The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-13

banquet OF the Illinois Manufacturers
association last night. He declared that
"the advanced freight rates demanded
by the railroads were agreed to by the
combined railroads and are therefore
clearly in violation OF the Sherman
antitrust law and were unjustifi-
able.
The speaker condemned the Judge
who fines corporations for violations
of law and discharges the officers
who get the money and are the real
criminals in the case" He asserted
that "the relation of the federal gov
eminent to unlawful commercial in
stiutions organized for spoils and
plumber ia one of the most humiliating
and disgraceful chapters in American
history" Governor Stubs said in
part:
1T is common on occasions of this
chafcter TO sugar-coat words and
round out sentences to please the au-
dience. The question Of entertainment
is not a matter of deep concern TO me
at this time, 1t is my purpose and
hope to present in a plain, businesslike
way facts and conditions that may be
worthy Of your careful, conscientious
and serious consideration.
'ID the evolution Of government,
every generation has had Its own re-
sponsibilities TO bear, it's own work 10
do, It's own problems to solve, its own
battles to fight. This generation must
meet the problems Of today like men
who are conscious OF their power and
ability to meet every emergency, and
determine every question Of govern
ment in a. broad, liberal spirit for the
benefit, and in the interest Of a ma
jority OF our citizens.
Let us have the courage to tell the
exact truth about unwholesome COM
mereial conditions that have grown up
during the last score of years. Any
thing short of a plain, accurate state
ment of facts concerning the iron grip
which monopolies, trusts and illegal
combinations now hold on the COM
merce of our country, means either
moral prostitution or personal cow
ardice.
Every student Of public affairs
and every public official charged with
the enforcement Of law, knows that the
alliance between professional politl-
clans, corporation lawyers and the
financial and commercial interests
which are concerned I'm shaping state
and federal legislation to serve their
own special interests, is menace to
the welfare and life Of our republic.
1T is we'll known. for. instance. that
within reasonable limits the packing
house trust exercises arbitrary power
to fix the purchase price of cattle,
hogs and other livestock, and deter
mine with accuracy the amount OF
profit which they will take as their
share of the transaction. It is well
known that the packing house trust
was formed and is being operated in
open and fragrant violation Of moral
and statutory laws"
The speaker said that the methods
employed by the giant masters Of
finance who have destroyed the ma
tural laws of supply and demand
throughout the nation are in open and
fragrant violation of the Sherman anti
trust laws, the plain provisions of our
federal constitution. the common laws
of our land, and all moral obligations
imposed upon respectable citizens.
I'm this connection, the transporta-
ton question is perhaps the most i'm
portant issue before the American
people today. The Wall street finan-
ciers, through a community Of inter-
est scheme have by indirect methods
formed what practically amoxnts to a
gigantic railroad trust, which controls
the rates and policies OF the most i'm
portant railroad systems in the United
States.
There is a we'll established prin-
ciple of law which prohibits a man
from doing indirectly that which the
law forbids him to do directly. II
penalties are provided by law for do
Ing an act. the same penalties should
attach when that act is accomplished
by indirect means.
1.-THE Northern Securities Co, which
was organized to consolidate the Great
Northern. Northern Pacific and Bur
lington railways, all competing lines,
was declared illegal by the federal su-
preme court. James J. Hill, ]. Pier
pont Morgan and their associates
proved themselves to be above the law
and higher than the courts by proceed
Ing Immediately to destroy competi-
ton in railroad rates throughout the
northwestern states by Indirectly do
ing what the supreme court had de-
cided was unlawful for the Northern
Securities Co. to do. E@
1.-The railroad Is a government
agency, and is therefore supposed to
be subject 20 law. 1t is a creature of
government, but the creature has
grown to such proportions o. wealth
and political power that provisions of
law and DEGREES OF courts have proven
ineffective in so far as they were In
tended to exercise direct control over
the operation Of these commercial
giants.
I'm 1898 the dividends paid by the
railroads OF the United States amount
ed to s97,0O0,000. In 1908 these divl-
dends amounted TO s380,0O0,000. an In
crease OF 400 per cent In ten yesTs.
EN- 1908 the railroads earned sea-
600 900 more net revenue than they did
in 1908, and for the first five months
OF 1910 have earned ss3,0O0.000 more
net revenue than they did In the five
corresponding months of the previous
year.
These figures prove that there is no
reasonable basis upon which the rail-
roads can demand an adveaice In
freight rates. Upon DE cor .rary, they
prove conclusively that railroad rates
are already too high. And yet, prac-
ticmIly all the railroads in the United
States have formed gigantic com
bination to increase freight rates.
which the shippers who have investi-
gated the matter claim win ultimately
enormously increase the cost OF
freight transportation.
'The advanced freight rates de-
manded by the railroads, and now be-