Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1905 — RAILROADS IN POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

RAILROADS IN POLITICS.

Power of Their Lobby In National and State Legislation. There is probably no state in the Union that is not plagued wlthjthe railroads mixing in politics for selfish ends. No legislature meets but a railroad lobby is on hand to further railroad interests and defeat the will of the people. Railroad lobbyists swarm at the national capital, and the legislation passed or defeated by congress shows the tremendous power of the railroad lobby. More evidence of the political corruption caused by the railroads has been exposed during the past year or two than ever before. Governor La Follette, the honest and able servant of the people of Wisconsin, has fully exposed the railroad monopolists in his state and has been Instrumental in clearing the capltol of their hirelings. A Republican paper, the Lincoln (Neb.) News, gives evidence of the pernicious activity of the. railroads In that state when it says: The announcement that the Union Pacific Is in politics for the purpose of protecting Itself from the Burlington is another of the plausible explanations vouchsafed for the activity of John N. Baldwin and his trusted agents. The contention is set up that it is necessary to take an Interest in politics to keep the Burlington from forcing up the assessment to the detriment of the Harriman road. This fact goes to prove conclusively that the railways are perniciously active in politics. If they are able to dictate the assessment one way. they unquestionab’y have the power to say what shall be done in other directions. Evidence like thia is available from many of the states, and the question 18 how long the people will stand to see the railroads assessed at one-half their value while paying large dividends and charging unreasonable rates In many instances. If congress will pass the necessary law to give the Interstate commerce commission power to substitute reasonable rates when railroad charges are shown to be excessive, the first great battle against those giant combines will have been accomplished. It Is almost useless to attempt to control the railroads doing an interstate business by state legislation, but the federal government has the power and must use it to protect the people.