The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-13

arbitrary discretion, without consider
alton of their reasonableness;
If any other methods of regulating
you occurs to the State hereafter, they
will be adopted;
You will accept without objection
all regulations now or hereafter I'M
posed by the state, and if you appeal
for the protection of the federal con-
| stitution, to the federal courts, the
| state will revoke your charter.
All this and more the states have
said to the railroads in recent or In
| threatened legislation. Had the states
been as frank and specific when bar
gaining with the corporations that were
planning to build these public high
| ways, there would have been presented
| a beautiful exemplihcatiOn of the prin-
| ciples of the square deal, but it is
doubtful if the railroads would have
| been built.
Reduce the Cost of Living.
| Then, does it not appeal to every
citizen that the legislative powers
should refrain from further tampering
with reduced rates. If not, then let our
| Legislators devise ways to reduce the
cost of living. This. I know strikes the
/ manufacturer. farmer, wholesale and
| retail merchant
! 1t is true, and matter of history,
| that so long as the railways and the
commercial world are fairly prosperous,
the tiller of the soil receiving a fair
profit on the product of his farm, the
merchant fair sale and profit on his
merchandise, it is infinitely more sen
sible to let well enough alone. But, If
the present crusade continues, we can
not foratell the end. The maeIstrom of
financial disturbance that is sure to
follow, viii bring on industrial unrest
that will shake this continent from one
! end to the other, the like of which has
| never before been witnessed
In the United States we are called
| upon to have large railways, operated
! and governed under laws enacted by
men Of a political turn of mind, who
nave had no experience in handling
business enterprises Of this character.
| What are the law-making authori-
Ties doing in the United States to in
| 1luence the people. We find them de-
mandlng Of the railroads lower rates,
more expensive service, costly require
ments OF operation, employers liability
| laws-litigants trying to secure from
| judges and juries unreasonable pay
| Tor loss and damage workmen' S
compensation acts, taxing powers levy
| ing unreasonable taxes demagogues
! trying to get office by railway agita-
| tlon, causing among many hurtful
things, higher cost for money-the
| elevation of tracks, the abolition of
grade crossings, ablishment of
! larger depots, the running of freight
trains on passenger time, the demand
Tor fast passenger trains instead of
slow, side tracks, stock yards, eleva-
tors, and elaborate improvements gem
orally, regardless of whether or not
. these improveme nts increase the earn
ings. If the railways fail in so com
plying with any of these requests the
different boards of railroad commits
sionerS of the state insist that it be
done, and under the law such require
ments must be complied with.
Railroads Are Political Meat.
The ordinary citizen would not
stand for such a burden for moment,
| II 1t could be imposed upon him. But,
railways are the subject of politi-
cal agitatfon-of not one political par
ty, but of all, until it has become the
meat upon which many of the politi-
clans feed 1t is the germ of prejlI-
dice which they are planting in the
mind of the citizen in order that they
may hoId the office and thereby fill
their Golfers with ilI-gotten gains,
through the electorate of the state or
government which they represent.
/ believe that the safety Of our gov
eminent lies in the intelligence of its
people The preservation of its prop
erty must come through, not faYorit-
ism for one, and destruction to the
other, but that equality, and that jus
tice in which no distinction is made,
that all citizens, whether corporate or
otherwise, be placed on the same level,
and treated with the same law apple
able to one as well as the other
Let us not tear down, but build up.
The grandeur, the glory, magnificence
and the influence of the government
of the United States, among the ma
lions of the earth, has been accom-
plished by the power of its civilization,
in amassing capital in the hands of
geniuses, who have controlled and
builded up the vastness of our repub
lie. They have stretched these iron
bands into territories that at the time
were waste deserts. or mountainous
districts in which there was not any
imm ediate return on the money in
vested; they have penetrated the earth
and have caused It to yield up its
treasure, which has been handed over
by the Maker for our practical utility
and enjoyment.
L. S. Lines Greatest in World.
Our railroads are surpassed by none
in the world, and are the greatest fac
tor in the development of our re-
sources, and the enlargement of our
commerce, which has been Loyalty ex-
emplified and displayed by them in
times of peace as well as in war. They
came to the relief of our government
during the war for the preservation of
the Union, in the carriage of troops to
the scene of conflict. They have been
an indispensable arm of the govern |
ment, to it's commerce, happiness and
comfort of its people. 1t took men of
courage to build and maintain these
iron bands of industry. progression
and civilization. The railroads have
kept abreast of invention and improve
ments compiled with the law as to |
safety appliances. etc, until today
believe we have the best managed rail- |
way systems in the world. 1t Will al |
ways be recognized as an agency for
the development of the country,
granting employment to nearly two
million 1aborers who must earn their
daily bread by the sweat of their brow. !
and yielding an honest return for the
money invested, and as creatures of
the state, railways are subservient to
the laws, and the authority granted |
should be in no wise abused. We all
a. that all laws for the 6I1t
of the people and it's property should |
be just. equitable and fair, and ap-