The Forrest City times., 1906-09-07
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
In.erwoven With the Trust ou.s,io,

'hserWoVen With the Trust Question. The railroad question is also interw van with the trust question Nearly all t9e private monopolies have received rehates or secured other advantages over compet- tors Absolute equality of treatment at the hands of the railroads would go far toward crippiing the trusts, and rejoice pr hs ths ,so prssdfnt has had the courage to the law. as il was finally distorted by the senate. is not all that could be wished, 1t deserves u fair trial.
 A New Danger
 Rate regulation was absolutely neces- sary, and It furnishes some relief from the unbearable conditions which previous " existed. but we must not forget that the vestlng of this enormous power in the hands of the commission appointed by the appointive board has the roWer to fir . rates. and can. by the exercise of that power, increase or decrease by hundreds ot millions of dollars the annual revenues of the railroads. will not the rs silroads feel that they have large peeuniary in- terest In the election of a president friend ly to the railroads2
 Public Ownership of Railroads Experience has demonstrated that mu- nicipal corruption is largely traceable to sire to control the city council and thus | Increase their dividends If their man asers adopt tho same policy the senti- railroads by the government is likely to Increase as rapidly throughout the coun- l try as the sentiment in favor of munici- | pal ownership has increased in the cities
 Railroads Must Become Public Property. 1 . nave already reached the conclusion
 that railroads partake so much of tho nature or A monopoly that they must ul-
 timately became public property, and be
 managed by public officiais in the inter- est of the whole community In accord-
 ance with the wen-uefined theory thai 1 public ownership is necessary where com
 petition is impossible. l do not know 1 change. l do not know that a majority | oi my own party favor 1t. but 1 believe that an increasing number of members oi all parties see in public ownership the sure remedy for discriminations between persons and politics. and for the extor- tionate rates for the carrying of freisht and passengers. Believing, however that
 the operation of all the railroads by the federal government would result in llterate state lines. l prefer to see only the trunk lines operated by the federal
 government. and the local lines by the several state governments Some have | opposed this dual ownership as inprac- | tlcable. but investigation in Europe has l convinced me that it is entirely prac- l ticable Nearly all the railroads of Ger l many are owned by the several states
 the empire not even owning the trunk | Constantinople to Vienna. one passes
 through Turkey. Bulgaria, servia. Hun | gary and q part of Austria without d
 change of cars. and yet each country owns and operates it's own roads, ana | different languages are spoken on the
 
 and Norway each owns its railroads but they have no trouble about interstate traffic. although their political relations are somewhat strained. The ownership and operations of the local lines by the several state governments is not only feasible. but it suits itself to the condi- tions existing in it's various states In those states where the people are ripe for a change, the local lines can be pllr- chased or new lines built, st once while private ownership can continue in those states in which the people still prefer been more careful than others to prevent the watering of stock. and in the acquir- ing of roads each state can act according to the situation which il has to meeet
 Those Who Win Be Injured.
 Who can suffer injury by just taxation, impartial laws and the application of to all and special privileges to none? Only those whose accumulations are stained with dishonesty. and whose immoral methods have given them a distorted view of business, society and government Ac- cumuiation by conscious fraud more money than they can .profitabiy use upon leave to their children, these denounce as public enemies all who question their methods or throw light upon theis crimes.
 Piutocracy Abhorrent.
 Plntocracy Is abhorrent to a republic; it Is more despotic than monarchy. more that bureaucracy. It preys upon the | nation in time of peace and conspirss against II in the hour Of its calamity. Conscienceless, compassi sioniess and devoid of wisdom, it enersates its votaries while l 1t tmpoYerishss its victims It is already | sapping the strength of the nation yul- | garizing social life, and making mockery | of morals The time is ripe for its over | throw. Let us attack 1t boldly making 1 our appeal to the awakened conscience of | the nation-in the name of the counting i room which it has defiled. in the name of 1 business honor. which 1t has sullied; in | the name of the people whom IL has op- pressed. in the name of the homes which l it has despoiled. and in the name of relig- | ion. upon which 1t has placed the stigma l Of hypocrisy.
 Ills New Battle Hymn. And. if may be permitted to suggest a battle hymn, l propose d stanza. but slightly changed. from one of the strong est poems of Scotland's great democratic bard
 Columbia. My dear. my native soil. For whom my warmest wish to Heaven Is sent
 Long may thy hardy sons of rustic ,oil Be blest with health and peace and sweet content
 And, O. may Heaven their simple lives
 prevent
 From luxurys contagion, weak and vic Then. though unearned wealth to wicked
 ness be lent
 virtuous populace may rise and stand wall of ire around their muca-lovs6~ land