The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-16
GOV. LA FoLLErrE.s AMBITION.

1
Having won his fight against the
| Spooner faction. Gov. LaFollette of
Wisconsin is preparing for his fight
against the railroads of his state. He
is determined they shall pay a larger
share of the taxes and shall make
rates that are equal and fair for all
shippers. He announces that as soon
as he has settled with the railroads Of
Wisconsin. he will be a candidate for
the United States Senate, where he
hopes TO be an important factor in the
fight, which, he says, is coming be-
tween the people and the railroads.
1t is his opinion that the government
must fix the rates of the railroads.
on interstate commerce or own the
roads. In an interview at Toledo on
Monday last he said: THE political,
issue in this country for the next ten
or fifteen years will be between gov
eminent for special interests and gov
eminent for the people" In other.
words, he believes the issue is pluto
cracy or Democracy.
wv 1~oG OAiCAIC AAco oiADNAA AAAAAAN~NA
to be a man of great force of char
acter, and there is no doubt that he.
is very ambitious. 1t is probable that
he thinks there is a chance for man
of his characteristics and his views.
on public questions to reach the presi-
dency in the near future.
And it wouldn't be surprising if he
were right. There is undoubtedly a.
growing feeling against the trusts.
The evident purpose of these institu-
tions to grab everything within their
reach, regardless of the rights of the
people, is gradually creating a deep
seated hostility to them. But Gov.
LaFollette is making mistake in.
thinking the feeling of the people is
directed wholly against the railroads.
The feeling against them isn't so great
as it is against the tariff. because if
it were not for the shelter which the
tariff gives to some of the most in
iquitious of the trusts the Objectionable
features of these trusts couldn't exist.
There is no good reason why the steel
VI boNf III instance oAAOhiu NC pei iAllbbC0
to charge so much more for steel rails
and other steel products than is
charged for these articles in England.
The feeling against the railroads is
not due so much to high rates as
it is to unequal rates. AS a mat
ter, of fact, the rates in this coun-
try are not as high as railroad rates
in Europe. 1t is the discrimination
IT, favor of the big shippers and fav-
ored localities that causes the trouble.
Gov. LaFollette is also mistaken
in thinking that the time is COM
ing soon when the government will
own the railroads. The people have
too much good sense to want govern
ment ownership of them. Under the
government they wouldn't be run as
would be a source of danger to the
republic. A forceful and INSCRIPTIONS
President could re-elect himself as
many times as he pleased, if he had the
railroads at his back as well as the
officeholders. There would be scarce
ly limit to the. campaign fund he
could raise and. the votes he could
control with the patronage at hisrconl-
mand. acTiasr e6r TeTlo3a|
The government may control the rail-
roads in so far as to regulate their
interstate commerce rates, but the day
is far distant when it will own them.
If Gov. LaFollette is aiming to become
political power by championing gov
eminent ownership of railroads. he is
doomed TO disappointment.