The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-03-10
Railroad
Squeezing
Life ofOklahoma
Commerce

Oklahoma City, Okla, March To-
The rapacity Of railroad corporation
development in Oklahoma since The
organization of The territory and more
specially since the development of
ma ural resources has given oppor-
uaity for great plunder. has re-
point where even representatives
let this unsurpassed trust tremble in
contemplating the disastrous on.
slaughts on railroad interests which
he citizens of Oklahoma may make.
That this revulsion is imminent ia
admitted by subordina e railroad Of.
ic ais who for more than a year have
warned their superiors of the dangers
'ahead In cn0 or more instances It is
alleged that responsible railroad Of
dciaIs declared that the time was at
hand when statehood would come with
IA railroad commission ana hat It be-
hooved the railroad companies to
seize every cent of revenue thai
could be squeezed from the people of
.Oklahoma who now were without re-
dress easily available. Reputable bus.
.iness men claim 10 have seen private
letters from railroad officials in which
the existence of freight pools in viola
tinn of he anti-trust laws were ad-
United The excuse was that this or
anotaec particular railroad was op-
posed TO the combination. but in a
powerless minority, and was forced
1to the pool by threats. Railroad
Ira es In Oklahoma are so exorbitantly
lin excess OF the rates on similar COM
modities In other states that railroad
patrons long since ceased quoting ex-
act figures and quoted lump percent
ages Ia heir complaints Conditions
On Indian terri ory are no less deplor-
able than in Oklahoma
The Consumer Suffers.
If q were true that the burdens
of this railroad rae extortlon were
borne equally among all citizens the
injustice would be at least consist
eu in It's unfalrness Unfortunate.
~ the yoke rests directly upon the
necks of the Individual producer aud
he consumer The wholesale dealer
lakes his usual profit and taxes exces-
siye rates 20 the iobber The latter
adds It in his sales tc the re ailer and
The latter unavoldably gives the final
blow to the consumer When the
wholesaler is heard to complain. the
assumption is tenable that he is seek
ing to increase his own prof 3. This
IS untrue OF course, among those
wholesalers who realize that the i'm
mense spoils that daily pour into the
railroad treasures is 50 much money
levied against the growth Ct com
munities from which it is drawn and
hat in unreasonable years commerce
would he strangled by this uncontroll-
ed avarice The attitude of a certain
class of wholesalers Is explained in
his manner by man familiar with
conditions Wholesalers in a Rock
Island town ask for instance, for
rates that would permit them 20 enter
Santa Fe territory. The Rock Island
Is willing TO secure The concession.
but suggests ihai if this be granted.
Santa Fe wholesalers would ask for
similar access 10 Rock Island terri
tory which would give greater compe.
ttion to Rock Island wholesalers. The
latter lose little time dropping the sub.
iect Wholesale merchants at Okla
homa City as an example are unwnl
ing openly to d.scuss the ra e sltua-
ticn and give the facts In q spirit Of
complaint The claim is made that
they fear retaliation from the railroad
combine which could cause them in.
Vulnerable annoyances.