upon it? The abuses are many, as
most Of us know, but whose fault is 1t?
It is natural for the owners Of the rail-
roads to work for their own interests.
Why don't the people work for their own
interests? Not bright enough? Don't
know how? Too slow?
How long will we continue to pay the
railroads from eight to ten times more
per pound for hauling the United States
mails than the express companies pay
for having their packages hauled? How
much longer will we pay rental for the
postal cars equal each year to the cost
of the cars, and this in addition to the
mOnstrously high price paid for haul
ing the mail, while the express campa-
MES pay no rental at all? The railroads
like this sort Of thing, and will continue
it so long as we will permit it, Those
who protest against this injustice the
railroads regard as disturbers, danger
GUS agitators, socialists, anarchists"
They like the present condition, and
they want it to continue undisturbed.
But, doctor how do you like it? Would
you like to have penny postage? You
can't have it while such exhOrbitant
rates are paid to the railroads. Would
you like to have a cheap and convenient
package post, at about One-third the
rates we have to pay to the express
companies? You can't have it while such
an unreasonable rate is paid to the rail-
roads. Don't you think it is worth while
to see or communicate with your Sena-
tors and Congressman upon this sub
ject? The railroads "see" them with
passes. Suppose you vote for man
that can't be ''seen" in this way Write
about this in your local newspaper
The railroads hold controlling power
nvnr fha Drinn fO ha maid tn tha farmer