The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-17
RAILROAD NEWS.
Interesting Comment on Agita-
ton Against Railways.
New York Sun Takes a Fall Out
of Roosevelt.
CRITICISM IS SEVERE
He Is Accused of Destroying
Roads Credit.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

In view of the recent agitation re-
sarding the railroads, the New York
Sun published the following interest
ing editorial on the subject in its issue
of March 16:
In a period of bewildering prosperi-
ty. period of productivity without
parallel, We are invited to experience a
dislocation of Tbc commercial struc-
ture such as in normal conditions would
be impossible, ard such as, even now,
is almost incredible. Only protracted
disaster and sha ltered confidence have
produced in the past such conditions as
now confront us, conditions which we
hold TO De gratuitous, arbitrary and so
far as this nation is concerned, unnec-
essay.
Mr.. Roosevelt expressed a dignified
but acute contempt for a Wall street
panic Only stockholders and gamblers
are involved in such episodes. accord
ing to his view; and therefore it is
relatively negligible occurrence
Unfortunately. Mr.. RooseveIt's rudi-
mentary ideas of business are unsuited
to general use. If he asserted that
he was the only person in the United
States unaffected by Wall street
partc he would make an extreme state
ment, but he would be far more nearly
right.
This distressing and disastrous situ-
alton (Which the public has no difficulty
in cOmpr .nendiT 81 has resulted from
Mr.. RooseVelt's persistent attacks upon
the IdlTOaGS. attacks which nave been
conducted with methods so violent and
spectacular that they have resulted in
the complete breakdown of the general
railroad credit and the consequent de-
struction of confidence. We do not
mind saying to Mr.. Roosevelt that
when confidence is impaired credit
vanisheS, and that when credit vanish
es business IS no more. 1t is an ele-
mentary observation, but it is never too
late to begin.
Mr. Roosevelt has DESTROYED the
credit of the railroads. Even with his
great power and his passionate pursuit
ST his quarry. he could not have eff
fected his purpose had it not been, first.
for the public Indignation at the dis
closures of the system of criminal re-
bates, and secondly the popular dis
gust and rage precipitated by the Har-
riman Kuhn Loeb-Schif revelations.
These two causes. brought into high re-
lief with all of Mr.. RoCsevelt's undeni-
able dramatic skill. have sufficiently
infiamed the public mind to damn all
the railroads in the country and paint
the whole industry in Chicago and AL
ton black.
mo matter in what light we regard
IL, whether as a humble admirer or
worshipper of Mr.. Roosevelt's genius
or as a panied philosopher deploring
and lamenting the presidents grave ex-
cess@s we must concede that 1T is a
most amazing achievement. Nothing
ever was known like it; at least in
modern times. OF course historians
relate now prosperous and happy peo-
pies were overwhelmed unaWares nv
destroying foes; and we are acquainted
with the fate of PompeiI We share.
too, Mr. Pepys' views concerning the
Great Plague of London. But that this
thing should be brought about in 1907
in a land overlooking with milk and
honey, and inhabited by a relatively
sane people, staggers the imagination.
well. there is no use crying over
split milk. There is nothing to do ex-
cent to bow to the inevitable and pray