The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-06
A Wicked Conspiracy.

Editorial in the New York Times:
On Washington's birthday, when no
senator could tell a lie, Senator Cham-
berlain exposed the terrible plot Of the
railways and England about the Pan
anna canal. EngIand's fell design is to
induce or compel the United States to
execute, according to it's plain mean
ing and intent, the contract which 1t
signed. Having seduced the United
States into this false position, England
will proceed to demonstrate that, in
connection with the Panama canal, the
United States has nc right whatso-
ever" except to spend money. The des-
peradoes in this plot are ready to
plunge the country into a bloody
war" This is shocking, but not so
bad as the senator's own position. AS
he expresses himself: IF we have to
fight to maintain our rights, we might
as we'll do it now" There can hardly
be a doubt that the first step has al
ready been taken. What other signifi-
canoe can be attached to the mobiliza-
ton of the militia yesterday in plain
sight of everybody in Times square,
and all along the route OF the hike"
to Brooklyn?
The plot Of the railways is eve
palmer. They want to earn dividends
by doing business across the continent,
and therefore in competition with car
|riers across the isthmus. The impulse
which does credit to all who hate the
railways is to impede commerce by
making it difficult for the railways to
compete on an equal or economic basis.
The way to make the competition I'M
fair to the railways is to relieve the
traffic through the canal of all the
burden Of the capital expended in pro-
viding the route. The railways had to
provide their roadbed, and have to
maintain it. If the cost Of the canal
can be diverted entirely to the tax
payers the canal route will have an
.|undoubted economy over the railway
route. That makes it plain why he
railroads are plotting to compel traffic
through the canal to pay tolls. 1t
would equalize conditions Of competi-
ton, whereas the case calls for a law
compelling all traffic to abandon the
railways. In that case the coastwise
monopoly would be able to charge
what it liked, and to add to its divi-
.dends the costs which it would have
succeeded in diverting to the taxpay-
'ers.
The procedure to foil these plots is
clearer than the plots themselves.
England should be told once for all
and too plainly to admit Of misun-
d~erstanding, that the United States
always signs contracts with a mental
reservation, n with a. clear purpose
to break any contract disliked after
reconsideration. If that means profit
at the price of shame. why England
can make the worst of it. The steps
to foil the railways fortunately al
ready have been taken. They are not
to be allowed to reduce rates in order
to compete with the canal, n they
have been ordered not to establish
steamship routes in extension OF their
land lines, without special permission.
The idea that the railways should be
allowed to invade the coastwise mo-
.nopoly, whose rates are fixed by it's
sweet will, is too .loathsome for
acceptance by any patriot in favor Of
a subsidy to a monopoly. Better a
thousand times that the railways
should be starved. Surely anybody
able to detect the plot of the railways
and the naughty Briton must be able
to perceive also the pure and disinter-
ested motives of those who r X
posing the villains. Enlistments for
the war which Senator Chamberlain
sees impending should be forwarded
to him. MN .f .%I,