The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-10-20
AN ABLE ARTICLE FROM AN
ABLE MAN.
On the Subject of Railroads n
Capital i'm the State.

liberal treatment vi euo
State.
The unjust, and absolutely unreason-
ing, popular prejudice against corpo-
~rations, which extends to the jury box
and poisons the minds of the average
Juror. which has manifested itself in
the politics OF the State, and that has
found expression in legislation, has
done the State OF Mississippi incalcula-
ble injury and has retarded the pros
perity and ad vancement of the COM
monwealth.
We want to get rid of insular ideas
and prejudices, and it is OF the greatest
importance to cultivate a broad and en-
lightened public sentiment In the
State. Railroads have placed Missls-
sippi on the road to prosperity, and
will continue to promote the cause OF
material advancement, and the devel-
opment of the great resources OF the
State.
The SENTINEL is right in %denounc-
ing as vicious and wrong this popular
prejudice against railroads and corpo- |
ratjous. 1t began in ignorance and
provincialism, and has been played upon
by demagogues and politicians for the
promotion of their selfish purposes I'M
= til it has reached the point OF affecting
the character and reputation OF the
State.
The bringing of unjust and
Z ed damage suits, as the NTH
rightly declares, has become oppress-
: i've 10 the railroads. Numbers OF these
r suits are brought for trivial causes,
q and a volume OF testimony is brought
u into court to magnify some petty, tri-
t fling injury into a formidable cause OF
action for SIS, 600 or $40, 900 damages.
d According to a perverted popular
idea a corporation seems to be regard
ed as the legitimate victim for exac-
tions and demands that would never be
brought against an individual. The
l. idea apparently is hat the property
and rights of corporations stand upor
lie a different footing from that OF n
viduals.
pr A corporation is simply an invisible
lie and intangible fiction OF the law. II
has merely a fictitious existence. TIL
q property, which, from IA technical ant
IA artificial legal point of view, is veste'
an in the corporation, practically and sui
ct stantially, is owned by the stock
Id holders. Every certificate OF stoc
simply represents the evidence OF tn
"A share, or interest, of the stakeholder l
,as the property and assets owned In con
mon by all the stockholders.
1t is at last nothing more, nor les
than the property ownership OF ind
9 a yiduals who have consolidated thei
no. capital, and combined their energif
'ck for the purpose of carrying out gre
ate public enterprises which no indivi'
lai- uals, acting independently, could pt
ced sibly undertake., or accomplish.
ice It would, very probably, surpri
zen. many of those persons who join in t
can popular clamor against railroads, a
corporations, to know what a gre
number of widows and orphans, exe'
:, ~ tors. administrators and trustees, a
,., Of working people in this country, o
,noa stock in railroads and other great gu
!, ~ public corporations.
oi,s When a verdict for $1,000 or $40,
49, is rendered against a railroad for SO
~;nr petty injury, in response to the apr
.on to the popular prejudice against cor
~ r~ations, the individuals who W
stock have the money to pay.
The SENTINEL Is doing a public
ound vice in the stand that it has taken
Capt. Justice and. fair treatment for thei
nend- roads of the State, and 1t states a u
n its of universal acceptance and applica
beral when it says hat railroads are on
roads the ereat factors in the material
.evel- velopment OF a country.
John The great timber and agricult
the and commercial Interests OF the {
neral, are being promoted by our railro
eight Twenty years ago hard wood til
atifed lands in the Delta that were sold
mend for ten cents an acre are now W
UGH as from IS to S12 an acre. AS each
road, or branch road, is built the
erty along it's line is enhanced in v
red a new towns are built. new industrie
he developed and new enterprises ar
in rob- tablished. Railroads are recogI
VIII as one of the great agencies in IN
WIN vancement of civilization, and i
ch OF a promotion OF the education OF the
in the pie. Civilization, refinement, pro
in the and prosperity, as well as the co
~-~ and convenience OF the individua
dozen low upon the construction OF rail-
US can Instead OF popular clamor ae
in any railroads, and corporations, the :
or oan should cultivate sentiments oil fri
ness for them, and by a just ant
j. Dag sentative policy contribute to IN
any Of portant work OF developing the
A train resources of the State.
rk and Governor Lopgino has decla
- broad and statesmanlike policy Q
alar" line, in his inaugural address I
nv the 1.-.I,u1 nd with the force {