The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-17
cheeElnE seuthern Grarth.

CHaLLauOOBa IlmcS.
 We are beginning to get the eyi- dences of the effect on Southern pros perity made by the recent radical as- sauIts in certain States on railroads. the most significant coming at pres ent from Alabama. The action of the Legislature of that State under the whip of Governor Conner, is fresh in the minds of the readers of this news paper. Not only were passenger rates arbitrarily assailed, but 1t was under taken to arbitrarily fix rates and to change classifications. The railroads naturally protested and as measure of protection they appealed to the Fed eral courts.
 Governor Conner Imagined that he had overlooked some measure Of coz ercion needed before the roads could be completely crippled and emharrass- ed, so he has called an extra session of the Legislature in the hope that he can push his crusade further. This extra session Is going to cost the tax payers fifty or more thousand dollars out of the Treasury and how much more in other ways can only be con" jectured.
 The Mobile Register, one of the most reliable and trustworthy newspapers in the State, declares that the develop was proceeding at an amazing rate, duplicating thes activity of the past twenty years In the upbuilding of the West, accelerated here by more ia. continues that newspaper. 'since the enactment of laws unfavorably affect ing capital and corporations, however, the whole prospect has been changed and industrial development is nearly at standstill. =" As proof The Reg ister cites the fact that a large wood working concern to employ 300 or more men that had selected Mobile as a To- Ion haI ,Nf fr q q direct result of adverse legislation. The Southern Railroad had planned to expend a million dollars in that city making a new terminus on the river it's earning capacity made by the Co., mer administration it had been com pelled to reduce it's appropriation to $100,000 and to make that do for such needed repairs and improvements as were pressing.
 It is further shown that the lumber business of South Alabama is suffer. ing greatly, and there Is greet fear of impending stagnation, if not suspen- sion.
 The suggestion by The Register of the development of the West" which the South has been threatening to of some sort of design in all this fury of agitation which has had it's origin largely in the West, and which some Southern politicians and demagogues nave lnCOuJlHcuIly ana WiLn BtuplO lack of foresight precipitated among the people of this section. It has new CT happened that the South was per mltted to progress through conditions that in any way affected the growth and advan%ement of other sections. The hue and cry against railroads opened Tn the west, largely promoted by Mir. Bryan, himself, began when Southern industry showed signs of too great prosperity. The air was filled with shouts against rates" and 1t didn't take the Southern politicians long to discover that that might be made popular shiboleth. It was so for awhile, but when the people begin to realize what 1t means; that investments are to be withheld; development checked and business in every direction cur tailed, there is bourd to come a reul- sion. Railroads had just begun to show an active interest in the deYel- opment of the country, and hundreds or millions of money was being set aside Tor the improvement of existing systems. enlarging equipments and terminal facilities, erecting new lines, opening up new territory and adding tremendously to the taxable values of the larger cities ana towns.
 All this has been stopped. or nearly so. Why is 1t that the South may not pursue a definite, fixed policy toward enterprise, and why Is it that its polit- ieians may always be relied upon at the crucial time tol do the very things they ought not to do; the very things that Tetard progress, embarrass enter prise, depress public spirit and divert investors to other fields?