The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-05-17

creased desire on the part Of investonw
to put their money into railroad uru
critics. They have been given to IN
derstand that probably their borruus-
ing capacity Is to be limited vsthin
narrow lines by the Government. -
that even If they we're willing to make
these expenditures. it would be dfH-
cult for them to obtain the necesxsxy
financing
In fact, looking at 1t from any pefu1-
the owners of railroad property hayp
nothing to see that would encourages
them in spending any money xntd
they have more definite idea az to,
what extent they are going to be con-
trolled and directed by the National
Government, and under such ctrcum--
stances, all of the vast industrial en-
terprises that are depending upon the
railroads, viii ind that at the time
that their present orders upon which
they are working, issued some sfx
months ago when it was not dreamed:
OF that the present adverse conditions
could possibly arise, win have been
completed, that we will again be IN.
practically the same position that We
were in during the early part of 1893
In my judgment unless Congress re-
strains its interference with the earn
ing capacities OF the railroads, there
will be a permanent setback in the-
general business of the country, that Il
may take years to overcome
Some Congressman think that tha
railroad interests are the real forca
that is behind the rapidly growing I'M
rest OF the business men regarding
legislation This is absurd: we need
no spur to wake us up to our unfor-
tunate situation, which is BY no means
confined to railroad supply Institutions
There are 10000 railroad en-
ployees. 1t takes 1,5o0. 600 men to sup
ply what the railroads need, and y
vast number Of men are employed In
supplying the personal needs Of the
above 3.000,00 men. Every kind Of
business is dependent in some meas
ure on railroad prosperity
The producers of wool, cotton, to
bacco, sugar and many other special
articles in this country, have go IN
terested themselves in their business
that they have forced the General
Government to put special krotec
i've tax on the things they produce.
which we and our employees, who do
not produce them, have to pay for.
and to many of which We do not OBJ
ject-
On the same principle, and for the-
same reasons, when business men be-
come as active in looking after their
interests, and with the same rights.
we can induce the General Govern
ment to give us equal protection by
allowing the railroad companies, Who
are the producers of our revenue, to
make sufficient profit to enable them
to buy full plenty Of the goods they
need which we manufacture. This VII
involve no special tax, Will mean bet
ter railroad service, and more bush
ness for everyone. particularly ths
working man; and when it is conxfd-
cred that in reality 900 of all shA
morey received by the railroads xA&
ourselves goes directly to the working
people, We should have the solid En-
dorsement and individual support q
every working man in the country
Cause.-The trouble with the whole
situation is that many Of the men who
make the laws are not familiar with
the true inwardness of the relate nE
and dependence which the manufac-
turing and business interests have
upon the general railroad situation.
nor do they realize that in administer
ing their so-called discipline to tn
railroad companies that we are the -uL
innate consumers" of that discipline
Remedy:@t is of the greatest i'm
portance that some decided action be-
taken by the Government at as early =
date as possible. az there will be NO i'm
provement until this uncertainty han
been overcome
January %, 1910
T. A. GRIFFIN