The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-29
"A Warning to Corporations.


"A Warning to Corporations.
According to a Madison, Wis, CORE
ppondent, nearly ss,0oo,00o OF unreported
earnings are shown by tho last official
statement made by The Railroad Commits
sion 10 Governor La Toilette, more than
half OF this amount being repaymonts
or rebates to favored shippers. The COM
mission declares that the sum of 1919, $50 SO
has been withheld wrongfully by the
railroads from tho State, being a part
of their license fec tax imposed by law.
It is further alleged that large sums
were not included In the gross earnings
in the annual sworn statements OF the
roads submitted to the State for the pur-
pose of taxation.
Speaking OF rebates, the commissioner
found in tho examination by experts Of
the books OF the roads that the usual
course was for the shippers to pay the
regular rates as scheduled in the pub
lishcd tariffs OF the companies and after
ward make application for a refund which
would be allowed and deducted from the
earnings and omitted from the reports
for taxation. It was that sort of double
dealing and corruption that caused the
political revolution IN wisconsin and put
La Toilette in the Governors chair. There
is in the story a warning to railroads and
corporations generally throughout the
United States. The people will not for
ever submit to the wrongful practices
of corporations. One way or another they
will finally bring about a reform. The
corporations Will not be permitted to
rule. BY sharp practices they may for
the time being carry things with a high
hand. but sooner or later they will be
called No account, and the managers OF
corporations should understand that hon
esty is the best policy for them to pursue.
| It may DO that some Of the corporations
Ian Virginia need to learn this lesson.
! -z-------=---=
Democratic Prospects in Figures.
1t is generally admitted that Parker will
carry the fourteen Southern States, in
Guiding Maryland. That would give him
just 1859 votes, or 80 votes short Of the
requisite 49, In order to win, the Demo-
cratic caHdidate must also carry New
York, New Jersey, Indiana. West Vir-
GINA and. Connecticut, which would give
Just the requisite number lie may lose
| either West Virginia or Connecticut and
carry Colorado and Nevada, and win by
one vote more than the necessary num-
Der, or a majority Of two. If Parker fai
| TO carry ANY one Of the States named, he
1 must make up the deficiency from the
small States regarded by Democrats as
| doubtful.
these States went for Cleveland In 1892
Connecticut, Delaware Illinois. Indiana
Maryland New Jersey, New York, Yves,
Virginia and Wisconsin. They all wen,
Republican In 1896 and again In 1900 by
/ large majorlties. The electoral vote OF
the states named aggregate 1871 now.
4 Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Colorado
all went for Eryan in 1896 and 1900; Kan,
4 sas. Nebraska. South Dakota, Washing
ton, Wyoming and Utah gave Bryan theil
Electoral votes in 1896 alone, The aggre
gate vote Of the ten States that gave
their electors to Bryan In 1895 Is now bu
n. The aggregate vote Of the four States
THAT gave Bryan their electoral votes II
Eboll 1896 and 1900 is but H.
1t is generally anticipated that th'
greater number of the small Western
States. IL not all, will this year SWIM
! back 10 the Republicans Colorado. Mon
\ tana and Nevada are the only ones tha
the Democrats have any reasonable hop
of carrying,
II by winning back six of the-nine State
maj gave Cleveland their vote In 1892 an
!. Mckinley In 1886 and 1900, the Democrat
Imay elect Parker. Those six States ar
/ Connecticut Indiana, Maryland, New Jer
! sey. New Yo, k and West Virginia. Th
, problem Is, Can Parker carry them all?
!, There must be change Of 1926 vote
O IN these six States IN order to swing Their
\ back into the Democratic column Ne,
jersey Went Democratic In every presi
dental election from 1872 TO 1892 inclusive
and so did Maryland and West Virginia
: Connecticut went Democratic in ever
! election from 1879 TO 1892 inclusive excer