The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-05-03
are nursing their wrath to keep
THE PEOPLE AND THE RAILROADS.

it warm"
THE PEOPLE AND THE RAILROADS.
There should be no antagonism be-
tween the people and the railroads;
each is largely interested in the sue
cess and prosperity of the other: If
the agricultural and industrial inter-
ests OF the state increase and prosper,
the miles OF railway will increase and
railways will prosper; and vice versa.
These northwestern states could never
nave been successfully settled without
the railways and railways could have
had no successful existence here with
out prosperous producers and business
interests. No state in my judgment
has been more fairly and kindly treat
ed by misunderstanding the political
interference cited-than this state dur
ing the twenty-six years l have re-
sided here. The early settlers will
never forget the disastrous and suffer
ing years of drOuth, when, following
the inspiration and lead of Marvin
Hughitt, the Northwestern and St.
Paul railroad companies contributed in
the aggregate over five hundred thou
sand dollars, for the relief of the peO-
pie; nor have u people sought to
cinch the railroads or ask of them what
ought not to be granted. A warm con-
~tention arose during one legislature,
involving the probable profits Of rail
reading in the state, showing a great
difference of opinion; the railway rep
resentatives came to Pierre and opened
their books and gave every assistance
20 enable the Legislature to arrive at
the facts, with the result, that the leg.
islature and the people became salts
LIED that the railroad companies to
that date, had not profited as they
had supposed, nor more than they de-
served; but nothing in the, relation
that should exist between the railway
companies and the people ever justi.
he'd the railway companies authorizing
or permitting their representatives,
whether residents OF the state or not
TO attempt even, much less to actually
succeed, in striking hands with willing
politicians and building up a political
machine to be operated first, for the
special benefit of railway interests, and
second, for the political benefit of the
inside members of the political ma
chine, and lastly for their social
friends and the state at large, in such
measure as the eXergiences of a con
tinued rule by the machine might sug-
Igest, the working OF which | have in
this article given but a brief outline.
The railway companies have a right
TO be heard without limit before a rail
way committee, but they have no right
10 name. such committee, or appoint
The officer to select it, nor to flood the
legislature with railway passes to in
ilnn,n lnriElntfnn rop 20 th,n,r 1I-
capitol and hotels at Pierre to burst
ing nigh, with Hobbies to influence
pending LEGISLATION. The people get
aroused after years of such unjustifi-
able rioting with their rights ana in
~teIests, and in the heat of excitement
are liable to %Tetaliate without much
consideration OF justice.
The railway representatives belong
ing to the political machine of the
state, have made themselves addition
ally obnoxious TO the people by com.
ing to the defense of the corporate rob-
beTS that have afflicted every state,
such as the coal Oil abomination, the
Old line fire insurance companies, the
school book trust, etc, ETC., authority
iCr which, il is not believed, was ever
gwen by either OF the railroad COM
paLies they represented. These things,
with the constant obnoxious spectacle
Of q few railway representatives ap-
pearing early at state conventions, and
opening extensive parlors, and holding
receptions of delegates, and debating
20 them what nominations have been
ictCTHutcd upon-these things shave
ieyisted for the past ten years and are
becoming more and more noticeable,
and have been breeding more and more
Of a~ntagonism against railway corpo-
f%atiOns. The railway companies should
in my judgment direct all such en-
plOyees of theirs to drop out of ali
such work, and see to it that their
orders are strictly obeyed; and such
orders should include every railway
attorney in the state. Have it distinct
ly understood that the people of South
Dakota are not to be interfered with
in their political contentious, nor their
state legislature, nor in the organiZa-
ton of either house, by railway rep
r~eGentatiyes.
On the other hand all state officers
and state legislatures and legislative
committees. should at all times give
the widest opportunity to railway com
panies. or their agents or attorneys,
TO be heard when n matter affecting
railway interests is up for consider
alton; let this be done, and every good
citizen will be ready to stand between
the railways and every improper a
ton made of them. The people are
proud of their railways, and contain
in their ranks honest, conservative
men who wal successfully defend the
railways against radical measures. If
the railways will leave the people of
the state to run their state govern
ment, instead of trying to run it them
selves. and by proxy at that, all will
be well. | have no personal grievance
with any railroad company or any rep
resentative of theirs. L have enjoyed
their friendship for many years and
10 yet. Their representatives in this
state are bright young men; the fact
Of their employment by the railways
is proof of that. for railway companies
employ none other.
l have tried very hard to refrain
from actively taking sides in the con-