The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-26
RULE OF RAILROADS
THEIR ATTEMPT TO ELECT SUB
SERvIENT LEGISLATURES.
Mr. 3. b. Conner Writes Of Movement
to Have Railroad Commissioners
Named by the People.
Gives Figures.

Editor The Advertiser:
On July 10, 1901 you published the fol-
lowing headlines to strong article by
yourself, and to numerous excerpts from
different papers over the State, calling at
tention to the evils Of the pass system:
Condemnation of Convention for Re-
fusing to Abolish Pernicious
Free Pass System.
From every quarter of the State comes
protests against the action OF the Dele
gates in declining to put a quietus
upon methods which have so long been
reproach to the Commonwealth
Citizens vigorous in denouncing this
Species Of Bribery"
If passes given to State officers for the
purpose Of influencing their conduct anc
vote is bad in its influence and was
viewed with condemnation by the Press
and all uninfiuenced individuals and an
anti-pass ordinance was adopted by the
Constitutional Convention; this was done
to lessen the danger OF railroad influence
on the legislature and other State Of
ficers This being true, and we all know
Ii, how hectoring and arrogant, how con-
temptible of Alabama citizenship and suf-
frage, was the recent interview of tneir
political manager as published in The
Birmingham News, in which he declares
that the railroads will line up their en-
ployes, their influence and their means
to fight the people to control the next
legislature And this simply because
the people ask for Alabama what every
other State in the Union not only has
but exercises as an unalienable right.
Is it possible that we have yet a con-
smartest men in the State, railroad en-
ployes, who should be among our most
independent and intelligent citizens
should combine under a leadership which
at the same time processing patriotism
expresses open determination to control
the electorate, to elect by pressure and
the politicians methods, a majority of the
legislature pledged to continue the rail-
road rule in Alabama?
1t Is possible that we have yet a con-
siderable ballot so prejudiced. so ignorant
or careless of the welfare of the State
as to consent to help this most danger
GUS would be- patriot to control every
branch of the State capital in the In
terest of his foreign employer and to
power to tax every species of production
and consumption. They say that they
will he fair Impossible. Unrestricted
power was never fair. Only recently tc
end the fight being made by the Whole
sale Grocers under the leadership of Mr..
w. F. Vandiver, to force a differential
on car load shipments, they. conceded
cents on the car lots, but added the
cents to the local rate. The Mobile
Register commenting on the gross IN,
justice of the increased charge estimated
that 1t would cost the State of Ala
bama STE, 900 a year. In other words to
piacate the tobber they taxed the con-
sumner and producer an additional "a mil
lion a year.
Still more recently by manipulating the
classification, 1t is estimated they in
creased the rate 20 per cent Other
States refused 1t.
Is it possible that we have citizen
who under a specious plea would ran tc
help protect his State against the insidi-
Gus advance of this most far reaching
trust.
Mr.. Villas says that the hope OF tine
nation is the Democratic party. Thai
they win give the only deliverance against
rapacious combinations. and it is proposed
to embcdy 1t in the National and State
platforms and make 1t the basis issue
VIII the politicians Of Alabama stultify
themselves by voting an antitrust article
in their platform and then ignorantly
carelessly, or by some species of suborn'
ment help fasten the railroad trust.
We are only asking for Alabama wha'
every other State has, what every pru'
dent State should have. Why draw tht
primary line on the Railroad Commits
sioner? Have not the people who have
sense enough to elect Supreme Cour'
Judges and Governors sense enough tt
Advt, B. B. Conner.