Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-14

the TnIIfOuu COiuuilSeioH VI hthtuthJ
should be empowered to confer upon
shippers within the state all the rights
and privileges which the interstate
commission has conferred upon ship
pers having business extending be-
yond the state. The McChord bill gave
the commission no control over the ex-
press companies and other public utili- I
ties. VIII Mr.. Beckham tellSthe peo-
pie Of Kentucky that the railroad COMFY
mission should have no such author
ity? All the railroad is compelled to
do in Kentucky at this hour is to alb
stain from taking up its rails and de-
molishlng its right of way. II can fur
nish cars or refuse to furnish them,
just as 1t suits its sweet WILL
A few months ago 5000 miners faced
starvation down here in Ohio and Muh-
lenberg counties, Notwithstanding the
fact that the companies had outstand-
ing contracts for coal and the miners
were there ready to dig t out. but pdAA
cars were at hand. and none could w
procured | demanded an investiga-
ton of these conditions, and the rail-
road company came before the COM
mission and admitted that the reason
cars could not be procured was be-
cause other progressive states which
adjoined us compelled them TO furnish
adequate facilities for moving freight
and that the commission OF Kentucky
had no such authority.
The McChord bill imposes no such
Il. l. Il nd
yet Mr.. Beckham sternly admonishes a
Kentucky legislature that the law pass
ed by the general assembly in 1900
gives "our board of railroad commits
sioners ample power. so far as intra-
state commerce is concerned. to rene
dy any wrongs that may exist"
Measures Happiness of the People by
the Prosperity Of the Railroads.
Why, he actually measures the hap
piness of the people by the success Of
these dear railroads. He turned his
back upon hundred thousand tobacco
planters facing penury and priyation,
for you will remember that the Burley
Tobacco society and the Stemming Dis
trict association and dozens of other
tobacco associations were formed at
the very time he delivered this mes
sage, that the price of their product
had fallen below the cost of produc-
ton and that for that reason men by
the thousands were banding together
In an earnest effort to protect their
product and sustain their suffering
families. He could not hear the wall
of distress that went up from the ten
ants in the fields. He had only an ear
for the shrek of locomotives and the
rumble of cars. He could not see the
woman in rags torn from the Preside
and made beast of burden in the
field because his gaze was fixed upon
the golden returns of corporations op-
Grated by Belmont and Morgan. So he
blandly mocks their misery during that
terrible hour with the assurance I'VE
| are pleased to observe that the coun-
| try Is all right, since there has been
an increase of mileage In the value of
railroad property and in their earn
ings." This, according to his own con-
fession. is his prime and apparently
his sole criterion by which to measure
the prosperity OF people.
He charges that / have been guilty
of the most willful Misrepresentation
and of employing all the arts of a dis
honest demagogue because | called at
tention to the fact that the blood be-
dappled mantle of William Goebel had
hardly fallen from his recalcitrant
shoulders before he became the sole
attorney for the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad company in the capital
of the state. the Misrepresentation
consisting, however, in my asserting
that he was paid large salary when
he was not paid any salary at all
What does it matter whether he was
employed on a salary or paid a series
OF fees or hired by the month"; The
thing l charged was that he has de-
voted his time and talents to those
corporations refusing to take any en-
ployment from anybody having con-
fiicting interests, and that statement
he does not and he dares not deny.
never said what his salary was.
never knew, and | never cared. That
is immaterial l accept his statement
as absolutely true that two railroads
paid him the sum of $S00-$400 piece
perhaps-and for that measly sum he
agreed never to represent the people In
any case affecting these roads without
their kind consent.
Goebel and Beokhan.
Who does not recall that touching 4
incident in the life of his great prede- |
cessor when he turned his back upon
kings ransom. when he refused to
accept any retainer that he himself
might name, for the performance OF
similar service and, gazing down upon
the ragged urchins In the street below
turned to his tempter with the state
ment that will endear him to his kind
| e.. III Airnn Tint thnv-fhn lOWlY and L