The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1904-03-04
pEPL0RARLE SORT OF
MADNESS

Inc dallX- papers VI ldSU Null
day contained dispatch from
Pullman, Washington, which is
given in full below, and which if
true, convicts the management
of the Northern Pacific railway
of criminal foolishness. 1t is
such acts as this that raises the
belief in the minds of many peo-
pie that corporations, if they had
the power, would stop atnothing
to crush one or a dozen poor
devils who happened to be en-
gagged in some occupation that
conficted with the business of
the corporation, or, as in this
case, that conficted with the
business of some of the stock
holders in altogether another
corporation, but who are also in
terested in and directing the af-
fairs of the railroad company.
"Whom the gods would de-
stroy they first make mad, and
those who are directing the de-
struction of the farmers tele-
phone line are afflicted with the
worst sort of madness. Follow
ing is the dispatch:
The Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany has begun war on the rural tee-
phone lines owned and operated by the
farmers, and bitter warfare is expect
ed. Yesterday the line between Pull
man and Palouse was cut at point
where it crosses the Northern Pacific
tracks near the F. L. Titus farm, be-
tween Fallons and Pullman. This is
the second time this line has been cut
by section men employed by the railroad
company, the section men claiming they
cut the line under orders from the road
master.
The farmers are highly indignant
over the matter, and an effort will be
made to take the matter into the court:
and prosecute the section men under
the state law, which provides penalty
of not less than 5000 fine or imprison
ment for such an offense.
John S. Klemgard commissioner
from the second district of Whitman
county, said, II want you to write W
this case and show the farmers what il
being done. The railroad company ha;
served notice that it owns the right o.
way from heaven to hell, and will moi
allow its line crossed by anything. Il
this is true, and the road is successful
it will mean the death ofrural telephone
lines or any lines not controlled by the
railroads. We admit they have the
right OF way TO hell but deny that the
right OF way extends to heaven. am
urging the stockholders of that line to
cause the arrest of the men who cut the
line and prosecute them to the fullest
extent of the law. The people in my
lolBuDOTDOUu dtc WlllilS W Soholi b"'S
to the expense OF the case, and want to
see it carried to the supreme court OF
the United States ii the railroads are
able to win in the lower courts.
THE point where the line was cut is
at public road crossing, the road being
owned by the county. The line does
not interfere with the right Of way in
any respect. My opinion is that it be-
ing through line between Palouse
and Pullman, interferes with the bust
ness of the Pacific States Telephone
company, which is closely connected
with the railroad company. Such an
outrage should be severely dealt with
and the perpetrators punished to the
fullest extent Of the. law. Otherwise,
we had as we'll bid adieu to our rural
telephone system, which has become
great convenience and necessity in the
farming districts"