The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-16

right to perpetuate a failure
There is no chance for an argument
on that score said Judge Sawyer.
Now, let US suppose, Oh the other
hand,"- suggested the colonel. that a
corporation in control of an industry
national in its scope-a great railroad
system, for instance-let us suppose
that such a private industry, having a
practical monopoly, refuses to keep
abreast the progress of science and in
ventiOn; that for the purpose of pay
ing dividends on watered stock it main
tains rates far in excess of the cost OF
operation and fair carrying charges;
that it evades, diSobeys or defies rea-
s0nable laws passed in the interests of
its patrons; that it openly maintains in
various state legislatures and in the
national capital a lobby which does
not halt at corrupt practices; that it
finds it advisable to so control party
machinery that it may select its own
Legislators, congressman, senators and
even judges; that it discriminates in
favor of allied corporations; that il
Furnishes or ruins communities which
dare oppose its will; that it becomes a
factor for good or evil, possessed of
sufficient power to defy for a time the
mandate of the law backed by the
force of public opinion-in whom shall
the future ownership of such a prop
erty be lodged, in private or in govern
mental hands?"
THE abuses you cite exist to a great
er or less extent" admitted Judge Saw
yer, but l am not prepared to con-
cede that the remedy lies in turning
the properties over to the government
In my opinion, that should be the la
resort"
at is the last resort" declared the
colonel, with some earnestness This
is great country, as our friend the
postmaster truly says, but it is not
large enough to maintain side by side
with the national government a rival
as powerful and INSCRIPTIONS as the
railroad trust and its allied corpora
tons. One or the other must stand
aside. The assertion that time has
arrived when the government must
own the railroads or the railroads own
the government is more than a clever
arrangement of words. 1t is not true
to say that the railroads now own the
government, but they certainly have
managed to acquire minority repre-
sentation out of all proportion to their
or oh oi
thing they care to demand. Never in
recorded history has a private interest
welded so vast power in the affairs
of a nation. We cannot comprehend
this for the reason that we are part
of it. 1t is as if the federated shoe
makers of France had been able to
dictate to Napoleon the choice of his
generals and the details of his cam
paigns.
''Why, in the name of common sense"
continued Colonel Monroe with an
impatient gesture, should a railroad
have anything more to do with legisla-
ton than a manufacturer of wooden
spoons? Cigarmakers do not combine
to send their men to the United States
senate. l never heard that it was nee
eSsary for the carriage manufacturers
to send representatives to congress,
and l wish to tell you that the wagon
and carriage interest is pretty sub
stantial one. have yet to hear of the
apple growers finding it necessary to
have their man appointed to the bench,
and yet the value of the annual apple
crop would purchase good sized rail
road"
You have wandered away from your
subject" observed Judge Sawyer.
What subject?"
"Canada's proposal to build a trans
continental railroad"
Il may have wandered a little, but
L have had my eye on it all the while"
laughed the colonel. eve cannot reg
ulate all of the affairs of the universe
in one evening, and we will talk that
over some other time Mrs. Monroe
has invited me to dinner, and l dare
not refuse. Good evening, judge. Good
evening, Jenkins"
The postmaster closed the door after
him and waited until the sound Of his
footsteps had ceased.
"The colonels all right" he said,
turning to the Judge, who was calmly
finishing his cigar. ''Of course 1 don't
agree with all that he says, and some
times can't make out what he means,
but I'm satisfied of one thing"
Whats that?"
"The rumor that the colonel Is going
to run for congress isn't So" declared
Jenkins, with a shrewd smile.
What makes you think so?" The
judge looked at Postmaster Jenkins
over his glasses.
What he said about the railroads"
answered Jenkins. after what the
colonel said tonight the NJ. n. and W.
wouldn't let him have a delegate from
this county-not a delegate! You can
put it down that Colonel Monroe is out
Of politics and out to stay. It's too
bad. He was the best congressman
that ever went to Washington from
this district"
Wise For Her Years.