The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-02


But though the evils Of rebates and
discrimination, which aid exist ana
which provoked just regulation, have
ceased, though In the main on fares,
the regulation goes on and seems to
increase in harshness
The lengths to which some Legisia-
lures have gone would be absurd, were
the consequences not so serious.
mo better proof is needed OF this
than the very numerous decisions
handed down by courts. State and ma
tional. setting aside regulatory laws
because they infringe constitutional
rights.
but 1t is not the railways alone
that will be injured by this indiscrimi-
nate regulation. Their prosperity is
SO interlinked with the prosperity of
the people, that laws which forbid
their receiving fair income. directly
injure the people. This is true, not
only from the great loss of wealth
that will be brought about by the
want OF adequate transportation facill-
ties. which will follow decrease In
the Income of the railways below what
is Justly remunerative, but on account
of its effect on the toilers OF the land.
Value of Railroads.
Have you ever considered in what
channels flow the Incomes OF the rail-
ways? I speak now in general terms
basing my statement on statistics for
1907. The railways employs directly
over one and one -half million of men,
OF whom only $4,000 are officers, and
pay them over billion dollars. Forty
one per cent OF the gross earnings OF
the railways go directly into the hands
of labor. Speaking approximately. the
railroads consume one-third of all the
coal mined In the United States. about
fourteen per cent OF all the lumber
produced and twenty per cent OF all
the iron used.
Let us forget for moment the
railways. Let us suppose there were
an industry as great. established and
carried on by Individuality philan-
thropists II you will. Would not
anyone who would cripple It's power TO
employ men or lessen Its ability to
pay them a liberal wage be an enemy
to the great toiling mass of humanity
Is one less their enemy who brings
about the same results as to railways
by laws that pass beyond wise and
just regulation, often to the point OF
oppression, and sometimes to the point
of confiscation?
Every man in office and depots and
shops and yards, every engineer who
opens the throttle, every fremen whose
arms grow brawny in shoveling coal
into the fire box, every brakeman
who plies his dangerous calling In all
sorts of weather. every lumberman
who swings his axe In the forest
every miner who with pick and cart
ridge wrests from the earth its wealth
of coal and iron, and the wives OF
them, and the children Of them, have
deep and abiding interest In the
prosperity of the railroads
Flags the Demagogues.
The time has come In railroad reg
ulation when the hysterie harangues
Of self seeking politicians should make
way for wise counsel and charlatan-
ism for craftsmanship. The railroad
problem means that just regulation
and fair dealing to the expansion OF
great industry and the further devel-
opment Of the country that has always
followed In the wake of railway build
ing that harsh and confiscatory laws
will cause railroad building to cease
and ultimately lead to government
ownership contamination none of us
desires"
Mr.. billiard delved into socialism.
"A consideration of the trust prob.
lem and the railroad problem natural
ly suggests the problems of socialism
he said, 'sfor many ideas and laws con
corning trusts and railways had theii
inception in socialistic theories.
Il think, then, the problem of social
ism with which we have to deal Is the
danger 1t presents. not from without
but from within. 1t has already so In.
fluenced legislation as to lead to The
enactment OF many laws of socialistiC
character by those who would strenu'
ously deny being OF socialistic sym
pathy''
The prevention OF disease. the aboli-
tion OF war, and the great strides taken
thereto under the influence OF The
Hague Conference, he touched. The
the problems that beset 1t; the growth
of civil and religious liberty. its OBJ
stacles--ail this he handled with the
optimistic expression that the trend
was toward all that was best as regards
the problems.
Touches of Religion.
Then into the field of religion. the
change from orthodoxy to heterodoxy,
he passed. as follows:
"One problem of vast moment Is to
be solved. Rapid changes are going
on in the religious convictions of men.
The old paths seem to be hidden, the
old lights dimmed.
This great revolution I do not pro-
fess to comprehend; but this do
know. as war becomes a bad memory.
as constitutional government becomes
the rule of every people, as peace raises
song of triumph in every land. the
fundamental teachings of Him who
spake as never man spake,' will be the
basis of all right action. the founda-