The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-10-05
OF RAILROAD
WAR ON RATE LAW
William n. Chandler Asserts
Vast Power Is Used to
Defeat President
CRY OF CORRUPTION
iFormsr Senator Says Illegal Devices
Are Relied on 10 Sway Leaders
Of Peopls-vioiatirs Law
Constantly.

Washington. Oct. Ain open letters
20 the Interstate IN commission
ex-senator william r. Chandler OF New
charges the railroads with
To seduce the president OF the
states from his sworn duty and
with buying Legislators. the press. min
|lsterJ lawyers. and. I'm fact. almost
le,eryone who can assist them In their
tight against government control OF
After showing how the railroads
hung up the Esch-Townsend bill and
made the Elkins law devoid OF terror
.by eliminating the pe~nitentiary clause,
Mr.. Chandler declares:
And no again next winter .aithiess
republicans and timId democrats will
combine to make any bill which may
pass congress give more to the rail-
roads than TO the people. The simple
proposition of the president VIII he 40
overlaid with qualifications as 20 be
worthless or the bill viii be 30 crowded
with additions Justly objectionable or
Of doubtful utility as 60 make it's pas
sage through both houses impossible"
Ready for the Struggle.
The issues have been ~squarely Joined.
Chandler insists. and now the time for
trial has come. with n president OF the
United States for the first time on the
siie Of the people. In the president.
however. the people have their only
hope OF success, and the railroads real
ize this. After telling OF the glorious
achievements OF the president in other
lines. he declares:
THAT the railroad managers believe
that they can seduce a president like
this from n duty to which he has con
seercted himself seems incredible.
but such In the case. There are now no
more threats and denunicntions. Their
words are soft and tempting and might
mean much I'm the not very distant
future. No doubt the railroad man
ayers wish 10 take this marvellous
president up into an exceeding high
mountain, where they can show him In
n moment OF time all the kingdoms OF
the world and the glory OF them. That
through their persuasion he might fall
ter In his efforts TO perform with all the
characteristic force OF his nature any
announced duty. even the least In his
high office. VIII not be believed By the
American people"
Defiance by Railroads.
Samuel Spencer. president OF the
Southern railway and spokesman for
tho railroads. Is said TO have declared
he Will not permit u commission
10 have the power TO substitute n rate
price for which IN its Judgment
IL unjust or unreasonable. or that a
once fixed by an authority shall
In force until changed by n
commission or n competent court. Mr..
Spencer prevailed I'm the last congress-.
and. according TO Mr. Chandler, un-
doubiediy will prevail the next con-
gress.
The principal reason for this" ne
asserts. "is because the money power
~ the country ~ on one side. thorough
~ awake and organized. while only the
and users OF transportation
are on the other side: without money
and unorgnnizcd. with their only hope
In the president. Consider the enor-
amount OF capital which has ar
itself against the president
si3. 900. O00. 600, representing 10000
miles OF railroad; $4,000. 600. 900 OF
earnings each year. 5000, 900 stockhoId-
crs. 1900. 900 worknicn with 40. OOO. 900
Inhabitants behind them.
Vast Power at Command.
Bear In mind that the railroads cam
not only use unlimited money to
achieve their ends. but they arc the
combination which can use di-
rectly their one product everywhere
and with everybody. that product be-
transportation over 10000 miles
~ railroad. In order To corrupt lcgisla-
lures. congress and the whole state
and national governments.
The other trusts cannot buy men
nor officials directly with their oil. beef.
grain or coal. These commodities must
converted n money. and that must
expended with danger OF detection.
transportation IL "A universal COM
which everybody wants. and
Tres mileage books and passes are as
good as cash. and many times are bet
and their corrupt use Is easily con-
After showing how the various.
classes are corrupted By means OF free
transportation. MIR. Chandler declares
hat OF all h railroad people Paul
is the q ardent advocate OF
he great work which the president has
undertaken.
And Il seems" he says. that he
IS the original Apostle Paul who FIRST
preached repentance To the railroad
having seen n great light him
self while on his railroad"
violators Of the Law.
The railroads. he insists. have been
gross violators OF tn. laws against dis
'riminations and have cvaded their en-
until at last they succeeded
n having the Imprisonment penalty re-
Speaking OF the methods which the
'aiiroads win pursue I'm their efforts tn
legislation. Mr.. Chandler says:
The most dangerous method To be
adopted by the railroads I'm their deter.
To defeat the one needful rem
'dy for existing evils Is the encourage
OF national remedies which will
'rouse opposition as encroachments
IN state rights. and send the southern
enatoTs and representatives into oppo-
Co all congressional legislation.
These federal methods naturally appeal
o President Roosevelt. "A national re-
,nblcaa. and even Mr.. Bryan. "A state
iRhts democrat. has proposed that
state corporation shall be re-
luired 10 obtain n national license be-
ore doing business In another state.
The inception OF all such schemes IN to
e aided by the MISUNDERSTANDING the
edcrai control az state insurance com
'anics-lnd when the country Is once
by their magnitude and revo-
utionAry tendencies they are all-rail-
pad legislation and all other similar
Ills for aggrandizing federal power To
,e al together hurled To destruction.
well intended by their pos
IDLY Innocent authors. all propositions
which are designed OF can be mad. use
" TO defeat or weaken the presidents
that the commission shall
-