Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-08
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Governor La Toilette, by request Of
the publishers, is contributing Il series
OF articles to the Saturday Evening Post
on Fair Railroad Regulation No
publication in the country reaches so
large and varied class of readers az the
Post, and these contributions by the
Wisconsin man who is the center of at
traction In the United States, is sinking
deep into the brain and conscience Of
all classes From the current issue Of
the Post we quote the following:
Consider what the men in control have
dons. By consolidation 922 different
roads and nearly half hundred differ
emit railway systems have been merged
into six greater systems, reaching oIt
with their network of lines into the re-
hottest sections of the land Their in
terests are now joined Their action is
harmonious. Their purpose is a common
one. They direct the movements Of
commerce and trade They determine
where its lines shall converge. They
make the great commercial centers.
But why should consoi. iation stop
with the consolidation Of railway lineeg
Why should control stop with the con-
troll of transportation? Why not con
troll markets, and fix prices to consEners2
Consolidation and control of transporta-
ton systems is the base on which to
build up a great system. Observe its
progress Observe the identity ia inter-
est and ownership which is beginning to
appear between the Standard Oil, steel
coal, meat and other monopoiies, and
the great railway system Of the country
With the railway systems commanding
all the highways. the alliance was an
ss-e. III he q r,AH
dated into big systems, favored big ship.
pers with millions in rebae5s, exaeted Ia
higher charges from rivals and from the
consumers st large The consultation
was breeding its own kind. The masters
of the highways were entering the in.
dustrial fields, They own the coal trust;
they were taking on lion and steel. The
captains of industry, controlling pipe
lines and transports, were hqngering
for share in the highways 10 market
For long years they have been partners
in criminal violation Of the statutory
and common law. The held was en-
! larging The country was entering up
on q new era of expansion. The con
sumers were multiplying. If the rail-
ways were to control the highways the
alliance was inevitable. The trusts were
coming in under the system
The motives which promoted Consoii-
dation of the railways Of the country
into six great systems operate with
powerful effect IN concentrating ship.
ments in q few hands, with view 30
large traffic transactions. a rate slight
! ly 30 the advantage Of one c0mpany
must ultimately give the favored con
| Germs all of the business,
/ AS an abstract economic proposition
it may be- true that increased profits in
/ the hands Of few shippers may allow
! larger development than where the bust
| ness is divided, but it is certainly harm.
/ full to any community in It's practical
application. Wealth 1aY be more rap
/ idly accumulated when one individual
| or a combination Of individuals secure q
/ monopoly Of the business of any town or
city, bus the thrift and prosperity OF
every community depend upon general.
even though moderate success coming
| to the largest possible number The
railroad prefers to deal with large ship
/ pers, and il encourages Capitalization IN
! business. 1t has contempt for g small
dealer. It cannot see the individual IL
! Is looking for tonnage Big des.s il
/ traffic appeal 70 it. It creates and uour-
ishes trusts and combinations.