Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-09-06


}tion to the road and gave as the reasl s
the fact that certain proof had fall. 4
into his hands Of the violation Of Il
Interstate commerce law. and also +
the state law, which has recently ben
framed to prevent and punish railroad
pooling for the benefit of certain ia
vored shippers: Mr.. Powers states lii
his resignation that he can no longer
consistently withhold the information
he possesses against the road. He has
placed his evidence against the COM
pany in the hands of the commission;
and it is now for them, to take action
upon it..
''The News wishes to express itself
on this action Of Mr.. Powers In the
first place, he has nothing to gain by
1t. He has lost a valuable place volun>
tarily when by keeping silent he mighs
have retained it. In the second place,
we believe his action ought to receive
the approval Of all thoughtful. honest
citizens who believe in seeing law
obeyed and lawbreakers brought to JUS
tice. In case like this. where evidence
against a railroad company is generally
understood to be almost impossible to
obtain, it is the general belief that the
officers Of the road are often in posses
sion Of eliminating facts but do not
consider it to be any of their business
to inform the authorities that the law
is being defed.
''The entire result of this evasion of
responsibility on the part of those who
are responsible is demoralizing to every
young man connected with the road
The editor Of The News recalls tho
statement made by a prominent rail:
road official in this city little while
ago that nearly every clerk in Ger lin
department. of the road who understood
how large sums Of money were made by
shrewd violations Of the interstate COLI
MERGE law was ready to admire the
shrewdness with which it was done and
declared that they would all do tho
same thing if they were high enough in
railroad circles to attempt.it. This was
actually said in one Of the general. Of:
fees Of great western railroad, to tho
aulnOr KnOWleQgo.
lit is not necessary to say that such
condition of business is destructive
to all the nobler and higher standards
Of conduct, and no young man can live
in such an atmosphere Of UNPUBLISHED
dishonesty and lawlessness without
wrecking his character.
'In our Judgment, Mr. Powers did
the only thing that a Christian man
can do. He has rendered brave and use
full service to the state and the general
public. 1t is not always an easy matter
to determine the relations that exist be-
tween the individual citizen and his
fixed duty to the public. In this case
there is no doubt in our mind that the
step which Mr.. Powers has taken COM
mends itself to every man who believes
in law and it's enforcement. There are
times when the individual must act for
the people in ways that will mean sac
riice and loss to him of the gravest
character Mr.. Powers will be misun-
derstood and nlisrepresented, but there
is no question that his. course will be
approved by every citizen who wishes
to see the greatest corporations as well
as the weakest individual subject to the
came law. Mr.. Powers has done all that
a loyal. patriotic citizen could do It
now remains for the commission to act
upon his evidence which, we under
stand, is overwhelming proof Of the
lawlessness Of the L. and T. Let the
law be enforced, no matter who the
persons may be who haye been guilty. y
Henry Maxwell finished reading and
dropped the paper.
II must go and see Powers This i,
the result of his promise.
He rose, and as he was. going out his
wife said:
"Do you think. Henry. that Jesu,
Rouh have done that p
Henry Maxwell paused a moment.
Then he answered slowly:
eyes; think he would. At any rate,
Powers has decided SO, and each one d
us who made the promise understand:
that he is not deciding Jesus conduct
for any one else, only for himself
Glow about his family? How VIII
Mrs: Powers and Celia be likely to takt
itT'
every hard, have no doubt Tha'
will be Powers cross in this matter
They will not understand his motive. -
TO BE CONTINUED