The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-05-26
MAY BE A BALM IN GILEAD.

According to news dispatches, the in
crease in intrastate freight rates gran
ted by the state corporation commits
sion, some month ago, TO correspond
with the increase in rates on interstate
freight shipments, as ordered by the
Interstate Commerce Commission, viii
expire June first, and the matter will
again come before the state body for
q determination as to whether or not
they shall remain unchanged.
1t is understood that the railway
companies are already busy impor-
tuning the state compission 10 con-
tinue the exorbitant hike in rates,
The present rate which has already
brought about shippers strike, which
IS as extensive as it can be made, in
view Of the fact that the consuming
public is powerless to place a complete
embargo on all freight shipments.
Inasmuch as the federal commission
recently ordered the state commission
of Texas. which had refused to increase
rates. 10 comply with former orders in
making intrastate charges correspond
with thoae charged on interstate hauls.
it Is possible that the Oklahoma cor
ruratlons commission VIII not get fur
ther than granting the consumer only
temporary relief through refusal TO
lct tho existing highway robbery sche'
dulles stand.
10 seems that the common carriers Of
the United States, the railways and the
express companies, acting through
their executive heads. are bent and de.
termined to create all possible public
sentiment against their own interests.
Why this should be the case we can
not understand, unless the owners, and
their high salaries satellites are deter
mined to stage another Version OF that
old story. that story entitled. THE Pub
!c be Damned"
Ai he proposed hearing before the
Oklahoma corporation commission. fig
urcs by the column and manipulated
facts by the rcam will be submitted.
each Set Of figures and each statement
OF manipulated fact calculated to show
that the high cost OF labor ncccssitatos
the railways holding up Mr.. Jones,
that good.naturcd fellow who pays the
freight. IN order that hc may boz shak.
n down to enable the gufrorlng car
urr operations 70 moot their labst
ihyol.
$40 a. not care 10 appear before ihe
public .ho light " "a calamity how'll
or. r...e do We wish io dlstort facts,
Qu un.. some change is made. un-
Ilss ONO iucuon n carrier rJ',s is
mnl. ..-. sure us the railways at
fpmrf o.. r.Irte their wage scales dis
proportion. ly. just that sure will this
coan'rr sca one of the greatest rail
strikes known to labor history
The thrca big brotherhoods are, as VIC
undcrs' and things. willing to accept a
reasonable reduction in wages for the
tranmen. the enginemen. the main
tenancc Of way men and others. but
they will accept nothing which will be
beyond the bounds OF reason. nothing
which will cut their oas,ing powers
down below the living cos,s--those
osts which extortiona,e freight rates
are helping to keep boosted into the
econd strata Of clouds.
Heretofore when trouble has arisen
between the railway operators and tho
employees. the railway owners have
had to a great extent, public opinion on
their side. They have had the moral
SUI port OF the public. because a tiedup
series of rail systems means a tie up
In the commercial life OF the country