The San Francisco call., 1899-10-24
THE TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION.

w the mercantile interests of this coast in a
Traffic Association, which promises to CO.
operate with transportation interests in such way as
to protect the coast trade by giving it stability.
The Eastern jobbers have long sought to locate
the distribution OF our trade any point most con-
venient to them, east of the mountains From such
point they desire to reach the retail trade here direct
To this end they have sought to powerfully impress
transportation to force such rate less than car
lots of merchandise and to secure such changes in
classification as will enable them to add to their posi-
ton OF wholesalers home the advantage OF being
pedders here. From its beginning they have sought
to put the Interstate Commerce Commission in a
hypnotized atmosphere, hoping that it would see
nothing but distributing points East, and West moth
ing but country to be distributed to, clear to the
Pacific Ocean
1t has not been altogether accident that this
coast has had no representative on that commission
None OF the present members comes from this side OF
the Missouri. Mr.. Youmans of Sioux City is called
the Western member, and if he represent he has
almost the world for parish, and his parishoners
see but little OF him.
1t should be the aim OF the Traffic Association TO
cooperate with the railroads in securing Commis
sioner on this coast who sees through coast eyes
and interests We use the word cooperate advisedly
and with deliberation. The interests OF commerce
will not be served by the appointment of any man
who sees in railroads the of all vlaines nor the
sum Of all virtues He should be a man who ex-
poets to find Western transportation, overland and
local alive to the fact that has interests in common
with the coast production and distribution
The railroads want to have the business Of mer-
chants not of peddlers To do this they want all the
advantages OF the fourth clause of the interstate
merce law, which protects the ton per mile rate on
the long haul for our overland roads have the long
est haul on the continent These roads at pres
ent in position to aid in making Pacific ports the
jobbng points in Asiahc trade. By water we have
an advantage of from 5000 to 1000 miles in that trade
over New York While this advantage subsists there
is no reason why should not be permitted to add
to that the land mileage of $500 miles to Chicago,
$500 to New York and so carry that trade from
here Even then we bring its Asiatc source nearer
to New York by combined water and rail than she
is by water alone.
So, instead of parting with our distributing trade
TO our own population and turning it over to points
East by converting railway trains into peddlers'
wagons, we should control legitimate wholesaling
in Asiatic commerce
1t will be observed that the very title of the Traffic
Association combines trade and transportation in a
common interest and common effort Transporta-
ton is concerned in that increase OF population
which comes with a symmetrical development OF all
the factors of an American community. Where pro-
duction transmuation and exchange all in proper
operation labor OF all classes skilled and unskilled is
in demand and business ability in wholesale obbing
and retail lines and in finance is profably employed
and the whole community is built up.
There is no evidence that the overland railways
have any desire to restrict or destroy their
coast terminals They need on the Interstate Com
merce Commission a sympathetic mind which can see
the necessity of differentias to the commercial life
OF a region that has long haul on its freight Again
the Traffic Association by frank contact with trans
portation interests has it in its power to protect trade
from that curse and scourge of commerce-railroad
rate wars Whenever they have ragged commerce
has been parayzed. Rates made by roads in these
struggles are in their very nature unstable and
threatening of change When they fall below the
cost of the traffic they imply reaction for recoup-
ment of the resulting loss The unthinkng rejoice at
rate that loses profits to a railroad, while the mer-
chant groans in spirit at condition that he cannot
control, but which threatens his ruin. What COM
merce needs is equal service to all at an equal and
fair rate, which is not subject to erratic change.
A Traffic Association which covers the coast from
Puget Sound to San Diego and sits in council at the
terminal points Of every overland railroad can exer-
else powerful influence for stability of rates and the
resulting stability OF commercial conditions Now it
is supreme necessity that we have from the region
covered by this Traffic Association an Interstate
Commerce Commissioner who knows the character
and conditions Of our trade and who notes keenly any
respect in which our mercantile rights and interests
are outawed either by the law itself or by the prin-
cples upon which it is administered
rTl