The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-13
SUGAR COATING
NOT FOR STUBS
Uses W ords With Edge
On in Attack on
Railroads.
HIS ADDRESS
SENSATIONAL
He Claims That Demand for In
creased Freight Rates Is in
Violation of Sherman Anti
Trust Law, Inasmuch as
Railroads Are in Agree
ment.

Chicago December 12.-Governor W.
! X. Stubbs, of Kansas, made a senss
tional attack upon railroads and
trusts at a banquet of the Illinois
Manufacturers Association tonight.
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 unJustitiable.
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 "tle relation of the Federal gov
ernment to unlawful commercial in
lstitutions organized for spoils and
plumber Is one OF the most humiiiating
and disgraceful chapters in American
! history Governor Stubbs said in
part:
4! 1T is common on occasions of this
i character to sugarcoat words and
round out sentences to please the au-
dience. The question of entertainment
| is not matter of deep concern to inc
! at this time 1t is my purpose and
hope TO present in a plain, business
I like way, facts and conditions that may
4 be worthy of your careful conscientious
4 and serious consideration.
Must Meet Problems.
| I'm the evolution of government
! every generation has had its own re-
sponsibiiities TO hear. its own work
| 10 do, its own problems 10 solve, It's
! own battles to fight This generation
/ must meet the problems OF to-day like
: men who are conscious OF their power
! and ability to meet every emergency.
| and determine every question Of GOV
ernment in a broad, liberal spirit. for
| the benefit, and in the interest OF a
lmajority of our citizens
| Let US have the courage to tell the
exact truth, about unwhoIesome com
mcpclal conditions that have grown up
during the last score OF years Ans
thing short of n plain. accurate state
ment OF facts concerning the iron grip
which tnonopolics, trusts and illegal
combinations now hold on the COM
merce OF our country, means either
moral prostitution or personal
cowardice.
Every student of public affairs and
every public official charged with the
enforcement of law. knows that the
alliance between professional politi-
financial and commercial interests
which arc concerned in shaping state
and Federal legislation to serve their
own special interests, is Il menace te
the welfare and life OF our republic
1T is we'll known for instance thai
within reasonable limits the packing
house trust exercises arbitrary power
to fix the purchase price of cattle, hog.
and other live stock and determins
with accuracy the amount of profit
which they will take as their share
of the transaction. 1t is we'll known
that the packing -house trust was
formed, and Is being operated in open
and fragrant violation of moral and
statutory laws"
Opcn Violation.
The speaker said that the methods
employed by the giant masters Of
finance who have destroyed the natural
laws of supply and demand through.
cut the nation are in open and hagrant
violation OF the Sherman anti trust
laws the plain provisions of our Fed.
eral Constitution, the common laws OF
our land, and all moral obligations
imposed upon respectable citizens.
In this connection, the Transports
tion question is perhaps the most i'm
portant issue before the American pco-
pie to-day. The Wall Street financiers.
through community of interest.
scheme, have by indirect methods
formed what practically amounts TO
a gigantic railroad trust, which, con-
trolls the rates and policies of the
most important railroad systems In the
United States
There Is a we'll esta blishel princl
ple OF law which prohibits a man from
doing indirectly that which the law
hi 10, do Il :
ties are provided by law for doing an
act, the same penalties shoul6 attach
when that act is accomplished bv in. |
direct means.
The Northern Securities COMPANY
which was organized to consolidate the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and |
Burlington Railways. all competing
lines, was declared Illegal BY the Fed.
eral Supreme Court. James i. Hill. J. \
sPierpont Morgan and their associates
proved themselves to be above the law
and higher than the courts ~ pro-
ceeding Immediately to destroy com.
petition In railroad rates throughous
the Northwestern States by Indirectly /
doing what the Supreme Court had !
decided was unlawful for the North
ern Securities Company to do.
Government Agency.
THE railroad Is a government agen-
cy. and is therefore supposed to be
subject to law. IT. Is creature OF gov.
ernment. but the creature has grown
to such proportions of wealth and po.
3littcal power that provisions of law
and DEGREES of courts have proven In
effective in SO far as they were intend
cd to exercise direct control over the
operation Of these commercial giants.
I'm 1898 the dividends paid by the
railroads Of the United States amonnt-i
ed to s9TOoo,oo0. In 1908 these divi-
dends amounted to S6oO0,009, an In
crease of 400 per cent. in ten years,
IN 1909 the railroads earned sos,
100000 more net revenna than they did
in 1908. and for the first fve months Of
1G1n hnpa earnn13 mn nnn -, Ave natl