The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-02
RAILROADS IN POLITICS.

In a recent speech Mr. Goebel charged
that the L. and n. railroad. which rs
controlled by the RothscmRds, is using
the money gained by it from the people
of kentucky to send broadcast over the
commonwealth many thousands of copies
of newspapers that it has subsidized
containing every assault upon the Demo
cratic party and its candidates that ma
dignity and mendacity can invent
August Belmont, the head of the
Rothschild syndicate in America, reply
ing to Mr.. Goebel wrote:
1.-THE corporation has no other DUTY in
view than that of conducting the Louis
vile and Nashville railroad as n bust
ness enterprise, and we can only do this
by nursing the interests of the territories
which it serves and promoting the wei
fare of those who use it as means OF
transportation.
\ IF. i'm order to gain adherents to your
POLITICAL ambition in the State, you en-
deayor to create a prejudice of the people
against the Louisville and Nashville rail
road. and try to excite luminosity and
legislation destructive to its interests
the Louisville and Nashville railroad will
be driven to take the best means within
the law and its right to meet such at
tacks, and this it is now doing by bring
ing before the public the arguments
which are at it's command to counteract
the evil influences of your unjustifiahle
hostility. The company takes no part
in politics, nor does it intend to in order
to promote or undo the political fortunes
of any party or individual, and its pres
emit attitude has no such purpose IN
view"
Mr.. Belmont canhlidly admits adj that
is charged, but pleads that it is neces-
sary for him to fight the Democratc par
ty because of Mr. GoebePs attacks
upon the road. This opens the question,
what are the attacks" of which Mr..
Belmont complains?
1. Mr.. Goebel advocated a law giving
the Railroad Commission power TO fix
freight and passenger rates.
2. Mr.. Goebel advocated fellow ser
want law like the one we have in North
Carolina.
3. Mr.. Goebel sought to drive the rail-
road lobbyists out of the Senate cham
Der in Frankfort.
A. Mr.. Goebel advocated taxing rail-
roads ON the basis of their earnings.
These are the forms which Mr.. Goe-
bells attacks have taken Do they war
rant the representative of The Roths-
childs substituting newspapers and trying
to defeat the Democratic party! Ii
so, the railroads would have the right TO
enter politics and dominate in half the
States in the Union. Goebel IS seeking
to secure in Kentucky what has already
been secured in North Carolina, Georgia.
Nebraska. Missouri, Tennessee and other
States. The railroads in Kentucky have
so long defeated legislation Of the char
acter above outlined that Mr.. Belmont
regards advocacy of it as IN attack"
upon the Rothschilds' interests and
frankly admits that the road is in poll
tics to prevent the legislation Mr.. Goe-
bel advocates.
The issue in Kentucky is clear cut:
]. DO the people wish The legislation
Goebea fayors? 2. Do they wish to have
the Rothschilds and Demonts TO write
their laws? The signs row all indicate
that the people understand that Demo
cracy stands not only for the Chicago
platform and decent State government,
but also for the right 20 rne Without
dictation from the Rothscnilds and the
Belmonts.
The Denver Post. con, nant.lg upon
the work OF SOCIALISM, which railroad IL
reference in politics is doing, says:
There is no more potent agency to-
day at work to bring about the govern
ment ownership of railroads than the
railway managers themselves. by In
finencing legislation and corrupting Off
Gals, as has been done by the railway
managers in nearly every State in the
Union, public sentiment against the
roads is created which is constantly
growing and will in the end become pow
erful enough TO enforce needed reforms.
The Statesville Mascot publishes IL
full tha sneech delivered by Mr. ChaS