Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-06
THE RAILROADS AND THE PEOPLE

Fremont Tribune: Senator Millard has
his private secretary abroad in the state
founding public sentiment on the railroad
question and some other issues now before
the people Senator Burkett is doing it for
himself and distributing a large output Of
good speeches as he goes.
Friend Telegraph The corporations as
they read the news where county after
county has declared against the issue OF
passes for political purposes can lay all
this to the fooishness Of j. II. Ager, who
during the legislature last winter made
himself rather too conspicuous in this mat
ter. The time has arrived when the great
railroad corporations doing business in this
state should strike from their payrolls all
political strikers and pass distributors, and
pay their taxes like ordinary citizens.
Blue Springs Sentinel 1t is a question
in the minds of a good many, II the present
craze over the pass system has not been
instituted to divert attention from the real
question, that OF an elective railroad conf
mission. What the producers Of the state
want are tho BENEFITS accrung to them
that producers Of other states receive, and
these things are accomplished through the
elective commission, 1t would be Just as
we'll to settle one question Of this charac-
Fremont Tribune: No one can justly
charge that political evil has come from
the exchange Of advertising space in the
newspapers of Nebraska for mileage books.
On the other hand. because it is recog-
nized that conventions are packed by pass
holders distributed to public functionaries
and convention fxers for no other purpose
than this very thing. The pass is an ed-
mitted evil. We might as well approach
! this question fairly and honestly 1t is
idle to obscure the issue with irrelevant
things.
Grand Island Independent: There appears
to be some Quibbling in a few of the state
papers as to the importance OF the adoption
of anti-pass resolutions, The Bee especially
regarding these OF not so much Importance
as resolutions endorsing President Roose-
velt's policies and demanding a reduction
in freight rates The one is generally re-
garded as a matter Of course. Where is
there, among republicans, any disposition
TO disapprove of Theodore Roosevelts ad-
ministration? AS to reduction In freight or
passenger rates, 1t will probably be found
upon close analysis that little can be
expected until Nebraska has legislature
at Lincoln assembled, in the assembling OF
which the political pass has played no
part. At any rate, when this shall once
have been accomplished the people OF the
state will have a bit more Of show for
! their white alley"
Columbus Telegram: 1t will be well for
] Nebraskans who are opposed to railroad
| rule to keep an eye on the Harrisons. All
/ Of them are not confined TO the republican
| party. We have some OF them in demo-
| cratic circles. They will try to work the
tame game in the democratic convention.
/ In that convention will be delegates who
| will demand a platform which will declare
specifically for a reduction OF passenger
| fares and freight rates. The democratic
railroad polticians-men who have hereto
fore scoffed at the country delegates who
/ favored an snti-pass plank in the platforms
will this year be loudest In advocacy q
such a plank. hoping thereby 10 satisfy
/ the demand OF the country delegates for a
I strong declaration in favor OF reduced pas
! senger and freight charges. The Teal friends
/ OF the movement for railroad regulation
should be guard against the usachlrA-
/ tions o. the cunning railroad politicians