Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-17
LovELAND'S CHANCE

~ ALIFoRNIANs from one end of the
state to the other are wondering
what Col III. ID. Loveland, rail-
road commissioner, intends to do with
the lifetime opportunity which Cover
nor Gillett, the Southern Pacific politi-
cal bureau, the constitution of the state
and the interstate commerce commits
sion have thrust into his hands. They
are wondering whether this "rattling
good man. intends to show himself a
good man or simply rattle around in
the chair once occupied by the notorious
Wilson, his immediate predecessor.
An association of shippers in San
Francisco is about to begin legal
inquiry into the giving of rebates by
the Southern Pacific railroad in defiance
of the constitution. In this work, which
the railroad commissioners once swore
they would perform, the members Of
that body, including this rattling good
man, will be in position to cooperate
with the shippers association and help
to punish the railroad for it's multiplex
crimes. Col. Loveland has taken sew
eral days to study the law on the ques-
ton. If he has kept his promise and
looked into the matter he must know
what every other intelligent citizen OF
the state, lawyer or layman, knows,
that the constitution of California
makes it obligatory upon him to "cor-
rect abuses through the medium of the
courts
Col. Loveland will hardly plead that
he Is ignorant of the abuses toward the
correction of which he and his fellow
commissioners are directed by the law
to proceed. This point has been cleared
UP so frequently that not the slightest
trace of perplexity as to his knowledge
can remain. But to remove any doubt
in the matter and to aid Col. Loveland
in arriving at correct view of his
duties, his attention is respectfully
called to the following, taken from the
editorial columns of the Oakland En-
quirer:
"Col. H. D. Loveland was the head of
the Merchants Traffic association. by
means of which the merchants of the
state tried to keep the Southern Pacific
| from robbing them of all they pos
sessed; and therefore ought to know,
and probably does know, a whole lot
about the matter of railroad rebates,
secret rates and general law-breaking
methods. Therefore, If he is foot-loose
and free from railroad domination and
| influence, Loveland can make it ex-
ceedingy interesting, as a railroad
commissioner, for Mr.. Hartman and
his man Herrin, both in the political
and strictly railroad lines. If left to
himself, Love1and can make "a whole
world of trouble for the piratical, law
breaking railroads of this state. True.
he will have no help and need expect
none from his colleagues on the COM
mission; but one earnest, willing,
honest man on the commission can do
much toward emancipating the people
of this state from the railroad control
"Loveland knows, or ought to know,
enough about railroads and railroad
matters to enable him to get busy inn
mediately in behalf of the people. If
he does not Immediately make show
ing and keep everlastingly at it the peo-
Iple of California will be entirely 1usti-
fled in thinking that Herrin has him
and that Gillett, when he promised to
supplant Wilson with rattling good
man really meant rafting railroad
man. The proof of the pudding lies
in the eating thereof and not in the
chewing of the bag is good adage.
Col. Loveland has it in his own hands
to prove or disprove the popular as
sumption that Governor Gillett would
not appoint any man railroad commits
sioner who would not do exactly as
Herrin ordered him to do
Col. Loveland is, in the limelight. The
shippers association means business.
1t is determined to hale the Southern
Pacific into court for it's crimes. II
will have the assistance of Inters.ate
Commerce Commissioner Lane, If re-
ports are true. In any event 1t viii
have the confession of the railroad
made during the course of an inquiry
before Mr.. Lane to back up its claims.
that the railroad is gigantic criminal
by it's own declarations,
If Col. Loveland is man of keen
vision, and fearless withal-a "rattling
good man." as Governor Gillett de-
clared him to be-he will turn his off1cs
inside out If necessary in order that the
efforts of the shippers may be facili-
tated True, none of the glory for the
sure punishment of the Southern Pa
cific will rest upon his shoulders He
has delayed too long for that. But by
a noble renunciation of Herrinism and
Harrimanism and the cauterizing of
his conscience by an eleventh hour
atonement, he may still-hope to retain
some small degree of the respect of
! those of his fellow citizens who long
since have come to the conclusion that
constitutions were made to be obeyec.