Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-31
PROLIFIC TRUST BREEDERS.
NJ IL Not tho Profits Railroada Make, Hut
the Trusta They Breed, That the
People Object Ia.

That the question OF government
ownership OF railroads IL becoming q
living issue is evidenced by the fact
that the leading journals OF the coun'
try are beginning TO devote consider.
able space 10 its discussion, or
course they presume upon the igno-
rance of their readers and advance
all sorts of ridiculous arguments IN
antagonlsm TO the demand, but IN
splte OF this much IL gained when
they degn to discuss the question AZ
all.
That popullst principles are begin
ming TO commend themselves TO the
sober second thought OF the business
community may be opined from the
following excerpt from "uathH
weekly letter, Says hei
sat down with banking man lately
20 discuss the popuist national conven'
tion at Sioux Fails The llnanclor sald TO
me- ,,...,,
81 have read that platform ut Sioux
Falls, aud II seems 10 me 10 be coherenl
and well stated, As to government owner
shin of railroads, that X what exists ~
Germany. Russia aud France, Besides
our railroads are rapidly concentrating
into one government that VIII require
the general government to come IN some
time. In fact the present railroad sys-
tenn IN being prepared, nsonNblS Tor
government supervision, ANA the rhll-
Tonds themselves win presently Join the
populisls In that request
business men are beginning TO rec
L.
opiSr the dangerous tendencies OF the
railroad consolidation now going ON,
while the wrccking rccelyershlp re-
organization and lrccling-out process
IL rapidly converting the small hold
srs of railroad securities into Ndvo-
Gates Of government ownership
Some Of the pleas made by the jour
nnlslic 0poIoglsts for corporate spoil
ntlon urc 40 glurjngly absurd and so
phlsticnl ms 10 cuusr one 10 blush for
Che ignomut credulity Of conslitu-
ency that can believe such rot Thus
Che Chicago Timcs,Ilcrad, comment
Ing upon the Siouy Falls platform
says
II MIGHT b. asked; "How IL the gov
olumonl a. acquire all these railway
Dropcwlps? The answer 10 plain IN the
iIpht OF the populIst platform. simply
print EocnhncGs or paper money anu
ooin silver dollars until enough money ~
manufactured to buy the railroads Iho
whole thing Is very simple Government
ownership of everything ~ not difficult
problcm for the popullst mind, once
gtartod the government printing presses
need not stop until enough money has
bcon turned out TO buy everything thal
is now controlled by individual or cor
porutc enterprise and ownership Inc
popullsi plan docs not contemplate con-
Gscatlun, Not at ull II proposes 20 pay
~ II goes aud expects the regular DIS
count for cash
Replying 10 this absurd statement
81 may be- said there would be no ne
cessity for printing or coming any adj
ditionnl money TO puy for theNilroads
The people are now paying for rail
road facilities about four per cent, OF
railroad bonds, equal in amount to tn,
cost OF the railroads and about tw'
per cent, on un equal sum represented
by railroad stock shares, That is Il
say, they are paying about three pc
cent. upon dola)lc the cost OF tn
railroads, All that would he 'neces
sary, then, in order for the govern
mcut 10 acquire She ownership of tn
railroads would he 10 exchange Unit
ed Stntos three per cent, bonds, dol
lar for dollar for the outstanding
railroad securities, Or, to be NOR