The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-13
COMER'S VICTORY IN ALABAMA.


The success of Folk in Missouri is now
followed by Corners success in Alabama
In Missouri the boodlers determined to
teach all public officials that the path OF
duty was the path to defeat. The people
took the matter irs their own hands and
showed that the path of duty is one sta
ton on the road to higher political hon
ors. If the people would always show
such appreciation of honorable public SER
vice. many timid and ambitious men, now
silent and vacilhting. would gladly come
out for the right.
In Alabama Mr.. Conner has for some
time pointed out the fact that railroad
passenger and freight rates are too high.
What more. he proved it by the reports
of the railroads themselves. When he an
nounced his candidacy for president of the
Railroad Commission. the railroad folks
organized to crush him. They made
many good men believe he was bent on
the destruction of property, agrarlanlsm,
anarchy and the like. and the war waged
on him was as if he had been a wild and
vicious animal bent upon destroying the
whole State. Fortunately the bulk OF
the voters in Alabama looked beneath all
this sound and fury, started by railroad
attorneys and agents. and saw that Mr..
Conner was nothing like the man he was
painted. but merely courageous and
successful business man. standing for the
just rights of the people. Therefore, in
the face of the clamor and vituperation.
Mr.. Conner has been nominated. The
people will find, when he goes into office,
that he will not tear I'D the railroad
tracks or put the roads into bankruptcy.
They will find that he will secure such
reductions as conditions warrant without
denying fair profits to any railroads.
Recently, directly or under the guise of
new classidcations, nearly all the rail-
roads have increased freight rates. In
some instances the increase has been as
much as SO 1-3 or so per cent, wholly un-
warranted and arbitrary The increase
in the number of passengers would ma
turally lead to a reduction in rates.
Instead, there has been heavy increase
In freight rates and no reduction in pas
sengcr rates. The increase Is made TO
enable railroads to pay dividends on wa
tered stock, subsidize corporation organs.
pay extravaganza salaries, and control leg
islatures aud courts. If the United States
Senate had in It even twelve men who
would refuse free passes and like favors.
who would devote themselves earnestl.
State Commerce law as would give that
body the same power over Interstate
rates the State of North Carolina has
given over intra State rates. the common
carriers would be forced to grant proper
reductions and would not be permitted
to increase rates at will as at present
The newspapers of North Carolina have
felt the burden. The Newton Enterprise
says the freight rate on paper it uses is
SO 1-3 per cent higher. That or some
other increase has been added to nearly
every other industry in this and other
States. The State Commission has no
power because the freight is shipped from
other States No remedy can be had
as long as the United States Senate CON
tains so many railroad attorneys in its
body and so many others who use free
passes and take other favors from. railroasl
corporations. The Interstate Commerce
Commission law needs amending. The Sen
ator who would devote himself to securing
the amendment to save shippers and con
sumers from the present and contemplated
extortion would do more for the develop
ment OF business and manufacturing than
by any other possible legislation. But
though the law forbids it, nearly all OF
them and their families ride on free passes
and think more of keeping good terms
with the railroad magnates than of serv-
ing business men, manufacturers and con
suniers by securing proper reductions in
the heavy tax imposed through excessive
freight rates.