The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-08-18
POWER OF PUBLIC OPINION

Public opinion frequently inspired by
the public press aud always backed up
by it, is mighty factor these days. 1t
is growing force in every section Of
this country and the results to the
people have been many Greater things
are in store in the future if the good
work is kept up. That it will be, there
can be no doubt in view of the substan-
tial results already gained. keeping
everlastingly at it" is an advertising
maxim that has proved its worth time
aud time again, and the more present
day methods and affairs are studied
the practical application of the above
will appear of more value. To show
pointedly what public opinion has done
In reformatory way in regard to
Government, the City of Philadelphia
is case in the lime light at present
There is no place in the country where
graft and political degeneracy in every
way has been so rampant as in Phila-
delphia and up to short while ago, no
remedy was in sight. The people SEEM
ed powerless in the grasp of conscience
less politicians and the city was every
where known as Corrupt and content
ed" A reign of righteousness has pre-
vailed there since the newspapers have
been pounding at the doors of public
opinion, ard at last the people have
awakened to the knowledge of this
power, and have thrust the gang" be-
hind them and under the leadership of
Mayor Weaver, have transformed the
situation and put business admins
tration in the place of the rotten one
that has existed for so many years.
The people are now iedly behind the
Mayor and the progress toward a better
Government for all the people of that
long suffering city is most marked.
Another instances of the value IF
pubic opinion is the stand being taken
by the Inter-S ate Commerce Commits
sion against the ''private car lines sys-
tenn which for so many years have
plundertd the producer and the buyer
and which is the outgrowth of the
trust plans 81 largely followed in this
country today Fair conditions for per-
ishable products have not existed nee
the rmation Of this gigantic trust and
from the continued pounding away by
F. the newspapers AMI magazines, proper
sense of the iniquity of the system has
been forced upon the people and their
murmurings have at last forced the
Government tn do something. This
system has effected the fruit shipping
centers o. The country, and rebat were
freely given favored shippers.
Frequent exposure, have been made
in the public prin : aud the commission
has sem two special representatives, to
look in to matter. What hey found
is bad enough and they reported 20 thar
effect. The commi. sion las not he
power to enforc- ANY order or tiuiing
they may make but such en- lac forca-
bly, brought to he at entiou OF Go gress
aud relief secured in that way. The
Michigan &c trail lines have set Il rX-
ample, ard nav operate tn IT. own re-
frgerator cars, with a n ing If nearly
one half TO the shipper The private
refrigerator car must 90 and public opin-
ion will be the cause of II. Even the
railroad officer, are of the mind to take
over the private car busin' s. ana such
desirable resu will come about.
The Illinois Central and the Louis
vile and Nashville railroads have made
ew rate on Texas oil TO Northern
marke 5, which is quite victory f r
independent oil men. They have b. en-
for years handicapped with an Unjust
discriminative rate for the product to
Northern markets, whilst the Standard
Oil crowd could ship their oil South at
half the price. Tariff rates have been
S@adjusted lately as to give equal jus
tice to all. Before, not only low rates
but rebates were given, making it i'm
possible for the independent operators
to compete with the Oil Trust But
greater force than the oil crowd was at
work and gradually the people are
seeing the result. Public opinion was
aroused to the evil of the railway tariff
which allowed one set of men to ship the
same goods the same distance cheaper
than another until finally redress was
found In nearly all cases the voice Of
the people is mighty and right and
although it may be resisted and sub
dued for time, its cry is bound to be
heard aud obeyed.
GOOD ORDER MUST BE MAIN