Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-21

The government has gone on brill
liantly, rgloriously, successfully 1t has
added to its territory and has filled it
with 80,000,000 of the best men and
women and with the greatest wealth
in history. These are the men and
women who have held high in their
hands the banner of the republic. We
are happy, prosperous, in the midst
OF plenty, and this is the best hour
IN the world to ask yourselves these
questions for you can consiedr them
falrly now whereas you could not if
you were assailed by the pangs of
munger and poverty.
Are Institutions Menaced?
DO you still believe that all men
are created equal?'
Do you still believe that this gov.
ernment derives all its just power
from the consent of the governed?'
The traditions of olden days cannot
solve the present, question. Do you
see any menace to these principles?
Has this government at this time all
OF its power from the unbought and
unpurchaseab!e people of the land? /
don't think it has.
I'VE have 100000 miles of railroad
In this country owned by great num-
Der OF corporations, but the sympathy
between these corporations is so great
that six directors within a stones
throw in New York City control every
one of these 100000 miles of railroad,
and in half an hour there can be
brought together in that city men
into whose hands have been committed
nv nno1naf
Insofar as our agricultural and indus
trial future is concerned.
These railroads are capitalized at
thirteen and one-half billions of dol
lars, more money than man can esti-
mate. l have been trying recently to
think, to realize, how much money a
billion dollars is, and the other day
friend of mine whom l asked for aid
gave me an idea that will give to
you. He said that if Adam, when he
was created. had started to work for
1854 per day and had worked every
day, not emitting Sundays and holi-
days, not taking single moments
rest, he would have been worth just
billion dollars today. What mighty
power! Mind. don't say that these
railroads are worth that sum, but they
are capitalized at that. You, patient
and long suffering victims of the
greed of those few specially privileged
men, are paving the interest, more
than six per cent. upon the baseless.
worthless stock that represents the
audacity and criminality of the owner
and often the credulity of the pur-
chaser
An Important Question.
Il am told that we ought to treat
this question with some care and
agree with the sentiment. There are,
to be sure, great interests and great
sums of money involved. l am not
an anti-railroad man. realize the es-
sential part the railroads play in the
development of this country We
could not exist without them. But
when have said that l have said ALL
they want-almost l want to give
them nearly every right, but l do not
want to give them the right to vote.
And they are voting now all over this
country. in the legislative halls of the
state and the nation and with con-
stancy that would astonish you if you
had the time to devote to careful
and complete study of public affairs.
II have studied this question care
fully and thoroughly, and say to you
that the railroads. which are capital
lied at s13.5O0,000,oO0. do not cost
more than sS,0o0.o0O,oOO. If Justice
were done to Americans they, and we,
you and l, would not be compelled to
pay a return on more than that
amount But because the railroads
have undue influence in the country's
legislative halls you are forced to do
It now. We have committed the error,
but for the Lords sake don't let us
walk into the future blindly and with
out that caution that ordinary COM
mon sense advises us to take
'You want the interstate commerce
commission clothed with power to
remedy this evil, but you cannot get
It done until you are represented in
congress by sufficient mum bers to
overcome the majority the railroads
have there now l went down there
% Washington last summer. The SEN
ate committee on interstate commerce
invited witnesses during its hearing
and to me it seemed that no one was
tSheu Out TdllTOdu Iu6I. luey are
pleasant. you know, these railroad
men. They have passes and purses
and all the things that go to make up
4 happy and joyous life. thought
that it was about time for a represen-
tative Of the people to go down there
and, advise the committee that there
were others in the country besides the
railroads. And SO l Unanswered
around and finally got an invitation
through a manufacturers association
IN the state.
Argument Before Committee.
II was the first one. I think who adj
yocated before that committee the idea
hat the interstate commerce commits |
sion should be given any powers. I /
'ead statement that | had prepared !
they called it evidence, think) in
which I said that the railroads need
lot be SO fearful of this power to re.
luce rates, because said, you have
worth less than SS,O00,0 900 900 |
Ind your present revenue will pay
you return of nearly ten per cent |
lpon your actual investment of money
Up went their hands in horror, those
r,or, fhorn ard fho,y 1roro