Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-08-15
THE RATE WAR.

the American public is the rate war
that has been waging between
certain Southern States and the rail
roads. This war has been attended
with some ridiculous and dangerous
as well as commendable features
and Incidents. Both parties to the con-
troversy have made mistakes, and the
future decisions of our highest judicial
tribunal will have to settle the question
of which party is mostly at fault from
legal standpoint. Time will also serve
to determine which of the parties has
least infracted the moral law and shown
the highest regard for constitutional
right.
Good men and honest citizens will
agree, that while the railroads should
be made to do what is right an equally
binding obligation rests upon the State
governments and the people of the re-
spective States to be just and deal
squarely with the railroads.
No section of the Union has more
largely sought the introduction of CAPT.
tai and the construction of railroads
than has the South. The railroads have
practically created the splendid indus
trial and commercial conditions that ex-
ist in the Southern States. That they
have not been moved to do this for
amusement or from philanthrophy
needs no denial. Neither have the peo-
pie solicited and accepted these great
benefits from purely unselfish disposi-
ton The rights and responsibilities.
under the moral and statute law, of the
railroads and the people are mutual
Each party has a constitutional right to
invoke the protection of the courts when
they believe their rights have been in
vaded, or when they think it necessary
TO determine their responsibilities. If
the State authorities have a right to
make rate laws, so have the railroads a
right to contest such laws when thew
believe them to be unjust, and in viola
ton of their rights under the Supreme
Law of the land.
There is a manifest disposition on the
part of blatant demagogues. who are
playing for political preferment, and of
eftervescing, truculent newspapers, that
are eager to extend their circulation
and unhealthy influence, to excite the
angry passions of the populace
against the railway corporations.
These agitators do not stop to
consider the general public injury that
may result from what they are saving
and writing, nor do they care for the
probable injustice they are doing the
railroads, or rather the citizens who have
their means invested in the roads. Am
pie evidence of this reckless disposition
has been furnished in North Carolina.
Alabama, Arkansas, and even in Vir-
GINA. Aspiring politicians have avail
ed themselves of the opportunity fur
nlshed by an unfortunate controversy
with the railways, and are trying to
further their personal and political in
terests by injecting into the quarrel a
false and dangerous issue-the issue of
States Rights. Governor Glenn start
ed it in North Carolina, and other politi-
cal patriots of his kind have followed
his example. Glenn has announced him
self candidate for United States Sena-
tor, expecting to win upon the reputa-
ton he has gathered in the North Caro-
ina rate war. We may confidently ex
pect other agitators in other States to
follow his lead, and seek elevation to
high official positions as a reward for
heir patriotic (D devotion to the rights
If the people.
Perhaps railway passenger and
freight rates ought to be lowered. It
5 our opinion that they should be. But
10Th the railroads and the people have
he right to say whether they shall and
low they must be reduced. The rail-
Dads have no right to practice extor-
ion on the people, neither have the peo-
lie the right to gouge and confiscate the
roperty of the individuals who own the
pads. The politicians in North Caro-
ma, and the other States we have ,
amed, seem to have the idea that thew
IN destroy the roads in the name of the ,