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GEORGE W. BERGE, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Volume 18
Lincoln, Nebraska, November 9, 1905
Number 25
R
i1n?ays Seek
For
In Columbus, O., they have settled the entire railway, question
without recourse to government intervention. Everything is now
satisfactory to all concerned and those who have been wasting long
and weary hours trying to solve the railway problem can return to
more useful occupations serenely confident that all is well.
The railways and shippers have agreed to settle their differences
in a friendly spirit. Details of their plan have not yet been worked
out, but the main idea has been approved. All disputes will be
referred to a joint committee representing railways and shippers,
instead of being taken up directly between railway officials and
shippers. Even the dullest of anarchists and agitators can see that
the, plan will solve every evil in the domain of railway transportation.
Bebates, extortionate charges, discriminations in service, private car
abuses and all other abuses must vanish before the magic of this
plan. At all events, that, is the opinion of those who have approved
the plan.
But there are doubters who will see great obstacles in the way.
In the first place the shippers who have entered into the agreement
are the big shippers. They are members of commercial clubs. They
are such men as were taken from Nebraska to Washinngton on free
transportation to testify before the committee on interstate commerce
that there was no "deep-seated demand in Nebraska for lower rates."
They are such men as went from Nebraska a few days ago to pack a
convention called for the purpose of ratifying President Roosevelt's
railway policy. On that occasion their plot proved a dismal failure.
So apparent was their design that they were not allowed to sit in
the regular convention and were forced to hold a convention of their
own, at which they indorsed the railway substitute for the president's
plan.
Why is it, the uninitiated will ask, that the big shippers do not
care whether rates are high or low? The big shippers are the men
who have benefited by rebates. That is -why they are big shippers.
If they had received the rates granted to ordinary shippers they
would not be big shippers. Their business would not have thrived
and they would now be loud in their complaints against rebates and
extortionate charges. Having received preferential rates and treat
ment for many years they are now "captains of industry," and can
advertise to the world that their success has been due to uncompro
mising honesty and to superior brains, industry and thrift. In
secret, however, they are cowardly serfs who must dance whenever
their railway masters say the word. If they refuse to work and talk
Substitutes
EffectWe Lemslat
ton
for the railways, in any crisis they need expect no further favors
1 1 r j 1 x j.1 i il t '
ness will be ruined. Consequently they are in for any dirty -work the
railways may require them to d. Every move that they make there
fore must be regarded with suspicion by those who honestly desire
a settlement of the railway question.
The Columbus plan would cervc simply to conceal the real facts
in any dispute. If the little shipper were so foolish as to refer some
complaint to the arbitration board he would find the jury packed
against him. The board would not dare to give him justice, for the
members of the board being railway employes and such shippers
as have for years flourished by means of discrimination would strive
to satisfy the railways in every case.
The public will not be misled by railway substitutes for effec
tive legislation. Any legislation that does not provide for the rem
edies approved by President Roosevelt will.be condemned by public
opinion. All who have studied the railway question must realize
how-difficult it is to deal adequately with the rebate evil and will
endorse the president's suggestion that the government be given full
power to examine the books of the railway companies. Even this
power will prove an insufficient remedy if criminal penalties for the.
violation of law are not enforced. The Independent has freauentiv
pointed out the necessity of treating as felons those who breakdaws
designed for the protection of the general public.
President Stickncy of the Great Western said not long ago that
the latest method of granting rebates was of such a character as to
defy any, law against rebates. Months after rebates have been granted
an agent leaves New York, calls on the favored shippers, leaves pack
ages of money and departs without explanation on his part or on the
part of the shippers. Records of such transactions, of course, must
be kept, but such records would be like the "non-ledger accounts"
of the insurance companies. They would not appear on the regular
books and could be destroyed at convenient times. It is always pos
sible to break a law and to escape punishment, but that docs not
make the profession of burglary profitable for any considerable
length of time. Exposures are bound to be made. The thieves can
not always agree and when thieves fall out just men receive their
dues. If stringent laws are passed against the giving and receiving of
rebates much good may be accomplished. In the long run, however,
the people will decide that the many and varied abuses in transport
ation must be corrected by government ownership of the railway
monopoly. .
Significance of the Elections
Eriends of reform cannot but feel encouraged and inspired by
ti e election results. The wave o" reform, which legnn in the wrst
more than a decade ago, and which has momentarily subsided at its
point, of origin, is now sweeping through the east.
The most pronounced triumph of the independent reform forces
against the forces of boss ism and corruption was won in Philadelphia,
whore the republican machine was smashed by an alliance of repub- '
lieans ami democrats ami voter owning allegiance neither to the
democratic nor the republican party.
In New York the wonderful vote east for Hearst and the power
displayed by Jerome in spite of disheartening handicaps, fdiow that
the revolt against narrow partisanship has fpread to the metropolis.
Ih. Hearst UMly defied the lsi,,, f Tammany and took a
pronounced stand against corporation tyranny. Mr. Jerome's candi
dacy was an avowed protest against 1h)ss rule.
In Ohio the bossism of Cox was stingingly rebuked. The issues
in Ohio were largely of a local nature, but were directly or indirectly
involved in the evil of boss domination,
In all these contests national issues were in abeyance
but there was a strong undercurrent of hostility to corporation ride
and therefore to that power which opposes President Koosovelt in his
demand for a square deal. This is really the great national issue
at the present time. The demand for regulation of railways and
trusts is only a phae of the main issue.
The result in Nebraska was expected. While the majority for
Judge jetton was not tip to republican aute-eleetiou hopes, his clee-