The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-06-28
RAILWAY OCTOPUS
IS SILENTLY WORKING
Governor La Toilette Sounds Warning to People Of
New State...H. Il. Howard Discusses an I'm.
pOrtant Subject

or interest, ns.a matter Of good business
policy; and the people can only counter
act the power this enables them 10 exer-
else by adopting similar plan. The
man who serves railroad company can
have no other master, and be cannot
represent the public in any matter
wherein a railroad Is interested in the
remotest degree. His discharge follows
the slightest sign Of antogonism.
1T is not hostility to railroads or any
other sort OF enterprise That is pro-
posed The railroads are conducted for
profit we are bound to patronize them.
The freights are ultimately paid by the
people in every instance. n they charge
three times what is reasonable. there
is no law to prevent IT, We must pay it,
The man who does not know they win
continue IN the future as u tho past 20
eimrge excessive rates unless prevented
by law is % Simple simon. And every
one knows that the only way TO secure
q proper constitutional provision auth-
orizing the legislature 20 regulate rates
IS by electing members who are free
from railroad influences. Unless This is
done the railroads will exercise moe
influence in the constitutional conven-
tion than they have in our legislature.
FOR what there is to be accomplished
IS Of more importance to them.
"rhey win not only control the con-
stitutional convention. but the Domin-
atiug conventions and hrst state legis-
laturc and win give us for judges and
senators their own attorneys end hired
men II will then take a generation
to shake Of the load Of injustice and
imposition we can now rid ourselves OF
az ne outset. II we out have the cour-
age TO do II.
'Thil Is not intended as an attack up
on anybody or anything; il is but an.
appeal to "a people. every one Of whom
has Scrne Tor fifteen years the unjust
burden OF an unlawful freight rate upon
every pound he has bought or sold for
shipment. 10 stand on euard for self
protection. and see to &c that tho people
ana not the railroads control the affairs
OF TIE new state from the beginning
Il is the only way TO secure fair play OF
a square deal and 70 get from under or
stay from under system Of plunder
which has been practiced si1ce the first
railroad was constructed In either ter
ritory
THE absolute essential is TO see TO
IL that the politician with a pass in his
pocket is left to use st for other pur-
poses thsn attending the constitutional
convention or the nominating conven-
tion. OF going TO represent the railroads
in any ohcial way Stand pat on the
| proposition that the people and not
the railroads are going to organize and
op rate the new state. Let them be
ssdshed with having run the territory
for fifteen years. Those interested
should attend every meeting and con-
lventon; talk to their ncighbors select
their mem be sure they have nc haliers
on them and ere not in the market or
afraid Win this one FIRST fight and you
win have saved enough to the people to
pay the e',pensee OF IN state govern
ment.
"Let us not only have a fair play and
a square deal, but a new play and a
new deal"