The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-06-16
REGULATION OF RAIL Ways.
by II. r.. Hunter.

ed But il would not contlhue' w
cause, for the mere preservation OF me
country and themselves, all states
would he compelled TO refer the re-
sponsibility back where ii. belongs-'o
the federal authority. Mr. La Toilette
not ONLY has the constitution and the
law and the courts against him; the
rudimentS of common sense are
against HIM Nothing but chaos ana
danger to the very fabric OF the Union
could result from following the course
he advocates.
1t is the United States supreme
court which, Mr. La Toilette says. IS
now peryerting the spirit of the con-
stitntion and frustrating the laws.
Personally. when ii comes 10 inter-
pretiny the constitution of the lnlteu
States, | would rather trust the inter
probation of the supreme court or the
United States than the Interpretation
Of Mr.. La Toilette.
Mr.. La Toilette uses large words ana
highsounding generalities, ana IL ~
very difficult to tell, in these generali-
ties which are at variance with Inc
facts. whether he Is really ignorant
himself or whether he only trusts 10
the ignorance Of his readers. III lie
has read the discussions in the senate
and the house which preceded the pass
age Of the interstate commerce act, ne
must know that things which he saws
as to the meaning Of that act ana us
Interpretation by the courts are totally
false. | am inclined 10 think, howeH-
or, that he does not know it., and is not
wilfully telling what is not SO; III
which belief commend to him care
full reading of those debates. Then. II
he will turn to his article after reading
the debates, imagine that he will he
a little ashamed of some of the things
he has said, and will be very sorry that
he has put himself on record in print.
What is worst in Mr.. La FOllette'S
article. however, is the spirit which
underles it and the point of view
which ought TO be resented by every
loyal citizen of South Dakota. Mr.. La
Toilette is politician. and every poll
tician knows that ii is Il clever trick TO
appeal to that inherent human discon-
tent, which is more or less at the bot
tom of all our natures, and that ii is Il
particularly clever trick 10 play upon
this discomfort by pretending that the
people are suffering horrible outraCeS
at the hands of the corporation capital
lists. Mr. La Toilette says that our So
cial conditions are greatly diSjOinted,
that the corporations are managed
without regard to the interests Of the
people. and has an inspired pity for
the poor people of South Dakota who
are suffering such wrongs.
Mr.. La Toilette talks about the rail
ways having banded themselves to-
gether against their creators. The
railway company with which | am
connected does more to bring settlers
within the state. To develop its re-
sources and to help it on to the mag
niiicent destiny which awaits ii. than
the whole tribe of La Follettes will do
in a thousand years 1t is just such
talk as his that is the chief obstacle
which those, who, like myself, are en-
deavoring to help in settling ana build
ing up South Dakota. have to meet and
fight against. We are now trying. per-
haps. To get capitalists To put money
into Il factory in South DakOta--or we
are endeavOring to persuade settlers TO
come here and make their homes and
TO help build up the cOuntry-and they
produce from somewhere an article
just like that Of Mr.. La Folette's. pub
liShed in some home paper, rs evidence
that the people of the state are all dis
contented and unhappy. and nothing
that he can say will overcome il.
The people of South Dakota are not
disseminated or unhappy. They are
prospecting. They deserve to prosper.
AMI believe Mr.. La Toilette would be
doing his state more service if he pro-
claimed these facts TO the world. rath-
er than sit whimpering and whining
about dreadful conditions which do
not exist in South Dakota. ut least
As for the recent decision of the
United States supreme court. | have
already said that | believe that that
court knows more about our constitu-
ton than Mr.. La Toilette. As "A mat
ter OF fact. the decision contains moth
ing new, but only reiterates what has
been decided again and again. There
is no question whatever. and has not
been for twenty years or SO. as 10 the
right of the people to regulate the rail
roads. In matters of interstate traffic
| that regulation must be done by the
| federal authorities. In the matters OF
purely state traffic the state is SUI
preme. The only limitation which is
set 10 the authority Of the state is that
limitation which the constitution ana
the common law have thrown as "A pro-
| lection around every individual citl-
| zen. The state cannot cOntiscate the
, property of any individual or any per-
son. whether that person is single
man or IL corporation. without due pro-
! cess Of law. 1t cannot take for public
use the property Of an individual with
| out reward. The state cannot arbitra-
rily seize mans farm without paying
| for it. because 1t wants 10 build a