The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-15
MINNESOTA NEARS
RAILROAD FIGHT
Senatorial Election and It's Bear
ing on Rate Regulation in
Senate.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC AS SOL.
RULER OF CALIFORNIA
Gain for Roads Offset by Wiscon-
sins Selection of La Fol-
lette for Toga.
BY w. w, Jerrnane.

' BY w. w. Jernane.
Washington, March 15.-The enforced 1
retirement from public life of Thomas
r. Bard, late a senator in congress from
California, strikingly emphasizes the
wisdom and patriotism of the president
in beginning an aggressive campaign for
ing companies of the country. The pub
lie for years has had more or less hazy
ideas regarding the influence exercised
by the railways in state and national
affairs
The "yim Hill" states, from Mime
sofa to Washington, come to mind when
this subject is brought up, as do Wis
consin, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa,
which often have been so thoroly under
railroad control that no man not In
dorsed by the railroad managers could
act any important office.
Minnesota made a fight against this
domination, and won in the election OF
democratic candidate for governor.
, Wisconsin Is now making the same fight,
and under the lead Of La Toilette prom.
Uses to make her victory more complete
than that Of Minnesota. Kansas and
Nebraska, after long struggles, have In
q measure become free from railroad
control, altho much remains to be done
to make their victory permanent.
Iowa, on the other hand, is still rail-
road-ridden. j. w. Blythe, of Burling-
ton, general counsel for the Burlington
system, dictates to state conventions
and to legislatures, and even governors
have obeyed his mandates: Governor
Cummins, however, is shining excep-
ton.
California Situation.
The situation in California is similar
TO that in Iowa, excepting that it IS
perhaps more aggravated. The j. w.
Blythe Of that state is w. F. Perrin,
general counsel for the Southern Pacific
system, who, from his private office in
San Francisco, runs the politics OF me
state, and runs over any man who gets
into office and refuses to do his bid
ding, as he recently ran over Senator
Bard.
The story Of Bard's failure to be re-
elected points vigorous moral.
Stephen D. White, now deceased. a dem
elected in California in 1899, and 50 he
did not succeed himself in the United
States senate. When the legislature
assembled to choose Whites successor,
it was confronted with a large field of
republican aspirants. No candidate
port Of a majority Of the republican
caucus, and in the early days Of the
session, while there was much spar
ring and preliminary canyassing, Mr..
Bard was brought into. the field. 1t
became known later that he was
brought out by members who.were anx-
ter until they could discover whether
any one Of the real candidates was pre-
pairing to pay the price demanded for
election.
Bard was almost 60 and had never
held public office. He was of Scotch
r. 1n+n oil H.
headed, thoro-going Presbyterian
and a millionaire, having made his
wealth in various manufacturing and
other enterprises in southern CALIFORNIA
That he would be serious candid late
nobody believed, nor was it intended by
his supporters that he should be.
Bard Made Senator.
But by an unforeseen turn Of tn!
cards the unexpected happened r." an pt
boodlers had failed to find a man wh(
would pay the price demanded, am
while they were waiting for something
to turn to their advantage, sentimen
in favor of Bard developed and he wa
elected before the 1 men who though
Shortly after his election Bard wa
him in substance:
GAS you know, the Southern Pacifi
railway is interested in federal appoint
ments. It makes a difference to u
whether our friends or our enemies ar
appointed to such positions as distric
attorney, marshal, ETC., and [ have com
to you to say that we are very anxiou
to have Frank P. Flint appointed dir
trict attorney for the southern distric
of the state. I hope you will thin
our request over carefully and conclud
that it will be wise for you to do a
I we ask.'
Bard Defes the Boss.
To this bald request Mr.. Bard mad
q reply to which Perrin took seriou
exceptions.
1T know exactly what you mean,
said Bard. 81 have lived in Californi
for many years and l have made a
my fortune here. That fortune, for tn
most part, has come thru my conne|
ton with corporations of various sort
and it is needless for me to say, tina
I understand corporation methods c
request as an order, and I can see j
it a threat, if I fail to do as you d.
mand. I resent your interference
this matter, and will say to you, ono
for all, that the Southern Pacific sha
control no California 4Sl ecnato appointment
L
Perrin made hot reply, which Il
cluded the assertion that Bard wou]
not be permitted to serve secon
term in the senate. Since that tin
there have been no relations of al
sort between Bard and the Southe,
Pacific.
/ Flint Elected Senator.
When Bard came up for re.electic
to the senate in January, 1905, he four
himself opposed by this same Frar
P. Flint, and great was his surpri
when Flint got the caucus nominate
and the election hands down.
Representative McLachlen Of tt
[ Los Angeles district wanted to su
coed Bard, but Perrin vetoed it. Pc
rim said the Southern Pacific want.
to "give it to Bard good and plenty
by eIecting as his successor the m:
whom he had refused to name as di
trict attorney.
T Flint spent several weeks in Was
ihgton before the adjournment Of t.
6fty-eighth congress, March 4. Sc
ators Perkins and Bard were not
harmony during the. six years Ba