The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-08-17
FORCED TO BE GOOD.

ma enares last year voluntarily agreed
in q conference with the farmers of |
Eastern Washington to make slight
reduction in freight rates on grain, it |
is certain that such concession
would never have been made had il
not been for the agitation of rail
way commission by Governor Mcbride
and his supporters. The reduction
granted by Hill, Mellen and Mohler |
was made in the hope Of stemming |
the tide of public sentiment in favor
of the just regulation and equitable
taxation of the railroads and to a !
certain extent the ruse proved sue
cessful. Another conference is now
desired by the Big Three and it is
proposed to hold it some time next Oc-
tober after most of this years grain
crop has been shipped to tidewater at
the present rates. If the agitation Of
a railway commission has accomplish
ed nothing directly through legisla-
ton, it must be conceded that it has
accomplished a great deal Indirectly
by bringing the railway mcgnates to
a more reasonable mood in dealing
with shippers. In discussing this
subject the Colfaz CommOner says:
For years the railroads knew of
the discomfort of the shippers with
the rates in force, for years they knew
that the people were clamoring
against their eXtortion, but they Of
fered no Cancellation. 1t was not I'M
til Governor Mcbride, member of
the dominant party of the state, had
begun his crusade for railroad COM
mission bill, it was not until the mem
bers Of both parties We're lining up in
favor Of this plan, it was not until
the members of the legislature to be
chosen at the approaching election
would support such a measure, that
the resourceful brains of the railroad
presidents evolved the idea Of concil- |
iation.
The plan of bringing the shippers
and railroad magnates together in |
friendly conference did not originate
with the farmers. 1t was suggested |
by Charlie Chamberlin, a representa- |
tive of the railroads. The conference |
was held and the railroads granted /!
just as much as they thought neces-
sary to conciliate the farmers and |
choke off the demand for railroad |
commission. The plan worked al |
mirably. The compulsory Cancellation
enabled the railroads to defeat enough |
real friends Of the commission bill |
to give the lobby control of the legis-
lature.
How much more of a reduction in
rates the railroads could afford to
give nobody knows, but a railroad
commission could find out. That is
why the railroad magnates are so bit
terly opposed to the measure, that is
why they are moving heaven ami
Gov. Mcbride, that is why they are
willing and anxious to hold another
conference with the farmers and give
them another slight reduction, to put
to sleep the agitation for a railroad
commission.
All of which facts should point out
very clearly to the farmers and ship
pers of eastern Washington that the
only way to get Cancellation from the
ld1Il oduS Is 10 uflFo tQem to grant
it, by continuing to agitate the rail
road commission idea. and then {OI
refuse to be put to sleep by the sops
granted, but to continue to talk and
vote for the measure until it is placed
on the statute books of he state. Then
the railroad question will be eliminat
ed from politics and Cancellation meet
ings between the railroad presidents
and the shippers will no longer be ne,
cessary."