The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-04-29
By HIRAM w. JOHNSON
IA.
THE sTRANGIING OF A sTATE-THE REVOLT

have been preferred.
This, however, was not suffi-
cient. In their rapacity for the
increase of the fortunes which
were beyond the dreams of ava
rice, those representing what in
the old days was called the
Central Pacific company, and is
now the Southern Pacific, sought
privileges and grants to 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 illegiti-
mate privileges the railroad COM
pany commenced to build in al
most every county of the state a
political machine. Its ramifica-
tions extended everywhere. 1t
put its hand upon nominations by
both parties, for petty and for
great offices alike. 1t took pos
session practically of the legisla-
ture and it builded its machine
so skillfully that every attack up
on it failed of success. If one To-
cality succeeded in an isolated as
sault, other localities of greater
population combined to render the
successful attack nugatory, and in
this fashion the state conventions
| of both parties were controlled,
and the government became an
appendage and dependency of
the Southern Pacific.
In any county of the state, If a
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 every
mans Affections, and no man who
had once offended against the
company was permitted, except i'm
rare instances, indicated, even to
receive nomination.
THE FIRST REVOLT
OF course, this system could not
continue without discomfort and
revolt among the people. In 1879
finally. the people adopted what
was termed the New Constitu-
tion." They fondly hoped then
that in this constitution was the
means by which the political
shackles could be broken.
The constitution was not adopt
ed by the state without tremend-
GUS fight, and those who are old
residents of California can we'll re-
member the dolorous predictions
made by the opponents of the
New Constitution; of the in
jury to the state, to its business,
its prospects, its growth and the
like.
That constitution provided for a
railroad commission, which should
have jurisdiction and power over
the transportation companies. 1t
should be stated here that with
the growth of the political power
of the company, and with its abso-
lutte command of the governme nt,
there came as a natural sequence,
extortionate charges for freights
and fares. The freight charges
touched keenly the growing indus
tries of the state, and particularly
the farming portions, and the dis
elimination and extortion became
so notorious that the patriotism OF
the state felt the necessity, al
least, for striving to check the
rapacity of the railroad. An In
teresting thing in regard to the
railroad charges, during this
period in our state, was In theiI
application to merchants. Any
merchant who showed a DISPOSE.
ton to eriticise or to fight was
Immediately threatened with ruin
and threatened openly, and
where merchant was not wholly
subservient, he found himself fac
ing commercial disaster. After
the adoption of the new constitu-
ton there was much rejoicing and