The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-10-29
Yur REVOLT AGAINST mAnmos

l1
NIsmmon and Mammon worship. The
decreasing popularity OF McClures
Magazine since the commencement OF
Miss Tarbel's history Of the StahnaIu
Gil trust is evidence that the people
are waking up. And the fact that Nc
Clure is adding TO the number OF MS
on Kindred subjects,
shows that from even a sordid busl-
ress standpoint, IT pays to give ms
readers articles like those written by
Miss Tarbell, Ray Stannard BAKER.
I tncoln StefIins and others. instead ol
inane articles or beauty" and good
moss" and how to live on seven cents /
day"
Mcclure. I'm an editorial announce
ment Of the second part OF MISS Tar
bell's history, 10 begin with the De
cember number. reviews the hrst part,
which ended with July. lie reaches
the conclusion that
From the first half Of this his
tory the reader carried away
one pre-eminent and oyerwhflm-
ing conviction and that was that
whatever the money-maNng gem
ina nj Mr.. ]. y. Rockefeller-and
Miss Tarbcll gives that gentleman
fuu credit for far-sightedness,
energy and singleness Of purpose
the Standard oil trust could
never have been created had u
not been for the special and IL
lcaal rebates on transporta-
ton which Mr. Rockefeller was
able 10 wrest from the oll-carrying
railroads"
There is nothing new or startling
IN that for readers Of The Indepen-
dent. Any person with average intel
Ieence. who will give the matter III
Tic thought must see the Overwhelming
advantage which Mr. Rockefeliers
trust held over It's competitors when
trey had TO pay ~ barrel freight
from Cleveland 10 New York, WINE
the trust not Oily got the same ser
vice for $3.50. but in addition received
50 cents rebate" ont Of the w paid by
tho competitor. No business could
stand that sort Of discrimination,
The Independent has been for years
urging this very fact as one OF the
chief reasons for public ownership and
government operation Of the railroads.
Strange TO say, Mcclure does not
reach this conclusion; or II he does.
"a afraid to urge II. Perhaps he I'M
Leystands the temper Of his readers
and Is afraid Of frightening them by
being too radical Perhaps he's right.
too. for he can reach and influence
cess Of readers who would refuse to
read the very same matter In The In
dependent. Anent this, he says:
"The railroads exist by the con-
gent Of the people. The gentlemen
who control them are allowed
their franchises, allowed the great
fortunes they make from them, on
the theory that they can give
better administration than can be
obtained by state Administration.
And unquestionably these gentle
men can. do 80 II they will. 1t
seems to have been pretty clearly
demonstrated, however, that they
will not-unless forced to II. The
necessity Of forcing fair play on
the railroads IL the great lesson
OF this first series Of articles on
the Standard OIL trust. for 1t Is
evident II would not be In exist
ence today II ii had not been for
the abuses Of justice on which 1t
fattened."
Mr.. Mcclure, with millions OF other
worthy gentlemen, still clings tenac-
iously TO the Adam Smith doctrine Of
'laissez faire," utterly obliyious to the
fact that Adam Smiths great fight
was against monopoly and special
privileges as they then existed, and
that a reasonable application of the
principles he contended for would pre-
Guide the private ownership Of rail-
roads. No railroad can come into be-
ing under private ownership without a
Brant of special privileges and with.
out having exercised on It's behalf the
sovereign power OF eminent domain
Highways have always been regarded
~ an attribute Of sovereignty, equal
IL Importance with the power to coin
money, But under modern and mis-.
taken applications of the principles
laid down by Adam Smith. both high.
ways ana the power TO coin money
have passed to the control of priyat,
persons.
The task Of forcing fair play on tn,
railroads" Is not n new one Just dis
covered by Miss Tarbel or Mr.. Me
Clure The fight for fair play hal
been going IA l0uv aa fhn 1ife ~ IN,