Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-11
'S's'S's5
POLL
People or Corporations.
OF rHG Day.

AS Speaker Cannon and other Re-
publican leaders in Congress are re-
ported to be opposed to railroad rate
legislation there will, of course, be no
power given to the Interstate Com
merce Commission to regulate unrea-
sonable rates at the coming session.
Another farce will be presented for the
edification of the people by enacting
still more legislation to abolish rebates,
though the present laws on the statute
books are ample to punish corporations
or their officials. But it Is intended
to try to bunco the voters again into
believing that Republican Congress
is willing to egislate against their
friends the corporations and yet con-
tinue to allow the people to be plum
dered
When the original interstate COM
merce act was passed 1t was supposed
that 1T gave power to the Interstate
Commerce Commission to regulate
rates and establish reasonable rate
in place of one that has been declared
unreasonable. But the railroad attor-
neys have been able to discover flaw
IN the original law, so the people have
continued to pay unreasonable rates,
IN most instances, ever since. Occa.
sionally, when the evidence was SO
overwhelming against railroad that
there was no escape. rate has been
partially reduced to stop public clamor,
but by changing the classification OF
freight rates the general tariff is high
er now than when the original law
was passed
The whole question involved is. shall
the railroads control the government,
or shall the people control the rail.
roads. From present appearances
Speaker Cannon and large majority
OF the Republican members, enough to
control Congress, are determined to
allow the corporations further lease
OF power for plumber. AS the Congress
that Is to assemble next December
will serve until March 4. 1907, the out
look for relief is indeed doleful
There is but one way that the PEG.
pie can obtain the legislation to con.
troll the railroads at the coming session
of Congress, and that is by bringing
pressure to bear on their representa-.
tyes before they assemble in Wash.
tngton. Hold public meetings. and
pledge your member of Congress and
Senators to vote MS you instruct them,
or If public meeting is not possible
instruct them personally according to
| your own view Of the case. Congress.
men and Senators are your servants,
paid by you to carry out your wishes.
Fortunately there is another election
OF Congress next year and the nomi-
nations of Congressman and State leg.
tslators. who elect Senators, will oc.
cur next spring and summer. That is
the big stick" that can be used to
club recalcitrant representatives to
obey the voice Of the people. Express
your firm determination to vote for the
| denomination of those only who obey
instructions. Let your representative
know that vote for the corporations
will be the death knell of his ambi.
ton. Serve the Senators the same way
and nominate and elect to the State
Legislature only those who will vote
for n United States Senator whose
record shows he is for the people.
| There will be terrible house clean.
ing If this suggested course is fol.
lowed, for unfortunately the great
majority of Congress are under obi.
cations to the corporations. Nine out
of every ten will have railroad passes
in their pockets. With many, the in.
fuence and money of the corporations
secured their election.
1t is fight for supremacy, with the
people on one side with the votes; on
the other side the corporations with
the money-thousands of millions
Which shall prevail, the voters or the
money?