The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-28
BY HIRAM w. JOHNSON.


MED II any necessary privilege and
every locality In the state and the
state itself. would gladly have granted
every legitimate request that might
have been preferred.
This, however, was not suf1cient
In their rapacity for the increase OF
the fortunes which were beyond the
dreams OF avarice, those representing
what in the old days was called the
Central Pacific Co., and is now the
Southern Pacific, sought privileges
and grants 10 which they were not, OF
right, entitled and with the strong
arm OF their wealth and their power
compelled and obtained them.
The S. p. Machine.
In order TO obtain these illegitimate
privileges the railroad company com
menced 10 build in almost every coun'
~ OF the state political machine.
Its ramifcations extended every
where Ii put It's hand upon nomina'
tons by both parties, for petty and
for great Offices alike. II took posses
sion practically of the legislature and
II builded It's machine SO skillfully
that every attack upon II failed OF sue
cess. III one locality succeeded In an
isolated assault other localities OF
greater population combined TO render
the successful attack nugatory and In
this fashion the state conventions oil
both parties were controlled, and the
government became an appendage and
dependency OF the commercial sys-
tenn OF the Southern Pacific.
In any county Of the state, II
man wished nomination, he was
compelled TO journey to San Fran
cisco TO the railroad office and
there beg OF the political bureau
the right that was his as an Amer
lean citizen. Complete informa-
ton was kept, politically, Of ev-
cry mans affiliations, and no
man who had once offended
against the company was permit
ted, except In rare instances,
Indicated, even to receive norl-
nation.
The First Revolt.
or course, this system could not
continue without discomfort and re-
volt among the people. In 1879 final
ly, the people adopted what was term
ed the New Constitution" They
fondly hoped then that In this con-
stitution was the means7by which the
political shackles could be broken
The constitution was not adopted
by the state without tremendous
fight. and those who are old residents
of California can well remember the
dolorous predictions made by the OPP
ponents OF the New Constitution; +"
of the injury to the state, to its bust
. ness, its prospects, its growth and
the like.
That constitution provided for a rail-
road commission, which should have
jurisdiction and power over the trans
portation companies. II should be
stated here that with the growth of
the political power OF the company.
and with its absolute command OF the
Z. government, there came as a natural
sequence, extortionate charges for
freights and fares. The freight
charges touched keenly the growing
industries of the state and particular
" the farming portions, and the dis
elimination and extortion became so
notorious that the patriotism OF the
state felt the necessity, at least, for
striving to check the rapacity of the
railroad An interesting thing in re-
gard TO the railroad charges, during
this period in our state, was In their
chant who showed a disposition to
criticise or 10 fight was Immediately
threatened with ruin, and threatened
openly, and where a merchant was
not wholly subservient, be found him
self facing commercial disaster After
the adoption OF the new constitution
there was much rejoicing and the
railroad commission was looked to for
~ no tafn NH n
the countless wrongs to which we had
been subjected. would be redressed.
The Grip frightened.
II was fondly imagined that the
most plenary powers had been con-
ferred on this commission and that
with those powers thus conferred by
the people. II would stand as bull.
wark OF the people against extortion
OF the people against extortion and
discrimination. The railroad company.
however, with It's political machine, at
once transferred its attention to the
railroad commission, and although the
people thought that the first commits
sion represented them, no sooner had
Il assumed office than Ii was found
that its allegiance was wholly and
alone to the railroad. That scheme
which had cost so much labor and OF
which 80 much was hoped, in the
adoption OF the New Constitution, -
simply riveted tighter the bonds OF
the people and made more secure the
domination OF the Southern Pacific
Co., and from the time OF the election
OF the railroad commission In 1880
until the commencement of the pres
ent year there has never been a rail-
road commission that was not the
mere representative OF the railroad
company.
In this I do not mean that there
we're not occasionally individuals
chosen for the commissioner was
elected by the people every four years
who strove TO do their duty. AL.
ways a majority was controlled by
the company. In the few instances
where the railroad commission at
|. tempted 20 remedy existing wrongs.
the courts interposed to curb their
power. and there was set purpose
by the company even though they con
trolled the commission, always TO
restrict within the narrowest limits
the powers Of the commission. With