Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-02-08
EGISI TUJR'E|||: ).
OF 1911
There are only two elements in
by LYNN HAINES,

There are only two elements in
politics-property and patriotism.
The conflict between special privi-
lege on one hand and equality of
power and opportunity on the other.
is as eternal as the ages. 1t has
marked every period in the politics
of America. There is nothing else
to politics today. For proof one
need not look beyond the Legisla-
ture of 1911. -
In past political epochs this prop
erty power in politics manifested
itself and maintained it's advant-
age over the people through such
crude means as the colonization Of
voters. the bribery of election off,
Gals, the purchasing of law makers
and executives. In these later
years sentiment has become aroused
and uncompromising in its con-
domination Of such practices. Ac-
cordingly the corporations have
been compelled to change their
methods. The predatory interests
no longer depend solely upon boss
and boo0leism for the continuance
of their commercial supremacy.
Instead they 20 directly to the
people and through the subtle,
insidious instruction of public
opinion shape legislation as they
desire. 1t would be impossible to
find a better illustration of this
than in fight over the eastman dis
lance tariff bill. A decade ago the
railroads would probably have &C.
complished it's defeat directly by
bribery or blackmail, or both. To-
day the transportation trust is at
lacking the measure indirectly
through the agencies of publicity
which are controlled by selfish in
terests and obviously used by them
to misdirect the public mind and
dull the public conscience.
First. word about the bill.
Every informed person knows that
the railroads have corrupted poli-
tics; that through their control of
conventions and commissions and
legislatures and executives they have
compelled the public to pay divl-
dends on stock that is at least; half
water. But exhorbitant rates are
not so evil in their influence upon
individuals and industrialism as
discr iminative rates. Because they
have been permitted and do today
fix rates almost at will. discrimina-
ting as they choose, the railroads
are able to coldlv decree which com.
munities shall flourish and which
decay and die. The map of Amer.
lea has been made by the transpor.
tation trust. The ebb and flow OF
population has been determined not
by the character and industry OF
people. or by the natural advant.
ages of one section over another,
but by the desire of empire build
ers" to so manipulate the relative
growth of communities as to make
the maximum of business for the
railroads.
There are two TRANSFORMATION the
cries, which great railroad minds
understand to be fundamentally
different. One deals with the small
lest possible number of large CEN
tiers. This, in a word, means that
both the producer and consumer
have to nay the maximum of trans
portation taxes.
The other theory deals with the
greatest number of small manufact-
uring and distributing centers. each
serving its surrounding territory.
This would mean the minimum of
both freight and passenger business
for the railroads. and a correspond
ing saving for the people.
Through discriminative rates the
railroads have built up one great
center-St. Paul and Mioneapolis-
at the expense of every other Sec
tion of the state. They could not
keep Duluth from growth because
Of its lake port advantages. so that
enterprising city was given the
same rates as the Twin Cities.
But hundreds of country towns in
the state have not been permitted
to grow beyond the Importance OF
little retailing villages. AS a d.
rect result it can safely be said that
Minnesota has transportation trib.
ute. not only extraordinarily high,
but for an aggregate distance at
least twice as great, and conse.
quently twice as burdensome as il
would have been had not the rail.
roads arrogantly direct ed the pop.
ulation and industries of the state
into great centers.
#
The eastman distance tariff bill
is aimed at discriminative rates
Under its provisions a manufact.
urer or wholesaler in the smallest
town would pay the same freight