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

Washington. Oct. Ain open letters
10 the Interstate m commission
tex-scnator william r. Chandler OF New
A Hampshire charges the railroads with
4 trying 20 seduce the president OF the
A United States from his sworn duty and
with buying legislators. the press. min
a isters lawyers. and. In fact. almost
! Everyone who can assist them In their
light against. government control of
rates.
After showing how the railroads
hung up the Esch-Townsend bill and
made the Elkins law devoid OF terror
by eliminating the ~penitentinry clause.
Mr.. Chandler declares:
And 80 again next winter saithless
republicans and timid democrats will
combine 10 make any bill which may
4 pass congress give more to the rail-
4 roads than TO the people. The simple
n proposition OF the president VIII be NO
{overInid with qualifications M 90 be
worthless or the bill will be 40 crowded
\ with additions justly objectionable or
\ os doubtful utility as TO a Its ~
sage through both houses impossible"
Ready for the Struggle.
The issues have been ~squarely Joined.
"A a Ann lUNlNANs anu UoN hUe time lot
trial has come. with n president OF the
n limited states for the first time on the
Siie OF the people. In he president.
however, the people nave their only
\ hope OF success. and The railroads real
ize this. After telling OF the glorious
n achievements OF h president In other
Dimes. he declares:
'.That the railroad believe
thrt they can seduce "a president like
Hfhls from n duty to which he has con-
n aecreted himself seems incredible.
. hut such IN the case. There are now no
more threats and denunications. Their
n words are soft and tempting and might
mean much in the not very distant
M future. No doubt the railroad man.
ayers wish TO take this marvellous
president up into nm exceeding high
M mountain. where they can show him In
NJ moment OF time all the kingdoms OF
the world and the glory OF them. That
Through their persuasion he might fall
n ter In his efforts to perform with all the
a 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
M TOuthern railway and spokesman for
H. railroads. is said TO have declared
hat he will not permit n commission
q have the power TO substitute n rate
/pr. price for u which In it's Judgment
y : unjust or unreasonable. or that a
rate oncc fixed by ar authority shall
remaln I'm force until changed by n
commission or a competent court. Mr..
{Spencer prevailed In tho iast congress.
md. according 10 Mr. Chandler. un-
aoubtedly VIII prevail the next con-
The principal reason for this" he
hsserts. lis because the money power
the country ~ on one side. thorough
~ awake and organized. while only the
consumers n users OF transportation
7snrc on the other ride: without money
hnd u~norganlzcd. with their only hope
IN the president. Consider the enor-
nous amount OF capital which has ar
mayed Itself against the president
~. OO0. 100000. representing 10000
Pniles OF railroad; $4,000. 900. 900 OF
EARNINGS each year. 100000 stockhold-
Prs. 1,500.0 600 workmcn with 40. 900. 900
;nhaciyants behind them.
Vast Power at Command.
~ Bear In mind hat the railroads ran
lot only use unlimited money TO
achieve their ends. but they arc the
%pnly combination which can use d.
fectly their n product everywhere
XAnd with everybody. that product be-
ing transportation over 10000 miles
f railroad. I'm order To corrupt lcgisla-
ures. congress and the whole state
nd national governments.
The other trusts cannot buy men
Dor officials directly with their oil. beef.
/Erain or coal. These commodities must
Pc converted Into money. and that must
De expended with danger OF detection.
But transportation IL a universal COM
w modify which everybody wants. and
tree mileage books n passes are as
{Eood as cash. and many times are bet
Der. n their corrupt use Is easily con-
eealedr
After showing how the various.
tlasses are corrupted by means OF free
f~ransporttion. Mr.. Chandler declares
hat OF all h railroad people Paul
Morton Is h ardent advocate OF
Undertaken.
W And Il seems" he says. that he
Is the original Apostle Pau who first
preached repentance tn the railroad
timers. having seen n great light him
telf while on his railroad
M Violato-s Of the Law.
The railroads, he insists. have been
gross violators OF the laws against dis
ordinations and nave evaded their en-
iorcement until ut last they succeeded
n having the Imprisonment penalty re-
pealed.
Speaking OF the methods which tho
railroads VIII pursue In their Efforts To
NPrevent legislation. Mr.. Chandler says
M Tue most nuuRerouS method To be
adopted by the railroads In their deter
4 nination to defeat the one needful rem
fdy Tor existing evils Is the encourage
Pnent OF national remedies which will
arouse opposition as e-ncroachments
lon state rights. and send the southern
senator's and representatives into oppo-
tltion To all congressional legislation.
NIhese federal methods naturally appeal
20 President Roosevelt. "A national re-
publican n W Mr.. Bryan. "A state
Flgnts democrat. has proposed that
Every state corporation shall be re-
Lluired To obtain n national license be-
lcfe doing business In another state.
ne inception OF all such schemes In tn
~ aided by the MISUNDERSTANDING the
FEDERAL control Of state insurance com
panics-lnd when the country Is once
HARMED by their magnitude and revo-
ntionary tendencies they are all-rail-
&oad legislation and all other similar
Plls for a~ggrandizing federal power To
&c all together hurled TO destruction.
4towever well intended by their pos
ftoly Innocent authors. all propositions
fshich are designed or can be made use
~ To defeat or weaken the presidents