The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-09-18
Senator LaFollette Speaks.

Senator LaFo11ette Speaks.
United States Senator LaFollette, of
Wisconsin, opened his campaign at Mount
Holly Yesterday afternoon in the Court
House, which was filled with an apprecia-
tive audience. 1t was his first speech in
New Jersey in the interest of the New
Idea," as advocated by the Record Colby
Pagan Grubb combine, the big four of the
political reform movement. The Senator
was interesting and frequently applauded,
and at 80 o'clock he and his party, con-
sisting of George L. Record, Gen. E. Burd
Grub, George Wildes and DR. E. S.
Adams, were hurried over to Burlington
in automobiles.
| Senator LaFollette and his attendants
were escorted up Main street by the Met
ropolitan Band, the music being sufficient
to attract a large crowd.
Senator LaFollette was the only speaker,
and he said in part: 81 am here to speak
to you because of the interest l feel in the
contest now ON in this state. l believe
that Democracy is on trial for its life in
this country. Men began to struggle for
self government at an early period in life.
They sought to establish Democracy-that
is, where all men should have part in the
government. They soon found that there
was always a certain enemy working
against the wishes of thei masses of the
people, which is described as plutocracy,
gathering together of the rich as against
those who are not rich.
Every proposition inscribed in our
platform" said the speaker, lis an element
in the struggle for Democracy. You will
never get set of statutes to make self
government -perpetuating. You will
always find an element hostile to the in
terests of the people. There have been
but two sessions of the National Congress
in thirty years that have not been con-
trolled by the railroads of the country.
'eThere should be state authority be-
fore whom insurance companies must APP
pear to show that they have a right to
make the charges which they demand for
insurance. No corporation issues stocks
and bonds except to collect unjust interest
from the people and to give handsome re-
turns to those managing such concerns. /
understand that the trolley companies of
this state have capitalized their roads at
5000, 900 per mile, which is imposing upon
your children and children's children
vastiburden which does not represent
dollar of the legitimate investment People
are paying for everything in the cost of
their lives as a tribute of interest on the
excessive capitalization of all corporations
You are paying transportation privileges
to corporations high in excess of what is
just, and yet the people fail to arise in
their might to protest against such an i'm
position. 1t is the duty of the state to
stand between the corporations and the
people, to see that no unjust imposition is
fostered by the public service corpora
lions, who are collecting interest and divi-
dends on a sum largely in excess of what
they are worth.
every twelve months we pay more to
the railroads than we do in all our taxes,
to which may be added the expenses of
the entire federal government, from the
salary of the President down to that of the
smallest postmaster. They are able to
take an excessive amount from the people
because it has not been possible to pass in
the United States Congress a law to en-
force a decision of the United States Su-
preme Court to bring the charges down to
where the court has decided they should
be. We can reproduce every railroad in this
country for 5000. 900. 900, but which are
now inflated to $4,000, 900, 900, and each
mile can be constructed for less than
$50, 900, although they have been inflated
to 5000, 900 per mile. The average cost of
the railroads in Michigan and Wisconsin
is fair average for all the states, which
show that the country is paying interest
and dividends on 81, 900, 900. 900 of railroad
property which is nothing more than so
much water. If people were not forced to
pay on this over capitalization, many
humble homes could be made more com
Portable. 1t is just that the United
States Senate should establish law to
ascertain the value of all the railroad
property in the country" The speaker
here gave a recital of the defeat of the
eight amendments which he offered in the
Senate in order that fair basis of rates
for transportation charges might be estab-
lished.
you cannot afford to further be allied
to the old Republican party, which has
lost it's interest for the benefit of the
people 1t would cost 50, 900, 900 to ascer-
tain the value of all the railroads, but
you would save $4OO. 600. 900 by squeezing
out the water and bringing the rates down
to proper basis.
"Oh, come into our party" was the APP
peal made by the speaker. you've got
to sooner or later. This is the everlasting
truth, and as sure as there is God above
us these principles have got to be written
into law and the sooner the better. 1t is a
perpetual and everlasting fight, and
hope to live to take part in the great
OaIIleS TO come. DelleVe Cne contest InaU
is now on is the greatest this country has
ever seen, as the railroad corporations are
the mightiest forces ever encountered,
and which are owned by seventy five
people The capitalization of railroads
should be regulated by the people, as well
as the rates, but they should be permitted
to charge enough to pay all operating ex-
penses and leave fair profit on the bust
ness"
Senator La Toilette referred to hundreds
of thousands of dollars being wasted by
giving valuable franchises to these cor
porations, which he said should be taxed.
School Supplies. Buy it at Boyce's. =
Florence.
A. G. Spencer and son, Edwin, are
spending a few days at Atlantic City.