The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-26

and the railroads in adjusting differ
ences and preventing unfair dlscrlml-
nations. The individual shipper can
not afford to enter into litigation WIN
a powerful railroad corporation 10 Sc
cure lower freight rates or to prevent
secret rebates being given to ms COM
petitors. 4 railroad commission would
represent all the shippers of the state
and the attorney general or the state
and the county attorneys would be at
the service of any shipper having a
grievance against a railroad company.
Thus the power of the state would De
interposed to see that justice be done
to every citizen. no matter what his
financial condition might be.
1t is in this way that a railway COM
mission with adequate powers acts as
a board of arbitration, and that Is
what William Fitzpatrick of Illinois had
in mind in his letter to the morning
paper.
\ohOdy PROPOSES to make the COM
mission law AN instrument of perSe-
cution in harassing the railroads in
This state Governor Mcbride has re-
peatedly discaimed any such purpose.
It is intended that the law shall put an
end to the corrupting influence of the
railroad lobby and aid in restoring the
legislature to the service OF the peo-
ple. Every session of the Legislature
is now disgraced by the barter and sale
Of LEGISLATION and the distribution OF
appropriationS from the state treasury
to aid the rairoad lobby in preventing
the passage of a commission law or OF
any other law providing for the regu-
lation OF railroad rates and fares, or
for the equitable assessment of rail-
road property.
Does Walla Walla ask for new
charter? She must agree to deliver so
many votes against the commission
law or the straight freight rate bill
in order to get votes enough to carry
her point Does Ellensburg want a
new building for her normal school?
She must agree to deliver the votes
of Klckitat county in the legislature
against all measures opposed by
George StevenSons lobby or be denied
her request Does Whatcom want a
fish hatchery? She must pledge her
senators and representatives to vote
as Stevenson directs or get along
without the hatchery. And SO it goes
all along the line.
The people of this state are chatting
under the yoke of servitude placed on
They want their Legislature to be free
to carry out their will regardless of
the wishes of the third house presided
over by the king of Temple Flat There
is more than the commission question
at issue 1t is a question of whether
the people or the railroad lobby shall
rule this state. Since the admission
of the state in 1889 the railroad lobby
has controlled the legislatures and
elected the United States senators with
a brief interim from 1897 to 1899. 1t
was in that interregnum that George
Turner Was elected to the United
States senate and John r. Rogers was
governor. untrammeled by any alliance
with the Grosscup-S Stevenson cOmbina-
ton.
The honest voters of the state ire
spactiVe of party are ripe for revolt.
The fact that this is a presidential
year will no more prevent them from
breaking party lines'in selecting state
officers and members of the Legislature
than il did in 1896 and in 1900. No
body questions the fact that this state
will give Roosevelt a big ma jority if
he be the republican candidate for
president. But there party loyalty Will
stop if the republican state cOnven-
ton shall submit to the control of the
railroad lobby in naming the state
ticket. George Stevenson has no
strings on the independent voters Of
this state and that fact will be fully
demonstrated next November if the
necessity shall arise.