The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-06-19

the railroads failed or refused to
furnish cars, Or to move the same
towards their destination at fair
rate Of speed, after they were load
ed The question was made one of
the party planks at the last election,
and it fell to the lot Of the same
author to reintroduce the bill at the
1907 session. The measure was CIV
en- the fullest consideration, amend
ed and corrected in the most per-
feet manner, and is now law,
having passed both branches of the
Minnesota legislature. The law goes
into effect on July 1st next, and
after that date the railroads and
their patrons will have. the right to
charge demurrage and concerns
heretofore having found it difficult
to obtain cars, will receive the same
treatment as other concerns.
The battle between the railroads
and the people is now at its, crucial
test. 1t remains to be seen whether
the public service corporations of
the land, with their mighty wealth,
their cynical contempt for the laws
of the land, their power to corrupt
public men and to secure the best
legal talent that the Almighty has
given unto the world, are to become
the real rulers OF, this free country.
or whether the. people themselves
are supreme.
Friendly relations should exist be-
tween the master and the. servant.
Those relations have always pro-
duced the best results. But when
the servant abuses the. confidence of
the master. filches, from his purse,
refuses to do the work promised to
be performed, then must the master
insist upon the law protecting his
own.
That the railroads. have carried
on system of plundering turnout
this broad land. by reason of exces-
sive charges, by reason. of. favoring
one class over another, by reason of
issuing stock for the purpose of re-
ducing dividend rates and hood
winking the public,there is.no longer
any doubt. The people, must be
considered the masters until the
courts of this land declare to the
contrary, and the battle, for master
and servant is now ON.
| believe that when the final round
occurs that the highest court of
this government wild fully conpre-
bend the Importance of the problem,
and will relegate- to, the people that
power which our forefathers, in
framing the, fundamental laws of
the land, intended should be vested
in them. To Him who has steered
the ship, Of state SO successfully in
the century gone by we look to and
ask that full justice be dome.
The. day and age. and the question
call for men. Men in our executive
and administrative officers who are
not afraid If: the cars-men who
realize the. responsibilities of their
positions. Not men, who while
openly prating Of the glories of our
state and nation, and of credit for
the achievement of others, retire to
their inner offices, shirk responsible
tiles, and attempt to- allay the feel
ings and opinions of the people
while at the same time listening to,
needing and responding to the voice
of the corporations.
The policy Of delay is the policy
of the professional politician. The
bridge is never burned until the
people themselves rise to the occa-
sion and speak in no uncertain
sounds. Then the politician listens,
Then the corporation listens. All
the people are not to be fooled all
the time, and the men whom you
entrust with your executive and adj
offices must show their
sincerity by decisive action, by su-
perb generalship, or they must re-
tire from the field in deepest hu-
initiation and disgrace and make
room for those who have consciences
that cannot be subserved by corpor-
ate interests.
Young men standing within my