The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-27

self or anybody else representing the
railroads, the declaration was made with
glaring headlines that the business men
were on the firing line" and the question
may well be asked, What right have these
business men to be on the firing line, in
these days of peace? But their declara-
ton discloses that THEIR PURPOSE IS
TO FIRE ON THE MEN WHO ARE
OPERATING THE RAILROADS IN
THIS STATE-men who are citizens Of
Alabama, and others who have invested
their money on the invitation and pledges
of the Democratic and Conservative Par
ty of Alabama, and who have done more
in developing Alabama. and adding to
her taxable values than all other men and
irstrumentalities combined.
Only Plank in the Platform Of This
New Political Party.
1t will also be seen from the articles in
question that these men say there Is
to be but one issue before the people, and
that they will not vote for any man for
the Legislature who does not pledge HIM
self to support a measure which proposes
to change the method of electing the
Railroad Commissioners, and to vote for a
bill which will give the Commission pow
er to regulate local freight rates" They
they wouldsbe EQUIPPED WITH THE
S1NEwS OF WAR;, That is, that they
will have an ample campaign fund, and
they. further state -FOUR participation in
the county campaign will be confined to
this one thing"
1t will also be remembered that these
gentlemen have appointed a campaign
committee" of which Mr.. White is
chairman. with numerous linen selected
from different parts of the State as his
associates. Thus 1t will be seen that
while these were political meetings, they
did not purport to be meetings of Demo-
Gratis, as the Democratic party is already
equipped with campaign committees
State Congressional and County-and an
issue not rendered by the Democratic,
party Is to be made an ISSUE by them In
this campaign.
But why this unfriendly attitude on the
part of these, gentlemen towards the
railroads, which have so materially aided
in the development of the country, and
given an increased value to every inch
of land, and to every other species of
property in the State?
One Who Would Wrong a Railroad
Would Wrong an Individual.
Can 1t be possible that there is a spirit
that would rob a railroad that would not
under like circumstances rob an indi-
vidual? Is 1t not true that the same
spirit that will deny justice to a railroad
or other corporation will find a way in
the end to deny Justice to the. individual?
Can we be honest with each other in
our private relations, and at the same
time be dishonest towards railroads? Is
1t equal and exact justice to impose bur-
dens on railroads that no business man
would have imposed on. himself? Is 1t
morally or legally right to do unto rail-
roads or other corporations that which
you would not have done unto you? If 1t
Is a good sound policy to have rail-
roads, is It. right. to, have one rule for
them and another rule for every other
species of property?
Fundamental Principle of Democracy
The fundamental rule Of Democracy as
defined by Locke and other writer's on
civil government is to have One rule
for the rich and poor, the favorite at
court, and the countryman at plow"
Can property be safe in any country
where men will ignore that spirit of JUS
tice which is the foundation Of all that
Is just and right? The demagogue who
arrays the people against the public in-
situations of the country and teaches
them to deny to railroads or other corr
porations equal and exact justice Is a
the result of his work will not be simply
to injure the railroad or other public in
stitution, but will in the end undermine
civilization itself;
Why Not Arbitrarily Regulate"
Other Industries as Well as
Railroads.
In the beginfilng OF the creation of
railroad 'comrnfssions the most ardent
advocates of such bodies only insisted
on the commission having the right to
prevent extortion or unjust discrinina-
ton, AND NO THOUGHT OF GIVING
ANY COMMISSION THE POWER OF
ABSOLUTELY r Il G U LA T N @
FREIGHT RATES EITHER LOCAL
OR OTHERWISE, WAS CoNTEM-
PLATED. THERE IS NOT A MER-
CHANT IN ALABAMA WHO WOULD
BE WILLING TO HAVE A COMMITS
SION APPOINTED TO SAY WHAT
PROFIT HE SHOULD MAKE ON THE
SALE OF ANY ARTICLE. THERE is
NOT A MAN ENGAGED IN THIS
WARFARE UPON THE railroads. IN
THIS STATE WHO WOULD BE WILL
ING TO HAVE SUCH LEGISLATION
AS HE IS NOW PRAYING FOR
AGAINST THE RAILROADS. PASSED
IN REFERENCE TO THE BUSINESS
IN WHICH HE is ENGAGED.
But If such legislation is fair and just
to railroad owners, 1t Is equally fair and
Just to wholesale grocers, cotton mill
men and others. 1t would be just as
equitable to create commission to regu-
late their business and take 1t out of
their hands as it Is to take the business
of the railroads out of the hands of their
owners.
1t is frequently assumed that the trans
portation of freight and passengers is in
the nature Of a governmental function
Nothing could be more erroneous. Neith-
er in England nor in the United states
has the Government ever undertaken, ex-
cent in rare instances, and for short in
tervaIs to perform the duties OF COM
mon carrier of freight and passengers
The Government has frequently furnished
highways which might be used by COM
mon carriers, but 1t has not acted as a
common carrier upon these highways.
The transportation services upon such
highways has in both England and the
United States always been performed by
private corporations and not by the Gov
eminent. The railroads are not, there
fore. performing governmental functions,
IL we look to the history of England and
America for a definition Of that term.
It is urged by the advocates of this
drastic legislation that railroad COM
panies enjoy the benefit OF some pecuuar
and exclusive franchise from the state.
This assumption probably grows out or
the incorrect idea just noticed that rail-
road transportation is governmental
| function. The fact is the railroads have
No neculiar or exclusive franchise. I'm
der the laws of Alabama it Is just as
easy, for any number of individuals de-
string to form a corporation to operate
| a railroad to get authority from the state