Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-23

| GlthCl luCl VI "
the men who make the laws would be
intolerable In an enlightened govern
ment. Manifcstly, however, the priv
ileges Of such representatives should
be limited to the submission of such
matters MS touch the merit or demerit
of the legislation proposed, and when.
ever and wherever any corporation or
Individual attempts to influence mem
Der BY any other consideration, no
matter what it is. he commits crime
against morals. and the punishment
should be swift. sure and severe.
understand perfectly that such offenses
are not easily discovered. but that Is
no reason for immunity when they are
discovered.
The lobbyist is not and ought not to
be In good repute, and therefore make
this distinction. He who comes be.
fore you, fairly argues the case given
to him. submits his case honestly. and
goes his way, is not a lobbyist. and the
term. which has become one of re-
proach. ought not to be applied to him
The real lobbyist is the man who has
no concern for the merit Of the law
which he advocates or the demerit of
the law which he opposes. He is the
man who attempts to create personal
obligations which will influence votes,
He is the man who intrigues for COM
binatlons In which votes for or against
one measure are traded for votes for
| or against another measure. He is the
man who pursues his avocation behind
locked doors, and In the dark corners.
He Is the man who wants to win.
right or wrong. and puts his desire to
accomplish his purpose above his duty
rs citizen. Such lobbyist ought not
to be registered anywhere. He ought
to be abolished everywhere.
am glad to say that in Iowa these
men are growing every year less con-
spicuous and less numerous. hope
to see the species wholly disappear,
and that the historian of the future
may be able to write that about this
time the race became extinct.
Railroads.
| Innsmuch as feel compelled to
make n series of recommendations
that touch. directly or Indirectly. the
railroads within the state, I must be
allowed n brief preface. There has
been, within the last Zee or four
years, so much diseusE on concerning
the relations of tha}railroads to the
people, that those1who manage rail,
road property ythose who own rail
road stocks nrx bonds seem to fear
that there exists violent prejudice
which will result in unjust legislation
| cannot believe that the fear is well
founded.
There IL no disnos;tion unon TIM
part of the people generally or of any
legislative body to take away from
railway corporations the management
of their property, or to DENY them fuli
and adequate compensation for the
service they render. say to YOU and
hope You will heNrfit In mind when
You come to consider the Recommended
tions I shall make, that you could not
lntiict a more fatal blow upon the PEG
pie OF this state than to adopt such
Legislation as would deprive our rail
roads OF the opportunity to earn n fair
profit. We are as dependent for our
materlnl well being upon the transp0r-
tatiOn afforded by the railroads as we
are upon the air we breathe for the
continuance of life Railroads will not
and cannot serve the people efficient.
ly unless they are reasonably compen.
stated for the work they do. The spirit
| of cOnfiscation is not in the people of
Iowa. and it is not in this general as.
sembly. The railway companies may
dismiss all fear Of injury Concluding
this general review. come to specific
things.
Passenger Fares.
In my message delivered to the
Thirty-First General Assembly, l had
''.e hohor 10 recommend the passage
Vi INV tt'at WOMB require railway
."h'l'a,,.es 10 sen mileage DOCKS good
w. ''"o '''''es anu upwards. AT NAT
rue y. .Mo GEMS per iliiie' good until
, ,'" s"'t III 'i'"' connection
~ i''',e''''Se'' u! '''e heau Oh famiiy,
,""'e no reason WHY IL should not
w "seu ny "h! n'eiiioer VI 'he iani'
~: "''' "s''"' ,iie MN WHO 'taNeiS
NV" ~ ~ l'reSeh' ~ 700 treat us
'u '".''se Us e",il,'fe" Win lhe man
WY ~, ,"Ns's '.'.ei'
- "''' e','"o"A '.'s 'h's recommended
,."a '"s.'u .ne ''o''se vi representa-
~ -. w. 81 .ne so'iiii u, Vi 'iie sen
,,,s. :. ~. .ne .',iM"ss eo,''e'ioed
' WIS ",'o''s''."'lo'iai. because
,. "".'.o'Meu INSTRUMENTATION me ar,
-,.,n .' ~ oe eo''N ''ieii's' ana
" ',l. w no' Concur III 'he con
~, wi ,ee' iliii'ei'eu 10 my aside
...,' s NV. Ilolose" !. must ne
go, 49,, Ae'soe' 'i'''' ~ 'hose WHO
-. ~ ".e ~ ne ,s'ieNeu Oh the
~ 80 o'us" "'i'ei- 'ae! no" oe''r'
'"s 'e"e' mus 'o''e through gen
eral reduction of all passenger fares.
When 1t is remembered that the
vast majority OF those who travel a
great deal pay but two cents per mile.
anu .i'a' 'he traNei ol an those OF our
i'eop'e WIN pay ''iree cents per hllie
20 20 nsessS"l. " piihs 'nu average Up
W w .en.s per ni''e' 'he extent OF
haNei WHich luSS less tuul tWo cents