The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-12

Montgomery, August 1.-(Special )-The railroad situation is one of possibilities; one that may develop sensational turn at any time. There are so many sides to it that one hardly knows where to look for the trouble that most all feel IS bound 10 break out. The acceptance or the rates made by the state on the part of the Southern railway, with it's more than 1000 miles of track and the Frisco, with it's less than 200, has only tended to make the interest greater, Which road will be the next to fall in line is asked :; most all who talk of it believe that the others are coming.
 It is evident that the Southern railway has gone long way toward making tsolf solid with the people who have clamored for railroad reform. It is also well es- tablished that Col E. l.. Russell vice president of the Mobile and Ohio, has been given much of the credit for the re- suits that have accrued, no matter who really brought them about. When Pres ident Finley sent him here to help his as- sistant, J. S. B. Thompson. out, it was garded as settled that he would bring something to pass. J, Lee Long, one of the administration leaders, and rabid anti-railroad men in the house. presented Colonel Russell to the members as one of the best men in the country That in- dicated what the people think of the head of the Mobile and Ohio.
 Russell Got Busy.
 The first thing Colonel Russell did was to mix up with the members of the legis- lature and present most of them to Mrs. Russell, who had not been the helpmate of the railroad magnate long enough to know many of his friends. At the same time Colonel Russell gave it out that while he was after the best interests of the people he represented he was not go- ing to be party to anything that would bring the laws of his state into dis credit or embarrass the officers who were appointed and elected to administer them. He let it be known that he thought laws were made to keep, and proposed to have adjustments made if possible in llne with that doctrine. When the Southern, there fore, agreed to put in the state rates on freight and passengers he said let the Mobile and Ohio come too.
 It Is an open secret that this action was taken and this policy adopted in combat with the advice and suggestion of heads Of other ysteus opefnting in the state. Tn fact it is said that so great was tho pressure to hold fast and lght that some of he attorneys came awfully near to hard feelings toward one another. Some sSy that even threats were made to defeat the settlement that was finally made Be that as 1t may, the fact is well established that the lines not now part of the agres- ment argued long against any concession and seem now, some of them, to be de- termined to keep up the fight to the end.
 Opposing Roads.
 On the other hand, those railroads which yet hold out take the position that having begun the fight 1t Is cow ardly to quit. They say that they have not violated any of the unrestrained laws and hence are not in contempt. That while they are not making the rates stipulated in the state acts they are re- training from doing clearly within the law, as a judge of high court has restrained them: held them up until their fairness could be looked into. To ac- cept them now would be to agree to their equity in a sense. Also, they say, such action would be in sense, uncompn- mentary to the court In which they have been estopped This seems to be the idea of the presiding judge of that court, ex- pressed in an opinion given when modify ing the papers with regard to the South ern, to allow 1t to put in the rates.
 Inc average man can hardly appreciate the position of the Southern railway. It had given reduced fare and rates In other states recently and the argument that Alabama ought to be as well treat ed was good, To have defied the revoca- ton act under which they lost their ii-