The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-23
Government Regulation or Ownership
Which?

Government Regulation or Ownership,
Which?
The entire country is aroused to the
struggle with the railroads. The ques-
ton of mastery must be fought out.
There can be no retreat for the people.
The transportation forces are steadily,
surely advancing in their encroach-
ments upon the rights of the people.
They are well organized. They are led
by their best generals. The captains
of industry" are the brightest Orga-
nizers in the industrial world. They
are inspired by the spirit Of greed and
an ambition for great wealth and the
power it brings. They have no heart
for the people only to exploit them.
They are all Rockefellers at heart,
driving their gainful schemes with
cold and selfish calculation that takes
no account of the wrecked lives and
| fortunes of others.
They buy men to help them fight
their battles. They extend their pow
er into all the states, into every cOun-
| ty. Their squads of helpers are in the
country precincts; their companies,
well captained, are in the smaller
cities; their regiments, well equipped
and Differed, are in control of the larg-
er cities and on guard at every state
capitol. They have divisions of the
most experienced veterans stationed
at Washington and congress and the
national executive are in state OF
1 constant siege.
| 1t is impossible to describe this
great army with it's complete and ef-
ficient organization, or to overestimate
its power. 1t controls political parties
from the precinct caucus to the ma
tional convention. 1t corrupts law
makers, executives and judges. 1t
fights just laws successfully in the
courts and overrides other laws when
it can not defeat them.
The anti-pooling law has always
been a dead letter. The railroads
have never obeyed it. The anti-re-
bate law is only brain teaser' to
afford their sharp freight managers
an opportunity to exercise their wits
in schemes to evade it. The long-and-
short haul clauses of the interstate
: commerce law were long since sue
cessfully evaded by their shrewd sys
} tenn of "differentials."
Thirty years ago the war for relief
, from extortion was begun by the peo
t pie in Iowa and Wisconsin. It has
: resulted in utter defeat. Attempted
: Regulation has so far failed. Gov
t ernor LaFollette so testifies in REGARD
: to the efforts made in his state-an(
!. the writer of this is familiar with The
t granger" war on the railroads in Wis
4 consin. In Iowa, alone of all the state.
4 where regulation has been tried, .ha'
t any degree of success been won. Blu
r it counts for little there. A state ha
mo power over interstate rates. Con
|. gress alone can regulate them.
/ But it is the failure of federal legis
i latiOn that demands our attention. TIL
S railroads have nullified all federal
S regulative measures either in tn
n courts or by defantly disregardin
S them. And now they are bent on dc
r stringent measures through congress
With their hand on the United State
y senate, neither the house nor the pres
Q. ident can do anything. This has jus
!? been demonstrated SO that chill
y ought to comprehend the lesson.
But suppose President Roosevelt t
g nally succeeds in getting his, or any
a good rate bill through the senate. SUI
IS pose congress succeeds in giving t
d the interstate commerce commissio
l. the additional powers proposed. Juds
J, ing by the past, there can be but on
result. The railroads will continue t
9 be masters just the same. They Wi
0 find way to defeat or nullify the Law
r But this fight for regulation must b
t fought out. We want to see the pres
0 dent, Senator LaFollette, w. j. Brya