Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-05
RESULTING Evils FROM sOS-coErRoL
Mr.. Smell Tells Of Inequalities aad Suggests Rem
edies Favorable to the C, mmor Interest.

that others are necessary TO COrrect
errors, it is the right and duty of the
people Of Wisconsin to amend them or
institute new laws that will compel all
railroads to pay their share of taxes and
insuve equal rates of tariff for freight
AMI Pc ssengers to the public.
Voters Of Wisconsin are the sovereigns
and each voter forms an integral part of
the sovereignty. To the extent of his
personal interest and the interest neces-
STATED by due regard for the good of
the whole, should he exercise the privi-
lege he enjoys as such citizen sovereign.
The subject upon which the voters of
Wisconsin is most properly exercised is
the present hardship and future danger
of allowing associated capital in the
hands of monopolist corporations to con-
tinue their accommodations and exactions
with the sole purpose OF self aggrandize-
ment, regardless Of the rights Of the
people from whom they have obtai ed
their franchises, and to y ht ~ they are
indebted for their entire PR fi's. There
is no mistaking the need Of the times, a
change ia demanded properly controlling
railway interests. The one thing to
which the voters attention Is or should
be turned at tie preeert time, is the
growth and foster Of railroad interests
and So their utter disregard of the pres.
emit laws and individual ii hts. Con-
sulting no man save themse wee, and no
question other than policy for ultimate
profits. This transportation aud equal
rates to all is q question in which mer-
chants, small manufacturers. farmers
and shippers al are interested, and all
should unite to see to it that extortions
for freight and passengers are not con.
timed, by voting for primary election
law. This primary law is the question
at Issue and no party or individual of q
party can ignore it,
Pooling Of earnings, consolidation and
combination of roads destroy competi-
ton so that the argument by all
railroad attorneys that competition re
gulating charges as in other branches of
business, does not apply. Otherwise
than BEND q greater lrrying capacity
Wisconsin is no better off than if It had
hut one road to any given point. Hence
the need of commissioners that can and
will compel these roilroad companies to
do business on ordinary business princi-
ples, having regard for justice toward
/ alike.
The people Of Wisconsin are no better
off with numerous persons engaged in
keeping store than with one running the
whole, if they all agree on fixed prices
the same as railroads, If they are all
agreed and can enforce rates fixed solely
by these railroad interests. When these
railway corporations determine on any
course and never submit TO public OBJ
servation nor 20 the contingency Of two
elections and plot in secret to deieat the
will Of the people it is high time the
people unite and elect honest men to the
legislature in place of railroad lawyers.
The power OF these railroad companies
upon our elections and legislature have
been exemplified since the repeal of the
Potter law and in particular the last two
sessions. Nothing has been lost to the
people in the way of law; it is only for
the lack Of laws Railroads have no
more legal rights than they had years
ago. before their pernicious influence
was felt and Robert NJ La Toilette
took up the fight in the interests Of the
people. Still the extorticu is continued
from year to year and the hands of the
people more securely tied, and viii be
as long as the voters delegate railroad
attorneys to do their thinking for them
and control their conventions.
| It is not strange that the legal talent
| Of Wisconsin is peru. rnently retained by
/ Wall Street interests, nor that these
| lawyers should grayitats TO the United
| States and state senate. The railroad
interests of Wall Street can afford tC
| compensate them better than private
clients can, for the reason that their OWE
revenues under the present system are
practically unlimited, all production and
| commerce in the sections through WI ;ch
| they run being tributary to them, and
extraordinary expenditure for counse
| fees. election expenses or bribery funds
/ are simply re-imposed upon the phblic
| The retention of United States anC
state senators that are retained by rail
road companies 10 enact our laws, sug
I gests a question Of political expediency
and of morals that should be brought &
the attention Of the tax payers. Some
/ where there must be line which sep
crates the railroad attorney from tn
functions Of the legislature A primar,
election law will define that line Mos
/ Americans viii admit that such practice
are evil and should be absted but 81
conservative are Americans in all thei
methods, 40 respectful Of property rights
40 self reliant and conscious of thei
own power TO overcome evil when /
becomes worth while" TO put forth tn
effort, that they are tolerant of abuse
30 an extent that seems absurd to othe
nations
Railroad men who accumulated sine
the repeal of the Potter law amount
| ranging from 81, coo 600 to $50, 600, 600
are too numerous TO mention, IS ar
those als0 in branches of trade depend
ing upon and closely identified wit
railroad transportation. Shippers whC
through the favors Of railroad official,
have been enabled to onsfFip or brea
down AL competition These are to b
found Ia every branch OF trade If
we're to write the full history of thes
railroad companies aud If the iniustiC
! done individual shippers ard of the il
tciKaes of their attorneys since the 7,
peal Of the d tier law, il would rea
more Ike romance Of the twelfth Ger
tury tcsn 81 q e present time.
q All classes Of citizens are interested
having remedies promptly applied ;
evils that are present 1t y time Law
were enacted through which reasonabl
2 llmtts mSy oa placed upon the growt
and power OF corporate life. Then |,
us Icy aside old party lines and work Z
getaer Let rs put forth our utmo
5 e16aAvOrs % eisCs men &C. office that al
{ not the agents or attorneys of SON
p railroad Ley rs make nse Of Il
meaas st our CoIl4uaand by voting for
primary election law. aud Robert
La Toilette ERNEST K SMELL
Norway Ridge, Monroe Co Sept .