The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-16

Be Sure You're Right
Editor Independent: You make the
claim that, inasmuch, as the railroads
are private property the government
has no right to do any regulating.
infer it is a fact that great many,
II not all, city ordinances are of regu-
iating nature, some of them, even, in
vading the homes of many citizens,
for instance, in case of contagious
diseases, or in ferreting out crime.
It is also fact that there Is not
q railroad, a street car, telephone or
telegraph line, or other public utility
put in operation without the sanction
and aid of government. be it town,
county, state or general government.
That is, the respective government
gives the charter or franchise, and
with 1t the use. exclusively or in part
Of public streets, or country high
ways, as the case may be. The gov
eminent also aids the projectors Of any
public utility, in getting the right of
way, by compelling any unwilling in
dividual to part with any needed land,
causing in some instances inconveni-
ences, yes, even hardships. And why
all this? A few words explains it all
the public good demands it. Whether
this is true in all cases, need not dis
cuss; the stubborn fact remains, viz,
wherever and whenever private or per-
S0nal interest or good-and public in
terest or good conflicts-the former
must give way.
Now, a good and just government, 1
take it, is supposed to protect, with
out Partially, the life, liberty and pur-
suit of happiness, of all law-abing citi-
zens. Is that being done now? No
honest man, think, will make such a
ridiculous statement. Will you insist,
/ pray you, that the government can
not, in any manner, regulate the child
of it's own creation, though it may ever
SO much abuse it's granted privileges?
Must the government stand idly and
helplessly by, while thousands upon
thousands Of our citizens are annually
crippled or slain and as many more are
slowly but surely brought to the verge
OF poverty yes, even starvation, by the
comparatively few greedy and wreck
less stock-jobbing and stock-Watering
scheming promoters, while these rapid
ly accumulate princely fortunes? by
the Eternal" no, no!
Alas, it is not that the government
needs to get the right to do the neces-
Sary regulating, it needs, badly needs,
many, very many, public spirited men
III our legislatures, our congress, our
courts and executive chairs, where now
such men are almost as scarce as hens
teeth. The people, largely at least if
not altogether, are to blame for not
putting them there.
Often have heard and read the re-
marks, almost exclusively from popu-
lists, we care little or nothing for per-
sons or the offices, principle is every
thing. Indeed, we need and must have
the Offices, not of course for the in
come. connected with them, but to get
our correct principles enacted into
law. Can candidate, closely connected
with the banking interest, be expected
to work for the interest of the people
In financial affairs? Or, can a railroad
attorney be expected to work for the
interest of the people In railroad af-
fairs? Let us then, fellow populists,
as we 60 plodding along towards the
desired goal, though ever so slowly, yet
surely, not forget, that while we keep
on agitating and discussing, eternal