The Washington times., 1907-03-21
No Right to Block Way
of Citizen and
Loot Him.
Methods of Some Roads
Same as Those
of Bandits.
Sons of American Revo-
luton Hear Stirring Ad-
dress at RauSCher'S.

The railroads OF this country are
great highways, over which every ciu-
zen has the right of way as a passenger
and as a shipper said President Need
ham last night in an address before the
Sons OF the American Revolution at.
RausCher's. NO man has the right to
block the citizens way and loot him.
And yet the methods which obtain on
some roads is the same today as those
which were practiced by the bandits in
the dark ages"
DR.. Needham's remarks on the rail-
road question were brought about by
the discussion Of the advantages of a
great national university in the Capital
City He said that it was the intention
OF the first constitutional convention
that a great institution OF learning
should be established here, and that no
where else in America are there such
opportunities for research, especially
along lines Of economies. as are to be
found in Washington.
This country is in the hands Of cor
ooration barons," he continued. But
the time will come when Americans will
rise up and demand that these baronS
give us an accounting and tell us what
bonds in these great industrial CORPORA
tions really represent. The land barons
OF England were forced TO submit 70
the viii Of the people in England The
same thing will occur here with regard
10 the corporation barons.
There are two great questions before
the people Of this country today which
require the careful and dispassiOnate
consideration OF scholars and practical
men Of affairs.
The first is the equal use Of privileges
by all citizens Of public utilities. The
time was in the history Of this country
when the railroads were looked upon
almost wholly as private property.
Contracts We're made with them by
shippers upon this theory. II resulted
in the growth Of one Of the greatest
evils that exist tOday-the granting of
special privileges and rates to large
shippers by transportation companies.
II stiles fair competition by preventing
the distribution of the products of every
producer upon the same terms and with
equal facilities over the public high
ways. The corporation which secures
from the railroad company. or the ware
houseman, or the dock company special
rates or facilities which are not granted
to competition. because Of this agree
ment is not competing with the COM
petitor in production and distribution,
but is simply taking from the competitor
those public rights and privileges which
IL Is the duty Of the State to secure to
every person upon equal terms.
Another great evil existing today is
in the failure of the Government to con-
troll properly the organization and Capi-
talization of great corporations. The
corporation is the creature Of the State.
No group of men have any right 10 be
organized into an Incorporated company
except as the law gives that right. If
we have bad corporations, therefore, the
law is responsible for their existence.
and the correction of the evil is in the
The meeting was presided over by w.
/. Marsh, the newly elected president
of the society. A number of songs were
sung by members at the close of DIR.
Necdham's address. At the close of the
meeting a buffet supper was served in
the defining room.