Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-09-07
The SCREWS TIGHTEN
No Free Passes For Antirail-
road Congressman.
BRIBERY AND INTIMIDATION.

Railroads Claim Petty BIackmaiI
Has Been Levied by National and
State Observation-Disclosures Roose-
velt's REORGANIZATION In Calling
Special Session Helps Railroads,
The railroads have already COM
nenced their campaign Of intimidation
and bribery Of the house Of represent
atives to defeat legislation or govern
ment control Of unreasonable rates. At
this time of summer holiday travel the
railroads claim they are deluged with
requests from congressman for passes
for their families and friends for their
vacation trips. At least one Of the pres
idents Of the big eastern systems, says
the Washington Times, "has given in
structions that no free transportation
should be issued to those national leg
l~slators who were in favor Of the Esch-
Townsend bill in congress-"
The Times further says:
In responss to every application for
transportation by those who showed hos
tility to what the railroads wanted there
Is sent a stereotyped letter calling atten-
ton to the fact that for years the rail-
roads have submitted to a system Of petty
blackmail- levied by national and state
legislators and that the matter was al
lowed to &C on the theory that when the
roads were in danger Of being hedged
about by congressional enactments the
officials Of the lines would need only to
hoist the distress signal and "free pass
friends would flock to the rescue.
Now, the railroad managers know
that nearly every Republican congress-
man voted for the bill to give the inter
state commerce commission power to
fix reasonable rates because he knew
that it would not be considered, much
less passed, by the Republican major.
ity in the senate. 1t was necessary in
consequence Of the universal demand
for such legislation for the Republic
n to be on record on the side Of the
people and at the same time do no real
damage to their friends the railroads.
. When the caucuSes and conventions
occur which nominate congressman,
that vote can be pointed to as showing
that the candidate for congress had
obeyed the voice of the people.
This refusal Of passes by the rail.
roads is intended to bring the law,
makers face to face with what may be
expected in the future. Those con,
gressmen who promise to vote against
such legislation in the next congress
will Of course receive all the passes
for themselves and friends they ask
for, and, judging the future by the
past, there will be mighty few Repub:
lican congressman who will not prom.
1se to vote to defeat all an%tirailroad
legislation. To make q showing per
haps some more rebate legislation will
be enacted, as most Of the railroads
favor such a law, or, like the Santa
Fee railroad, ignore it and continue tc
discriminate in favor Of their friends.
Since President Roosevelt made that
startling decision that only the rail
road corporation could be proceeded
against for offenses against the re
bate law and that railroad officials
could offend with impunity no anti
1CDdlC lSShol"liOh Id ACoASu Ny I1C 1dll
roads, for what is a fine Of $500 OF
$1,000 to a corporation that handles
millions. President Roosevelt in pro
c%rastinating, in calling a special SEES
sion Of congress to consider the neces
sary legislation to control unreason,
able railroad rates, has helped the rail
roads, Intentionally or Internationally
more than anything else that has been
done. If no extra session is called the
vote on the railroad bills can be post.
j poned until after most of the Repub.
lican members Of congress have been
didates of the party, the whole weight
Of the administration must be eXerted
to elect them, however they vote on
the railroad issue.
In the strong Republican states OF
districts the only chance the people
tor is at the caucuses for delegates tC
congressional and legislative conven.
lions, a nomination in such districts
being equivalent to an election.
In the close states and districts there
will be the option for the voters tc
support the Democratic candidates il
the Republican candidate is tarred
with the railroad brush, so that the
railroad issue may determine the pc
lit1cal complexion Of the next congress
if the present congress does not pass
the legislation that the people are de
handing SO loudly. But to pay theil
fare as the COMMON herd does is O
proposition that the Republican lead
ers will hardly consider. and the rail.
road managers know It.