The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-08-04
The Scalpine Business.

There are two sides to the question
at issue between the relroads on the
one hand and those more or less malO
dor0us people known as "scalpers' on
the other, and the "sCalpers' side is
not without merit, where considered as
purely abstract proposition.
The scalper lays down the diCtum
that ticket is the property of the man
who buys it, and that the purchaser
therefore, has a right to dispose of, it
as he sees proper and at any price be
sees fit to accept it, and, going further
he claims that the purchaser of tick.
ct pays for and is entitled to the trans.
portation it provides or its value in
money, and his a right to sell it.
AS an abstract proposition, the scalp
er has strong position, and makes the
most of this quid pro quo argument,
but his defense being based on false
premiums, his logic is wrong and his
conclusions are erroneous.
If the railroads had no rights which
the public should respect. and if the
contract into which the purchaser en-
ters with the railroad when he pur-
chaSeS a special rate ticket can be VIC
lated regardless of the ethical queS-
tons involved in every agreement
business or Otherwise-then the scalp
erS would be in the right.
Unfortunately for the scalper'S posi-
ton, the tickets which form the stock
in trade of his illegitimate business are
sold for the accommodation of large
numbers OF people who could not 9th.
erWise avail themselves of the travel
and traffic which are thus put within
their reach, and for the benefit of bust
ness men and other citizens at the
other end. They are sold with a speci.
ned limit, for a specified purpose, and
for a specified occasion They are sold
under plainly stated understanding
or contract between the railroad and
the purchaser, which is as legally and
morally binding on the one as on the
other, or should be.
Then the scalper in order to pro-
mote his own nefarious business. %
works against the public interest be-
cause, if he succeeds. the result will be
the abrogation of all special rate excur-
sions, and GU he works to induce hon.
est men to act dishonesty and in VIC
lation of their contracts.
The scalper is unquestionably a men
ace to the business and moral interests
OF his locality; he is a gambler of the
most detestable and harmful type.
Our laws are supposed to be de.
signed for the public good, and they
provide punishment for the crime of
gambling, the receiving of stolen goods.
the violation of contracts, etc, and il
is not unreasonable to hope that they
may be able to reach and crush this
species Of disreputable, if not dishonest
laWbreaker. not in the interest of the
railroads, but in the interest of de.
cency and honor and good morals,
as we'll as business integrity and good
government.
With the damage suit industry and
the nefarious scalping crushed, we
may look for healthier tone in the
industrial world, and great enter.
prises which incidentally promote ev.
cry public interest and build up those
sections in which they lay, thus as
sured of justice and a fair deal, will
have their sphere of usefulness en-
larged and will not be slow to i'm
prove not only the facilities for handl-
ing the public business, but for larger
investments and new enterprises.
Anything which threatens capital
and enterprise and endangers their
safe investment and proper admins
tration works greater injury to the
public interests than it does to the
enterprise against which it is directed.
That the public is awakening to this
fact is evidenced by the whitening OF
the damage suit industry and the cru.
SADIE against the "scalpers" under an
aroused public sentiment.-Eagle Pass
Guide.