Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-08


because he has not been asked to be
heard by the people who have so de-
nOunced his course, he must remem-
Der that he did not consult the peo-
pie before he undertook to speak for
them in a matter that they are quite
as able To speak for themselves upon
as a body as any one citizen is. indi-
vidually.
| The people at whom the states at
torney is NeXed because he SAYS they
rushed into print compose such or
CARNATIONS as the Tri-City Labor Con-
gress, the Retail Merchants associa-
ton. the Rock Island Club, the city
councils of Rock Island and Mo-
line and the village councils of
neighboring towns interested in the
Tri-City Railway company as an insti-
tuition serving them with accommoda-
tions. To the wayfarer within the city
| I would seem that these various insti-
tutions are fairly representative of the
people in general. And why should
not the people so represented. who are
accused of rushing into print" have
the privilege Of publicly condemning
the course OF the states attorney in
lending his office 10 what they regard
and term a persecution pure and sim
pie.
1t is hardly fair to charge the COM
panY with taking the position that it
cannot be tried fairly in the courts.
1t has tried faithfully to legalize its
franchises here, and the people have
endeavored earnestly to assist the
company in legalizing its franchise
that much is certain. But when
the company finds that it is
hardly out of one annoyance
until confronted with another,
each and all injurious to its com
mercial standing. would il not be the
most natural thing in the world that
it should turn to the people through
their representative gatherings, Of
fetal and otherwise. and in
vite, if the states attorney
please. an expression as to how far
the people as whole are satisfied or
dissatisfied with the way and man
ner in which the company is fulfill
ing its obligations to the people. The
Argus has said before that whether
technically or not the states attor-
ney is speaking i'm the name of the
people in this proceeding. he is not
voicing the attitude of the people so
far as the actual state of affairs
concerned. The people in general
have not as yet seen any occasion to
ind serious fault with the manner
in which the Tri-City Railway COM
)any is conducting itself along the
streets of Rock Island.
As far as the history that Mr.. Weld
presents of the company's affairs is
concerned. The Argus is not prepared
TO say. This paper has no means of
knowing anything Of the cOmpany's
stock manipulation. and if Mr.. Weld
has not posted himself ON this score
it is because he has not awaited HIM
self of the opportunity. But The Argus
1oes know that the people are
getting the goods, and Il first class
article. Whether the company is
,ramping itself To do this or i making
money hand over fist by doing it is an
other question. As long as the people
would be very apt to be heard from if
The company was not providing the
service. whether it could afford it or
not, fair-mindedness would seem to
suggest there should be no kick com
ing if i'm addition to the first class re-
turns the public is getting in the mat
ter of service, the company is getting
first class returns on the right side IF
The ledger. No one looks upon any
company as Il philanthropist. but if it
provides nc ,ommUIations for the pub
lie equal to the best in the land, and
the fare that is charged the public
is the standard throughout the land, it
ought to be regarded as Il just eN-
.hange. As to the conditions attend |
ing the granting of the ordinances
under which the company is now OPP
erating, Mr.. Weld is simply wrong. |
There WIS nothing secret about the
proceeding. The ordinances were pub |
!iclv discussed in all three cities, and |
passed at different times by the rep |
reseutativc common councils of Mo- |
line. Rock Island and Davenport in |
he order named. The newspapers all
discussed the pending measure freely |
md thoroughly. Mr.. Weld to the CON
-rary Notwithstanding.
AS to the company seeking through |
is enabling act to avoid tax
alton. it il Il provision of the enact
nent that any corporation benefited |
by it shall not escape any of the OBJ
'igations. restrictions. liabilities. or
luties imposed upon corporations or
yanized under the general laws of the
tate.
The three-cent-fare-to-w
suggestion on the part of Mr.. Weld is
Of course an afterthOught. and con
ceived purely for its political effect.
Such an idea never entered his head
when he consented to institute
the quo warrantO case. He says he
had no right to think Of anything at
that time but make the move. He
did not realize then. of course. what a
storm he was about To kick up. In
fact the entire batch of suggestions
he offers to the company "a condi-
tionaI upon the Withdrawal of the