Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-04-10

|
| - - silence heretofore has been COM
PEELED by their Intellectual minority, says the Atlanta
Constitution.
| But with the awakening OF the people to the
wrongs which the stockjObbng and watered divi-
dend managers have put upon them, one or two
Of those of the right sort have given expression to
their views, which, had they had the power to
transmute them into policies, would, perhaps, have
preserved the public confidence that has otherwise
been badly shaken.
| The most recent of these 10 condemn the modern
method Of railroading which has been largely re.
sponsbe for this growth OF public distrust is B. F.
YOakum, chairman Of the Rock Island Frisco
boards, and thus at the head Of two of the great
est systems in the middle west
Mr.. Hartman admitted, somewhat reluctantly,
the responsibility OF the railroads for existing
ditions but coupled with it protest against what
he called demagogy and radical measures on the
part OF the governmental bodies. MI. T. M. Ryan
went closer home when he said. "Take the rail-
roads out OF Wall street and the stock tckers Of the
railroad officials
But Mr. Yoakum out Ryans Hartman in dealing
with responsibility for present.day conditions and
the remedies for them. He says:
81 will be frank. The people are without iusti-
cation in their belief that the railroads have been
systematically rObbing them. 1t is not altogether
fair to put it just that way, but nevertheless the
public has for many years been paying out great
deal Of money for something it did not get"
| Those outside OF railroad circles who have given
utterance to similar expressions have been charac.
terized as demagogues, rascals, extrt msts and
even socialists and anarchists. But Mr.. YoRkum
goes even further in his "demagogy. ono 0ne,"
says he sis to blame for the present anti railroad
sentiment, but the railroad managers themselves"
He goes further than Hartman in that he not
only seek any one to share the responsibility, but
he iuetieS the present camOr for reform solely OH
the ground of the torts Of the railroads themselves
Mr.. Yoakum says, frankly, that in his belief the
| day of reckoning which has come will prove q
blessing, not only to the nation, but also to the
railroads; does he consider that any lasting
damage can be done. Listen to his remedy:
~ am not In favor Of government ownership OF
railroads. do not believe that under our existing
political system it is practicable but I do believe
in the ownership of the railroads by the people, II
every man who held property along the line Of rail-
road held interest, however small, in that line,
and it's control was in the hands OF the men whom
1t was built to serve, instead Of In the hands of q
clique Of manipulators, the railroads would be
for benefit OF new kind. Ownership by the peo.
pie would couple, as have said, with strict fed
esal supervision of rates. No railroad honestly Op
Grated need fear any federal controle that may be
| imposed"
| There is doctrine which few years ago would
have been denominated the very essence Of popu
lism, and yet it today from one OF the fore.
most railroad managers in the United States!
With their leading witnesses against them, and
aligned with the public in their demand for reform
and regulation it is difficult to understand how the
reactiOnary railroad managers can no longer with.
stand the pressure.
They must come to terms which will insure hon
est dealing and adequate service for the price paid.
The public asks no mOre it will be content with no
less. The railroads must come to it.
Who will be the next Of the great managers to
announce ready to comply with this righteous pub
lie demandf