Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-11-02

Facts aud Opinions about Politics Of Concern to
Audubon County Voters

While the Journal is not politi-
tions and does not hesitate to pass
them on for what they are worth.
They are born of what it most
sincerely believes to be it's read
ers' own best interests; yet its
readers are of course at liberty to
accept or reject them according to
their own good pleasure.
| In~national affairs, this paper
holds frankly that the interests of
the people of Audubon County are
against continuing the present ad-
ministration another four years.
The indictment against it is so
strong on at least three or four
counts that voters can hardly af-
ford to overlook them.
AN OsfINOUS ISSUE.
The overshadowing issue of the
campaign is the Great Hold-Up,
otherwise known as the eight-hour
law, of which the farmers of the
country are to be the particular vic
TINS. They are by far the nations
heaviest shippers; and it follows
that if there is rise in rates as
a result of the edght-hour law,
they are the ones who will be hit
hardest.
There will be such a rise.
This is due to the fact that a
considerable number of railroads
of the United States are barely
able to make expenses in normal
times, and are absolutely unable
to. take on the additional expense OF
increased wages for their train
men. This may seem incredible,
but it is the precise truth. Several
Iowa roads, for example, especially
the north and south lines cross
ing the state, are among the num-
Der. Since laws may not be con-
fiscatory, an increase in rates is
inevitable when normal times re-
turn not only for these weaker
roads but for the stronger ones
as we'll, for all must be treated "a
like.
President Wilson recognizes the
above fact fully. He pledged his
word las gentleman" to the as
sembled railroad presidents that no
"obstacle of law will be put in
| their way when an increase in
rates becomes necessary.
He also understood that the bur-
den of the wages increase would
fall ultimately rot upon the rail
roads but upon the public. He has
stated specifically that "the chief
party to the transaction was left
out of the reckoning"
Likewise, the presidents of the
traipmen's unions understood per-
| fectly that the burden was to be
passed on to the public. One OF
them said before the congressional
committee: "The public is the car
cass, and we all are perhaps the
vultures.
LET us remember that when it
comes to paying transportation
charges, farmers constitute by far
the most important part of the
| public" referred to above.
IAlready the first step has been
| taken. Within the last two weeks,
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, by sweeping decision, has
reopened practically all the long
and short haul rate cases that
| it has considered during the past
| ten years or more. In most of
these cases, the shippers have
been victorious; but now by one
far-reaching decision, they are all
reopened And even since the above
decision was rendered, another one
has been handed down allowing an
increase in lumber rates in the
Southwest.
These are merely the curtain
raisers" but the Journal invites
it's readers to note most carefully
what they stand for. The public is
going to pay---and the farmers are
going to pay FAR MORE than any
one else; and the White House
forced this program through with
out allowing even time for. investi-
cation.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE.
In recent issue, the Journal
made note Of the fact that under