The southern sentinel., 1908-08-21
RAILROAD HOSTILITY
WILLIAM j. BRYAN
How These Corporations Dis
eliminated Between Two
National Candidates.

the CITY, nevertheless, was filled
with thousands of the Nebraskan' $
supporters, though they had to
pay full fare. Public attention
has been drawn to the discrimina-
ton of the railroads by the fact
that when Mr.. Taft was notified
of his nomination at Cincinnati
they were apparently glad to
make special rates to that point.
While this discrimination may
have prevented great many
voters from going to Lincoln on
Aug. IL, there is nov every indi-
cation that it will be the means
of sending many thousands of
them to the polls on November 8.
The railroads have attempted
to excuse their action by saying
that it was impossible to make
any concessions to the Democrats
for the reason that there was a
2 cent law in Neb: aska, and that
no reduction of fare had been
permitted since the passage of
that law. But when their atten-
ton Was called to the fact that
there was also 2 cent law in
Ohio, they set up the claim that
the Ohio matter had been handled
by different traffic association
than the one operating in Nebras-
ka, and the latter could not be
governed by the action of the
former, but the fact has been
developed that many of the rail-
roads which are members of one
traffic association are also mem-
bers of the other association.
The truth is it was a clear case of
discrimination prompted by polit-
ical animosity. and in comment
ing on it the indianapolis News
says:
"The Democrats who wished tn
60 to Lincoln to see their can
lidate notified had as good a
right to reduced rates as had the
Republicans who went to Cincin-
natl to see Taft notified. One
traffic association had as much
power as the other, one might
have been expected to show as
much courtesy as the other.
There is no difference between
the two cases. Much was made
of the fact that there is q Scent
fare law in Nebraska, and yet, as
we have said, there is also a 2 cent
fare law in Ohio. In the former
case it was treated as an insuper-
able obstacle. In the latter case
it was got over without difficulty.
10 any fair-minded man it looks
like discrimination In favor of
one class of citizens and against
another class"
While this discrimination may
have Inconvenience some per-
sons who attended the Lincoln
notification ceremonies and kept
many others away, 1t did not
injure, but, on the contrary. has
done much good for Mr. Bryan's
campaign by furnishing the
people of the West with addition
al evidence that the railroad
corporations and all the other
reactionary forces of the country
are supporting the candidate put
forth by the party of privilege
AMI plunder. because they have
received satisfactory assurance
that he is "a safe man" for them.
This discrimination by the rail-
rods, while very small bit of
business in itself, sill prove to be
quite an Illuminating object
lesson for the progressive voters
of the West who are determined
to put an end to the control of
the government by the corpora
tions. They see very distinctly
that in this campaign the corpora
tions are for Taft because Taft Is
for the corporations and a des-
perste struggle will be made to
continue the rule of greed and
graft at Washington.-New Or.
leans States.
Keep the body healthy at this