The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-10-27
Do RAILROADS
ALWAYS GET
SQUARE DEAL?
RAILROAD BATTING IS THE POFU-
LAR PESTIHE OF A CERTAIN
CLASS OF ATTORNEYS WHO
PREY ON IGNORANT.

DO the railroads always get a
square deal?" That was 4 Question
propounded in the county court house
this morning by one Of the mos. emi-
nent lawyers in the state, a lawyer
who has never been connected in any
manner with railroad Interests wlen
the question OF the recent transfer
from the state courts 10 federal
courts Of several cases arising from
the great explosion that wrecked the
city in September, 1915. was under
discussion.
The manner in which the santa
Fe railroad company assumed respon.
sibiIity for this disaster, and the fair
ness they displayed in leaving all
settlements in the hsnis II local
business men headed - Ex-Governor
Cruce has rather complicated matters
for that class Of attorneys, and .A'd-
more has a few ot tina, Class, who
seek TO profit upon the credulity Of
those who are easily Influenced and
are willing TO submit iheir cases Up
on contingent fee.
An exchange covers the matter
very thoroughly in ne :Jl1wing az
ticle which Is copied II full:
Much TO The surprise ot those who
have followed the closing .1ap'e-s Of
the great gasoline explosion at Ard
more last year. thu press clrries ref
ereuces TO the transfer from the state
courts 10 federal cJl-.s Of several
cases against the S4.ta Re railroad,
growing out Of this DISASTER These
cases are exclusively personal iliu-
~ cases. and involve sums ranging
from small amounts 20 ,erv consider
able sums
Everyone who has Observed the
course Of Development OF tie public
attitude towards the relations be-
tween the railroads and those claim
ing from them on tn ground OF dam
age, hoped that the ArdTore sxpe-.-
ment in the method Jt citing claims
resulting from this explosion would
work out 10 complete satisfaction. i
will be remembered mat this road
instead Of taking the position. as was
expected. that it would pay only what
It was compelled 10 pay AMI that at
the end Of suit. tried the novel cX-
pertinent Of the selection Il a com
nittee composed O.. local citizens II
Ardmore TO whom all claims upon
which the road AMI claimant cluid
not Immediately agree were referred.
The awards OF this committee with
out a single exception we're promptly
paid and the road paid out al-0seth-
er 10 those damaged in person or
property approximately 5000. 90. 70
the satisfaction OF the entire commu-
nifty at Ardmore. But that ,Aere
should be, after he operation Il
such a plan, any claimant Who would
be willing to 90 into he courts 10 At
tempt to force the clilrcal company
to pay out additional funds is cor
yincing evidence that there is il al
societies a certain irreduciuis 1esi.
dunn Of individuals Sno cannot te
satisfied BY the fairest and mnst lea.
sonable action possible on the part Of
the roads.
For many years in claims against
the railroad companies, Gympatny has
been with the claimant md against
the railroad, which IS construct 20 he
a soulless corporation, interested on
" in holding as fast as possible TO
its money. But such a conclusion TO
such procedure as that At Ardu re
goes as far as anything which has eT-
or occurred TO convince reasonable
people that much Of the damage lit.
igation against roads is the 1u'growth
OF unreasonableuess and 'elfishl'ss.
and not based in any real iesire Cor
mere justice"