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

Wrestling special luNOTs from the SNAle
BY HIRAM W. JOHNSON.
SACRAMENTO Cal, April Is
Had the new tranSCOntinental road
not reached out from commerce into
IOlitiCs no Californian would have de-
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 sufficient.
dn their rapacity for the increase OF
the fortunes which were beyond the
dreams of aVariCC. those representing
what in the old days was called the
Central Pacific Co., 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 illcgitimate
privileges the railroad company com
menced TO build in almost every COun-
~ OF the state a political machine.
Its ramifcations extended every.
NICI Z, IL Dul llb manu- UPON IOllllI"
tons by both parties, for petty and
for great Offices alike. II took posses
siOn practically OF the legislature and
II builded Us machine 50 skillfully
that every attack upon it failed OF sue
cess If one locality succeeded In an
isolated assault, other localities OF
greater population combined 70 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 commercial Sys-
tenn OF the Southern Pacific.
In any county Of the state, II
man wished a 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 az an Amer
lean citizen. Complete informa-
tion was kept, politically Of ~
cry mans affiliations, and no
man who had once offended
against the company was permit
ted, except in rare instances,
indicated. even to receive a nomi-
nation.
The First Revolt.
OF course. this system could not
continue without discomfort and re-
volt among the people. In 1879 final
ly. tn" people adopted what was term
cd the New Constitution. They
fondIy hoped then that in this con
stitution was the means by which the
political shuckIeS could be broken.
The constitution was not adopted
10y the state without a tremendous
fight and those who are old residents
OF California can we'll remember the
dOlOrOus predictions made by the Op-
poncnts 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. 1t should be
stated here that with the growth OF
the political power OF the company
and with It's absolute command OF the
government, there came as n natural
sequence, eXtOrttOnate charges for
freights and fares The freight
charges touched keenly the growing
industries OF the state and particular
ly the farming portions, and the dis
CriminatiOn and cXtOrtiOn became so
notorious that the patriotism OF the
state felt the necessity. at least, for
striving TO check the TapaCity Of the
railroad An interesting thing in re-
gard TO the railroad charges during
this period in our state. was in their
application TO merchants Any mer.
chant who showed a disposition to
CritiCisc 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 vas much rejoicing and the
railroad commission vas looked 10 for
the regeneration OF the state where
the countless wrongs to which We had
been subjected. would be redresscd
The Grip frightened.
1t was fondly imagined that the
most Dlcnary powers had been con
fcrrcd on this commission and that
with those powers thus conferred by
the people. it would stand as a bul.
wark OF the people against extOrtion
Of the people against eXtOrtiOn and
discrimination The railroad company.
however with its political machine, at
once transferred its attention to tho
railroad commission and although the
people Thought that the first COmmis-
sion represented them, no sooner had
IL assumed once than II was found
that its allegiance was wholly and
alone TO the railroad. That scheme
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