The Washington times., 1905-07-09
TIE RED ROSE
THE RAIL IN THE 8OS
81 mB.DE COURCY


our affairs A few words more" no.
ticing the pudgy hand straying toward
| the push button, I'm not through with
you yet and-withouti ithreats-nefther OF
| US leave This office until you have
received your full dose OF information"
| Mr. Coleman looked up to the two
anger-whitened faces standing behind
the speaker, then withdrew his hand.
" X
! The railroad commissioner oe this
State'-here over Edr Coleman's eyes
swept a look of startled surprise-'Ys an
old broken-down political hack, possess
ing to the full The attributes of his bl1z-
zard clan Unpr1ncipIed, his greatest
sensation is the touch OF q dollar
against his itching palm. He Is, for his
consideration, utterly yours-bloated
body, whisky-soaked, brain and con-
Gemned soul. Now your course has
prodded the people to a sense of the
duty devolvent upon their power The
Interstate Commission bluff has given
to you the strong reins of Federal pow
er, SO that some of your DlandIy ac-
quiescent judges declare men engaged
in interstate traffic quasi public serv-
ants, thereby taking from them their
strongest fighting Weapon-the tight Of
But InG CleSSTcSl IuSl some
times leave overlooked bets upon the
table. In this case you have done it
proper If men are foolish enough TO
protest against injustice or brutality by
tsrinking, only TO feel the clamp of Fed
eral authority upon their hands. what is
70 prevent the suddenly conferred
honor of being in public service carry
ing with il its advanta ages?
Now, III tell you what you may ex-
pect to run up agadnst-and soon. Re-
member, I'm now speaking from a plane
broad enough TO encircle every rail and
tie you own in this State. The people
dependent upon your lines for trans
portation are at last alive to their dan
ger The men in whose tried hands
they had for years intrIsted the lives
of their wives and babies are traInps
upon the earth. their vacated places
filed with the discarded refuse of de-
cent roads. There is not cne Of the
sage-brush towns upon which you vent
your contempt but has chairs forever
vacant. or whose sands do not drift
over the crushed breasts of your vic
Tins This road must revert TO its
original conditions Men must handle
your trains who are in every sense
orthy OF their great trust, the Inter-
Mountain must be restrained in its
butchery, and soon. The people are
even now ciamorfng for 4 solution OF
this unbearable state of affairs, and
names of the butchers responsible TO
them for its inception and continuance.
They recognize the futility OF appeal to
YOU or your creatures, so 1t viii be ef-
fectad in this wisel a board of commits
sioners will be formed upon these
lines; il will consist OF two men Sc
lected by the engineers and conductors
of the State, and two appointed by the
governor. these to select a fifth. rank
ing as chairman. On any road within
the State, operated upon lines similar
to yours. upon application OF two-thirds
OF the men TO whom the term quasi
public applies, this board will be the
court of final appeal. thus taking from
men like Warner the power which they
have disgraced, and destroying the
menace shadowingl every hearth on your
lire
Az the speaker fpaused, Mr.. Coleman
sat staring at him in surprised silence,
then said, in a voice in which he vafnly
endeavored to produce his former bully
ing tones: Am I TO understand that it
is the intention Of he people Of this
State to attempt TO lake from US the
control OF our property
by no means came the deliberate
reply Your property is a thing over
which We have no control, but we do
reserve the right to protect the lives OF
those compelled 10 reluctantly avail
themselves of your function as public
carrier We grant to you perfect
right to play freeze out with your un-
fortunate minority stockholders by the
deterioration of machinery and wreck
age of rolling stock, but the pitiful
scent OF Innocent blood filing the nos
trils of the people has at last aroused
their manhood. and 1t needs not q
prophet to say that you and your policy
are doomed
In the silence ensuing the great office
clock swept its pendulum across many
seconds
Finally, Mr. Coleman said in voice
of icy coldness: Mr.. Jasper, your i'm
mediate superior will accept your
resignation then. insultingly, added
But how about your bodyguard?''
Brady. with a burning oath, replied: III
! you open your mouth again I'll I'll it
full or fist. Mr. Jasper is YET my i'm
mediate superior, and to him the only
gentleman on this cursed pike, 1 now
tender my resignation
Add mine TO it, John chimed in
! grayely.
Nr. Coleman turned to a package of
papers as they passed out and John no.
ticeG the fat hands were quivering
like :-soerS.
"A nice pair of hot heads" laughed
Mr.. Jasper as they strolied down the
street. Never again quit 100 miles
from your boarding houses. I suppose,
as a loyal Official it as my duty 10 tell
the conductor that. icing no longer in
the service, your transportation is OUT
Iawed."
IF YOU do" said Brady. with Johns
help III lock you up until the super
! intendent of NJ. P & NJ. lets you ouI,
then we can walk back in company"
II see myself walking" returned Mr..
Jasper. Boys, 1 want you 10 put up
with me for a few days. I know you
can enjoy a rest. IN the meantime,
III start out some letters in your favor.
Postage stamps are equal 10 glass win
dowS or freight caboose when carrying
the right stuff over proper sigma
ture to the fellow needing a good man
(To Be Continued Next Sunday)