The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-18
WHAT l SAW IN THE. MIDDI F WEST "
CT A R EN- CE POE.

sometimes we have let the railroads impose upon
the people outrageously; sometimes we have risen
up in anger, striking in blind fury with more or
less OF help and hurt, but the people have seldom
hao sun1cient information to act with wisdom
ana our public men have been too often either
hlreilngs OF the railroads or demagogues more
anxious to strike than to strike wisely For orr
faliroad commissions men have been chosen with
htue regard TO their particular itness-seldOm
men who have made and deep any profound study
or the vital subject with which it is their high
duty to grappe.
Just here Wisconsin has set a most worthy ex-
ample for other States not only in the South but
all over the United States For wears and wears
Wisconsin had the usual struggle between the
railroads and the people-the railroads exercising
most baneful influence politics. the Republi-
can machine in the State being in their control
until La Toilette led his successful nsurrection
some seven or eight years ago. Then followed
some more or less laundering attempts to make
the railroads give the people square deal and
pay their share of the taxes but so long as the
settlement was left merely to politicians the re-
suits were never satisfactory.
Then Wisconsin did unheard-of thing In
the University of Wisconsin was a professor of
economics, big, square, honest man of scientific
training who had the confidence of the people as
a Just man-and whom the railroads were also
willing by that time to accept knowing that
he could be depended upon to deal with them in
telligently and fairly. which more than they
could expect of the politicians.
Accordingly this trained student who had taken
no conspicuous part in politics, was put on the
railroad Commission and has become its leading
spirit He has made the railroads do right by
the people, but he has not bounded them through
prejudice nor Infatuated them by actions based
on ignorance The people trust him and the
railroads thcre ic hotto
between people and railroad leaders than ever be-
fore.
The whole problem of transportation is now
one OF the most intricate and difficult with which
the American people have to deal, and every State
needs men like this Wisconsin Railroad Commits
sioner-trained students Of economics who have
mastered the subject of transportation and will
not 20 to their Offices merely blind leaders of
the blind. Besides this scholar in politics. on
the Railroad Commission, there is a lawyer of
marked ability. while the third member is a
statistician OF note. Think how much better it is
for all the interests of the State that the Commits
sion be composed of three such men-an expert
student OF the subject of transportation a lawyer
capable OF interpreting all laws in the proper way
and statstician-instead Of having Commits
sion composed Of three politicians put in because
OF services to the party" and geographical loca-
ton!
This Wisconsin Commission deals not only with
railroads. but gas water. and electric railway COM
panies. My understanding is that the State is
getting more taxes from all these corporations
than ever before. but because it is levied by train
ed men and not in any wild, unscientific fashion
the railroads themselves have become convinced
of the wisdom OF the new policy.
There are many sections in the South which
with the life-giving touch of rairoad-com-
munication with the great outside world-would
blossom into beauty and activity as did the Sleep
ing palace in Tennysons DAY Dream" at the
kiss of the fairy prince. These railroads will