Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-08-22
RULE OR BE RULED?
GOVERNOR LA TOILETTE ON
RAILROAD GOVERNMENT.
The Question That the People of Washington
Must Decide Is Whether the State Shall Rule
the Railroads or be Ruled by Them. The
Problem is Momcntous One.

Governor LaFollette, of Wisconsin, de.
livered an address July IS, 1908, at
Chaufauqua, N. Y, OIL the subject,
Representative Government Al
though Governor LaFolette has not so
far declared himself in favor of govern
ment ownership of railroads, what he
said on that occasion and the things he
has since said would lead one to believe
that the time will come when the Wis
consin governor will be in the forefront
Of those who are battling for one of the
most i'm portant reforms in the history OF
government.
Asserting that the people are rapidly
losing control of their own government.
Governor LaFollette pointed out that the
New York legislative investigation of the
Erie railway disclosed that more than
II ,000, 900 was spent in one year for
"extra legal services" and that money
paid to political bosses was charged to
''the India rubber account" He also
showed that more recently the treasurer
OF the New York Central Railway COM
pany testified that his company had paid
for legislation in one wear $50 ,00), and in
another year $685. 200. He also quoted
from the correspondence which passed
between the late G. p. Huntington and
General Cotton in regard to the payment
of money for the passage of legislative
measures and for the control of congress
men. In one of the letters from Mr..
used this language: at is very impor
tant that his friends in Washington
should be with us, and if that should be
brought about by paying Carr, say s1O,.
600 to $4,000 year, I think we could
afford to do it, but OF course not until he
| had controlled his f,iends.''
l., Having made this sboHing~rGoyer
IfAFollette said: III thSfs we're no fur.
Their evidences Of the power Of the rail-
roads in legislation than that which is
afforded by the statements from the
record of the interstate commission, it
ought to arouse the entire country to
such action as will bring congress to
sense OF its responsibility to the people
for some measure of justice and fair
play"
The governor added: "The gravest
danger menacng republican institutions
today is the overwhelming control OF
city, state and national legislatures by
the wealth and power of public service
corporations.
In another portion of his speech Gov
ernor I.aFollette read a letter hearing
upon the action Of the last congress.
This letter was written to him by a
United States senator under date OF Feb
ruary 0, 1908. In this letter this senator
wrote:
at is expecting too much from human
nature that senators, whose every as
ISOLATION is with the great railroad cor.
porations and whose political lives
largely depend upon them, should, in
good faith, make the railroads servant
of the people and to be subject to the de-
cision of the commission when question
of rates is raised. The senate committee
is by decided majority men who bear
those relations to the railroads."
! Well did Governsr LaFollette say that
the problem presented is momentous
one, that it asks for no appeal to passion
or prejudice or fear, but calls rather for
courage and patriotism and self-sacrifce
and calls sternly for solution.
| Governor LaFollette said: "Shall the
American people become servants in
stead OF masters of their boosted ma
terial progress and prosperity, victims Of
the colossal wealth, this free land has
fostered and protected? Surely our great
cities, our great states, our great nation.
will not helplessly surrender to this most
| insidious enemy which is everywhere
undermining official integrity and
American institutions. Surely, we shall
not permit this government to abandon
its traditions, its memories, its hopes,
and become the instrument OF injustice
and oppression. Surely, the American
people will do their plain duty now as
they cid in the greatest epoch Of this
country's history. Surely, We shall
meet the issues presented with rectitude
and unialtering devotion, strong in the
faith OF ultimate triumph"
The Death Penalty.