The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-02-02
As Others See 1t
JUST EQUAL CHANCES
Isaac Van Horn in His Florida b


Who has any right to criticise any American
citizen or group of citizens for asking from any
governmental tribunal just equal chance?
Is there any reason why fundamentally under
the terms of a democratic government any living
citizen has a right to enjoy superior advantages
to battle the problems OF life over any other
citizen?
No one can truthfuly say that any man or COM
munity has a right under free government to
enjoy any such privilege.
Every community in the United States has
right to enjoy the full benefits of its location de-
velopment and development of its tributary ter
ritory without paying tribute to any competitor
in business life, in other words with equal oppor-
tunities, each community should stand on its own
basis, without governmental handicap.
No fair minded man who is unsehsh and looks
at his country whole would ask for more than
this or refuse to fight If given less.
The very vitals of the communities of this coun
try that are suffering because of discriminating
transportation rates are attacked. Every seed
put in the ground and every effort for develop
ment pays unholy and unjust tribute to every
competing community thus favored and it be-
comes a discouraging element in the initiatory
ambitions of to develop; and progress is
checked and animosties between communities
engendered all because of the application Of an
unjust principle. No living man Of red blood
should have anything but admiration for the man
or men who simply demand an equal chance and
no man Of red blood and any manhood should be
deferred from entering any contest for his right,
promised under the constitution because Of op-
position from sources which are selfish, for any
who refuse their fellow man an
equal chance in life have an unselfsh motive.
A few weeks ago there was formed in this state
the Florida Traffic Equalization League by citi-
zens of interior Florida. 1t is not an attack on
the railroads; not an attack on Jacksonville, Tam
pa. Miami or any other point enjoying preferen
tial rates; it is a manly, frank, open appeal based
on facts, simply for exact justice, a simple de-
mand from a government OF the people. for an
equal chance to do business Just that and moth
ing more.
The editor of this paper is a member of the
executive committee of this organization and
notice that he cannot be used in any attack
on the railroads; on any city in Florida or else
where or on any people or communities, in an eff
.ort to secure or request but one thing-equal op-
porlunity for the interior points of the states to
10 business and live in without paying a penalty
because of such location. Not for rates that are
destructive but rates that mean the payment of
an honest return on capital; reasonable and just
pay to railroad employees; rates that will make it
possible to produce either products of the ground
or factories and put them in the markets of the
world basis of satisfactory profit to the pro-
ucer rates that will stimulate production and
equalized honestly and justly, that every citi-
zen and every community will have an equal
chance-just that and nothing more. Right is
right-and if in order to bring about more even
distribution and productions those enjoying
special privileges have to turn about face and
stand equality with their fellows or the
railroads have to adjust their operation on basis
Of equal traffic opportunities at much trouble and
annoyance until adjusted and running smoothly
is there any unselfsh reason why it should not be
accepted gracefully and all work together on the
same level with confidence in one another and
willing to stand squaFely on a basis of equal
opportunity" to all men and communities. Will
it not be a good thing for the country generally
in the end to stimulate by equal opportunity the
growth of the interior points and the greater de-
velopment of the rural districts with close trad
ing centers?
By what authority has this right to violate the
terms of the constitution been legalized?
Who but the people by constitutional amend
nent have right to change the rights granted
under the constitution? What has made it legal
all these years to violate the equal opportunities
promised all citizens by the granting of preferen-
tal transportation rates?
The great body of American people discrimin-
ated against have open mind and simply ask
why? They desire to know. Why are they
considered wrong by any one in asking for the
adoption of the long and short haul principle
without prejudice as to the rate. That's all.