The Red Cloud chief., 1906-07-13
Oplnlon Moulders.

LdSJ utSudy hOEulnH We ISSciNcu
a call from a Mr.. Johnson, represent
ing the Nebraska State Journal, who
announced that the purpose of his
visit was to obtain an expression OF
IL views on the anti-pass resolution
passed by the last Republican state
convention, and on the pass question
in general. 1t did not take long for
our visitor to attain his object, and
when he departed from our
office he informed us that we were the
only newspaper man he had visited
who held the views we did in the
matter-namely, that we doubted the
sincerity of the platform makers when
they adopted the anti-pass resolution
in the last Republican state conven-
ton. The Republican convention in
this county gave an expression against
passes, yet the delegates to the state
convention rode to Lincoln on passes,
and It Is doubtful II there was a dele
gate in the county convention who
would not have done the same had the
opportunity offered, yet we have faith
enough in our brethren to believe that
not one of them could be influenced
by a free railroad ride.
Neither do we believe that the State
Journal is sincere in it's efforts to
create sentiment against the pass,
from a moral standpoint. The Jour-
nails antipathy to the railroads dates
from about the time the Evening Star
butted into the newspaper field in
Lincoln, and that feeling has been
made stronger by its failure to secure
state printing at fabulous prices from
the present state printing board, of
which Secretary of State State Galu-
sha is the head, and at whom the anti
pass fight is directed more than
against the railroads.
While the visit of the Lincoln Jour
nails opinion-moulder to this city may
result in some half-hearted anti-pass
agitation by our contemporaries, they
will continue to ride free on the rail
roads as long as the courtesies are ex.
tended by the railroads.
Secretary Galusha, Auditor Searle
and Land Commissioner Eaton have
taken the position that until the Leg
islature provides for transportation
for state officers they have a right tC
accept free railroad transportation
and they refuse to admit that they
are being bribed by the railroads
We admire their nerve in holding out
against the bull-dozing tactics of tn,
State journal and Frank A. Harrison,
sorehead press bureau.
So far as we are individually con
cerned, we have always found tina
when we treated the railroads RICH
they did the same by us. If one take
the trouble to delve under the surface
it is easy enough to discover tn
the source and the support of anti
railroad agitation in those who ar,
out" or Don going out, as, for in
stance, The Omaha World-Herald
Chronic Candidate G. w. Berge, Gov
ernor Mickey, State Treasurer Nor
Jensen, Would-be-Senator Norri
Brown, the State Journal, Frank A
Harrison, the ex-Union Pacific boost
err, and others who have an AK I
grind.
We decline to take the position tina
the railroads are a menace to pro;
perity. They are the largest indiviG
ual taxpayers, and it is their right an
privilege to have something to say r,
garding the management of the state
affairs. If all other taxpayers paid i
proportion to what the railroads pay
the railroad assessments would be d,
creased, not increased, and the tel
dency would be toward lower railwa
rates.
Contrary to the plan to pass rigi
a~nti-pass laws, W. favor the passae
of a law compelling the railroads
issue free transportation to state an