The independent., 1903-06-04
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
Mr.. Snediksr Prsfasss Series Of Articles
BY Showing some Benefits OF
Cheap TRANSPORTATION

Cheap Transportation
The granger agitation anu iesi5isi-
ton years ago, although proceeding
on a wrong theory, had had the good
effect of teaching the people that pub
lie ownership is a condition precedent
to control" OF course, we know
now that private ownership should
never have been permitted; the law
of eminent domain was never intend
ed to permit the taking Of private
property for anything but public uses,
and our courts have been obliged to
do all sorts Of hair-splitting to justify
the taking of private property for q
railroad right Of way, to permit the
right of way to be owned and held as
private property, and In some places
to place the mantle Of sovereignty
over it SO that adverse possession
cannot ripen into title In another.
But having started on the wrong
theory, the past cannot be undone and
our steps retroactive must simply
60 ahead and get right
Mr.. r. T. Snediker of Kansas City,
Mo-, one of the proprietors of the
Stock Hotel there, Is In a position t0
study the transportation question,
and he has recently written some In
teresting letters to the Kansas City
World on the subject. He has fur
nished copies Of these to The Inde-
pendent, saying:
Editor Independent: We cannot
have equal freedom or free trade, il
few monopolize transportation. The
democratic party has pledged against
all private monopoly in state or ma
tion; why not hold them to 1t and take
monopoly that all men can see-one
Of the most corruptive in government.
except it be the beneficiaries Of tar
ifs?
In these railroad stories | do not
include rides in Pullman, or baggage
or insurance. | only hope to arouse
discussion and can bring out other
points as they arise Roosevelt is not
going to stop one trust from robbing
the people. Not one. Tom Johnson
is going to stop street car trust and
he has the people with him.
If the democrats become democratic
and will stand for human rights, they
will win. And they should not win, il
they follow republican lines Of action.
Think | can defend my line of ar
gument from the buying and manages
ment down to the man who shovels
dirt. Men of all color and parties
come to me and say they would work
and vote for the party that would con-
tend for this r. T. SNEDIKER.
1s11 Genesee ST., Kansas City, Mo.
Well, the peoples party has been
contending for public ownership OF
railroads for good many years. The
party organization is not in first-class
shape right now, but with a littls
rallying it can be aroused-the growth
of sentiment in favor of public own
ership alone being sufficient incen-
tive-and 1t can be ready for action
next year If the old parties refuse to
speak for what the people want MIR.
Snediker's first letter to the World
follows:
To the Editor of The World. It
must be admitted that newspapers ara
great instrumentality in the way of
increasing intelligence. But 1t is 4
mooted question, If good roads do not
do more for increasing the reasoning
powers Of man and make more for
higher civilization, than the whole
force of the press Of the country, let
1t be as great as 1t may.
Place man on farm or island,
cut him off from personal contact
with his fellows, rain all the papers
and periodicals on him that he could
read, and at the end OF twenty or thir-
ty years, what would he know? AT
the end of that time not one in 4
thousand would be able to take abb
stract propositions and reason them
out to rightful conclusion.
Reverse the illustration:
Good roads mean the least possible
friction in the transportation of per-
sons and property. Take commun-
ity with the best of country roads and
bridges, with up to date steam
railways. free to all the citizens, so
that men and families could go 100
or 200 miles from home and return in
day. Where everybody could travel
at will, mingle and commingle with
the people of the various sections Of
the country; argue and discuss ques-
tions from all points Of view, see,