The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-08-07
A MOMENTOUS PROBLEM.

have the privilege of the ballot, we
may have the semblance of 0emOc-
racy, but industrial servitude means
political servltude. Monopoly in trans
portation and coal and iron AMI the
/ FOOD proJucts, makes pretense and
m0ckery Of political freedom.
Let us see If the time be not ripe
for new declaration of American in
dependence. We are building up col
losal fortunes, granting unlimited
power to corporate organization. and
consolidating and massing together
business interests as never before in
the commercial history of the world,
out the people are losing control Of
their own government. Its founda-
tons are being Slapped ana Its integ-
rity destroyed. What shall 1t profit
man If he gain the whole world ana
lose his own soul9' What shall 1t
profit nation if 1t gain UNTOLD wealth,
and Its people lose their libertyr"
Governor La Toilette pointed out
that the New York legislative investi-
cation of the Erie railroad reported
that more tn an 81, 600, 600 was sent in
one year for extra legal services, =
and that money paid to political bosses
was charged to the India rubber
account. He also showed that more
recently the treasurer Of the New
YORK Central Railway company testi
fled that his company had paid for
legislation in one year $50, 600 and in
another year $205, QUO. He also quoted
from the correspondence which passed
between the late q. +. Huntington and
General Cotton in regard to the pay
ment of money for the passage of leg
islative measures and for the control
of congressman. In one Of the letters
from Mr.. Huntington, that great
magnate used this language:
1T is very important that his
friends In Washington should be with
as, and If that should be brought
about by paying Carr, say $40, 600 to
$50, 00O year. think we could afford
to do it, but OF course not until he had
controlled his friends.
Coming to the question of cOmblna-
tions anu referring to the coal monop-
oily, Governor La Toilette said:
''This coal trust bears harder even
upon the unfortunate, helpless labor
that mines the product at wage level
of generation ago than upon the
consumers who are just beginning to
feel the burden of its increasing OPP
preston. Its utter indifference and
contempt for the constitutional and
statutory law, for public opinion, and
wide spread want and suffering should
awaken III the people OF this free
country the spirit which framed the
Declaration of Independence and
founded government In which the
will of the people should be supreme.
The governor paid his respects to
the elevator combine, and related
the history OF the meat trust, show
ing that it was also promoted by the
railroads. And then he said
''The plan developed and consum-
mated in building up the Standard
Oil monopoly, the anthracite coal
trust, the elevator combination and
the beef trust, are indicative Of the
power of the railroads IN comb nation.
There is not an important trust in the
United States which does not have the
assistance of the railroads in destroy
ing its competitors in business. The
limitation and control OF these public
service corporations in their legitimate
field as common carriers is of primary
Importance in the practical solution
of the trust problem which confronts
the people of this country. 1t is man
ifest that any trust legislation to be
effective must go hand in hand with a
control over railway rates by the fed
eral government on interstate com
MERGE through an enlargement of the
powers of the interstate commerce
commission, and alike control OF rail-
road rates ON state commerce by each
of the states through state railway
commission. Added to this, the rail
road companies must be prohibited
from using the extraordinary powers
conferred upon them by the state for
any other purpose than in conducting
the transportation business for which
they were organized.