Evening journal., 1905-05-12
AN IMAGINARY PUPULIsT.

VA1E HAVE long had belief, based
wv on nothing very substantial we
admit. that some day President Roosevelt
would be responsible for some opinion
or act that would meet with the approval
Of the Every Evening. But We confess to
disappointment.
1t has just made the discovery that the
President is a Populst for hasn't Tom
Watson oft proclaAned the doctrine OF
the governments control of railroadsY
And doesn't President Roosevelt demand
that discriminating freight rates shall
cease? Is any further proof needed?
Commenting on the Presidents speech
before the Denver Chamber Of Commerce
our contemporary says:
So President Roosevelt would take
from the hands of the people who have
invested their money IN railroads. and
I from the executive control of those se-
lectod by the investing people TO manage
them, every railroad in the country, and
place them 10 the hands Of agents of the
Federal Government to be administered.
possibly and probably with an eye more
firmly fixed ON political considerations
than upon any other object lie would
place an these vast enterprises. represent
ing millions and millions of dollars in the
hands Of government ohicials, to be ad-
ministered In the manner that the aver
age department of fstho national govern
ment Is administered For government
regulation OF railroad rates means prac-
tlcal government control What would be-
come OF the interests Of the stockholders
OF these railroads with such manage
ment Of their properties?
or course It is possible that the Presi-
dent meant what the Every Evening says.
but nevertheless he didn't say 1t. and
therefore it is just possible after an that
he Is not a Populist. He simply takes the
ground that these quasi-publio corpora
tions have certain duties towards the pub
lie because of their nature and for the
reason that they receive their franchises
from the public. Our courts have always
recognized these facts We are dependent
upon railroads for travel. for freight
transportation and even for the carrying
OF the malls.
Now II we choose 20 regard them as
private enterprises, like manufacturing
plants and stores. we can make no com
plant ST they charge an they can get.
discriminate between shippers and form
combinations to keep up rates that would
otherwise be reduced because OF COM
petition
It is true that people have invested
their money in these enterprises, and so
have Philadelphians bought u. C. J.
stock. but The whole world Is not Obliged
20 endure hardsi7bs TO make these In
vestments good I'VE doubt whether Pres
ident Roosevelt is particularly pleased
with his remedy but he has the courage
to look the facts IN the face-facts that
the Every Evening win not deny and
with these facts he applies a remedy. not
ideal perhaps. but the best that he can
conceive
But he does not declare for national
ownership, as the Every Evening woulc
have us believe; he simply demands thai
there shall be power vested in tribu.
nal 10 fix maximum rates. II this cit,
should grant a street railway franchise
stipulating mat the fare should not ex
! oeed certain sum, it would not mear
municipal ownership, but municipal over
sight in an important matter. That b
practically what the President demand
for the national government.
n. fl aa shrdashr dhrd hrd hrdlrdhneh