The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-12
IS IT POLITICAL PUNISHMENT?

is 1T POLITICAL PUNISHMENT?
The last link has been forged, by
the injunction granted by the federal
court, in the Frisco-Rock Island
suits. by which the state Of Okla
homa is placed under the slayish
control Of the big railroads that ira
verse the state.
With a constitution that provides
for industrial freedom in this re
spcct. with acts OF the legislature
that are Intended TO place the state
in possession Of its own resources,
the federal courts step in and annul
the proclamation that was carriei
by an overwhelming majority Of the
people of the state that vas accepted
by congress, and approved by the
president OF the United States.
It is strange condition that con
fronts us. 1t in effect says that the
people of a sovereign state have no
right to dictate to interests that do
business in the state, what shall be
done to comply with the privileges
and powers that the state canfers
upon them.
A provision of the constitution that
the people chose to adopt, that they
expected the railroai interests to
conform TO. that was made one Of
the fundamental principles of SOY
ereignty by the people, Is nulliiied
and destroyed by the opinion Of a
judicial officer far removed from
sympathy or knowledge of the inter
ests Of this section of the country
1t is such things that create predj-
uiice against railroads, against the
system of federal courts as they eX-
list and against the order of things
that for many years has been pre-
domirant in our national affairs. The
pretended hardship which is given as
an excuse for the decision is abso-
lutely untenable. if conditions are
given the proper consideration. In
passenger rates, with the amount of
travel that has and does exist on ev-
cry road which traverses this region.
the presumption that a 2-cent fare IS
conhscatory is the merest bosh.
In the eastern states where ac-
commodations and conveniences are
given much greater attention than
they are here. where competition
fully as strong, If not stronger than
it is in Oklahoma, where the travel
is no greater and the expense OF
maintenance is heavier, 2-cent rates
are found not only remunerative,
but very profitable, and no such
claim as being confiscatory" is set
up in any court, state or federal in
that section.
1t is the same as to freight rates
sllu JuoN why OhlduOllld SlOulu ut
subjected to such a burden; just
why the will of the people should be
overruled by FOREIGN court is an
inconceivable act OF injustice. that
is hard to bear.
1t looks very much as though Ok
lahoma is to be punished for having
the audacity to 90 democratic
Missouri has also had a dose of the
same medicine. but Kansas remains
immune, possibly from the fact that
she has an Independent vote that
must be appeased in order TO keep
the state in line with republican
policies.
\ Judge on the bench is but a
human being possessed of favorite-
isms and preiudices that are hard
TO overcome and it takes but little
influence at times to swerve his
opirions in favor Of some pet policy
Of the party with which he is aflHat-
ell and which will inflict a punish
ment on these who refuse to bow the
knee in subserviance to its com
mands