The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-12
department. ~ viii serve to make for anA main
ain its highest efficiency.

For years there have beea unfriendly rela-
tons existing between the railroads and the
people OF this state during shich time the rail-
road question has been the source Of animated
tagonism- In the earlier history Of Kansas
this condition did not exist. As settlement
pushed westward from the eastern border the
necessity for means OF transportation was so
great that counties, townships and cities gave
large subsidies to encourage the building Of
railroads The peopl, giving this aid expected
that the advantages afforded By new or addi-
tional lines Of railway would in some way COM
pensate for their self-imposed burden which
the granting Of aid created. The railroad COM
pa1ies responded to this friendly assistance
and became efficient agencies in the settlement
and development Of the country. They made
lavish expenditures in advertising the resources
OF the tate and spec al sfforts to encourage i'm
migration. They entered into generous rivalry
with other int .rests in m liking Kansas great
state. This friendly cooperation produced
great results, and soon our advantages were so
well advertised that Kansas attracted much at
tention and thousands Of homeseekers found
their wav to this western Mecca.
The railroads have always borne their full
share Of the public burdens. The last available
data shows that they piy-in the way Of taxes
more than the entire personal property Of the
state and one-third Us much as our entire
operation Of the railroads in the state furni hes
employ ment to about 5000 employees and pays
out in the way Of salaries and wages. about
el50 900 annually.
It seems strange that agencies that have done
Sc much for the state. are now bearing such .
large part Of its burdens and furnishing om-
ployment to so many of its laborers, should be
met by the people in . spirit of unfriendliness,
IL not hostility: yet it is app rent that such o
spirit exists. The causes OF this condition are
numerous. On the one hand, the political dem
agOgue has been constant, in season and out OF
season. in melting the people against the rail-
roads that he mighn gain personal or political
advantage. On the other hand the railroad
management has afforded ample ground for the
discomfort which exists In can hardly be
hoped that there will be q re-establishment Of
the old time relations Of cordially and good
will while these reason remain.
The railroad companies have large sums in
vested in Kansas and should be allowed to re-
alize reasonable profit on the amount invest
ed. The people OF the state are too fair minded
to so limit the rate Of transportation over rail-
road lines as to cripple the companies, prevent
them from realizing q reasonable income on
their capital, or from paying TO the great army
of laboring men they employ good wages. They
believe, however, that the IA lroads have dis
eliminated against Kansas communities, and
out Of this belief has grown much OF the feel
ing Of dissatisfaction which now prevails.
This same condition confronted US ten years
ago. In his message to the legislature in 1889
Governor Martin in treating this question said:
And worse than all and Of state a well as To-
cal concern, several OF the railway lines OF
Kansas are so operated as to build up and fos-
ter alien communities, to the detriment or de-
structIon Of our towns and cities. Several. II
not most, Of the railroads trayerSing our state
are so operated as to retard the growth and
damage the prosperity OF communities that
have materially aided in building them, and
that are bearing heavy burd ms Of taxation to
meet Indebtedness contracted for that purpose.
Millions of acres OF state lands and millions Of
dollars in bonds have been given by our people
to aid in building these roads The benefciar-
les of this prOdigal generosity should recognize
their Obligations to the people OF the state and
so operate their lines as to confer the largest
possibls benefits and advantages upon Kansas
communities"
Since that message was delivered many
changes and some adjustments have been made,
but the language used by Governor Martin
would fifty describe present conditions. Gov
ernor Martin closed the subject as follows:
Appeals to the justice and fairness of many
railway managers have been tried again and
again for many years a1d have failed to ac-
c0mplish any important results. 1t is time to
try what stringent laws, backed by determined
public sentiment, will do
The methods pointed out have been largely
pursued, but they have not bridged the difi-
culties. Laws passed in the heated discussion
of partisan controversy are often defective,
sometimes unconstitutional. Remedies through
the courts are generally tedious and expensive.
and frequently inadequate to meet the case;
and especially is this true where the discrimi-
nations are made in matters Of interstate COM
merce, and. consequently, matters over which
70 NJ
matters Of state commerce the state has very
great powers Of regulation and control
The benefits AMI obligations accruing to and
resting upon the state and the railroads are
dependent and mutual Each desires the larg-
est advantage possible consistent with the
rights of the other, and however and whenever
the difference Is adjusted it must be done on
the basis Of the reciprocal rights Of both par
ties.
The new law-just passed at the special ses-
siOn-is entitled to fair trial. II called into
use for the pu pose OF enforcing rights or re-
dressing wrongs it is hoped that Its provisions
may be ample; but I would expect better re-
suits II an honest attempt should be made to
adjust matters along friendly lines. legal
methods being resorted to only when friendly
methods fail. I am satisfied that the people
are fair and will meet the railroad cmpanies
half way. II the management Of the railroad
are willing to have an equitable ad-
justment Of the difficulties which exist, have
no doubt that the representatives Of the people
will be equally wiling to meet them on the
basis Of fairnes; and think We could accom-
p.ish In two years Of effort in this direction,
more than we have accomplished in decade Of
strife and contention.
Prohibition.
For eighteen years the prohibition Of the
and sale OF intoxicating liquors
has been the settled policy Of this state but the
Of this Law - been attended with
Indifferent success. The diniculty Of the stu
alton has been owing largely to the fact that J
prohibition has been m1de q political rather
than an economic question This p.rversion Of
the question has resulted in such o condition
that, in Kansas, prohibition and temperance
a:e not SYNONYMOUS. The misfortune of pro-
hibition is that It has largely been made a
political question every two years to lapse
during long intervals, only to be rehabilitated
and brought into use at each recurring election,
for political purposes. The result Of the last
two general elections in Kansas demonstrated
that, as purely political question, it has about
run its course. As IN economic question 1t is
entitled to . much more serious consideration,
and ought to command our earnest attention.
As the Law nov stands it Is hardly profitable
to discuss whether prohibition is wise or un
WISE Many Of our best citizens differ on this
proposition. but prohibition is the policy Of our
state \ mart of our fundamental INV supple