The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-08-28
NOVELTST'S FIGHT WITH 4
RAILROAD BOSS.

1t is to be hoped that the campaign
| for Governor Of New Hampshire now
being waged by Winston Churchill
the author, viii not meet with that
amused indulgence which seems 10
mark the advent into politics Of lit
erary men. That it does seem to
have gained Roadway under conditions
which might appear insurmountable
is as gratifying as it is surprising. The
country smiled hen the Churchill
candidacy was announced. He has
Waged his fight, however, in 4 way
which shows that he knows the secret
of enthusing men as we'll as deVlslng
situations. At this it appears
that even the powerful Boston and
Maine Railroad has eason to fear this
young, enthusiastic and wholly disin-
terested champion Of the people. A
year ago the opposition of any man
to the railroad which at a nod could
| take Chandler out of II Senate would
have seemed absurd; after a few
months of agitation Churchill has
forced the situation until the question
| of his victory or defeat is subordinate
to the general confidence that. wheth-
er he win or lose, the days of the
railroads domination are numbered.
The Boston and Maine, through its
president, Lucius futile, eXerts in
New Hampshire an influence which
is the development of the character of
control Which in North Carolina has
often won, but has known the drag Of
opposition. It's command of the leg
islature and of the State officials has
been practically complete. 1t virtually
owns through free passes all but seven
of the in the State. To
the great majority of the State press
the speeches of Winston Churchill in
his fight against the railroad are barr
ed. Yet, strangely. the revolt is
spreading. futile, the boss of
ChurchilTs "Coniston," has been made
to realize that he is having the fight
Of his life. AS the eyes of the whole
country settle upon the State. the
people are being aroused. The Bostoh
and Maine, which smiled with the uni
VerSal contempt of the railroad ma
for any other type Of ability, finds in
Churchill a serious thorn.
III Collier 5 ffldSdZlnG Is an afticie
which graphically displays the owner
ship of Il State by q railroad. OF the
1876 miles of road i'll the State. the
Boston and Maine operates 1892. It
issues annually five thousand passes,
most of them to lawyers and politi-
clans. The passes to lawyers are is
sued as 'retainers'' and through them
almost the entire bar is securely held
against engaging in any action or
movement against the road. The pass
es to newspapers are given III consid-
Grafton of 4 contract to print the
schedules, bat at the end of the con-
tract is the "joker'' clause: "It is I'M
derstood that the Boston and Maine
Railroad reserves the right to revoke
this free pass at any time upon Civ
ing reasonable notice." The effect is
to control the newspapers. How this
is done was well illustrated in the ease
of a publisher named Foster who
'ventured to oppose" q bill enabling
the railroad to further water its stock.
The passes We're at once withdrawn
from the paper, although except in
the one instance the publisher a
not criticised the road. Senator Chan
dler, who fought railroads in the
Senate, was unceremoniously defeated
by a purchased legislature, although
Chauncey DepeW and other railroad
men of eminence pleaded with the
road to keep hands off. A Governor
who was a railroad director and who
ventured to advise trolley lines to COM
natp Wit the RQcn1 and NIoinn ,aonix,>3
his congo from the board at the or
der of President futile. So thorough
ly does the railroad control that in
recent years its LOBBY has had nothing
to do. Consequently it has been hired
out to other people, Insurance and
race track interests. who have paid
temporarily for it's maintenance. OF
the free pass system, Senator Chandler
says:
"AlI lawyers ride free. The editors
and newspaper ride free
Ministers ride free, or at special rates,
Governor rides free. His council
ride free. All officers at the State
House ride free. The members Of the
Legislature-there are over four hum
ed-ri free. County city ana
town officers ride free. The wives
and children of most Of the free riders
also ride free. No person OF any mn
portance i'll town or State fails TO rlde
free. If any person., high or low, rich
or poor, is heard TO make vigorous
protest against amy railroad wrong ne
is approached by some ready emlssafy
of the road. and quoted by a free /,
pass"
1t is against such an aggregation
and such q history of the exercise or
power that the literary man is making
his brave fight.