Oklahoma Champion. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, June 19, 1896 Page: 3 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
MUST BE OWNERSHIP.
HOW INTERSTATE COMMERCE
LAW WORKS.
STILL CONTROLS THE RUDDER.
Coder Government Control tba flail*
roada Generally Do tho Con troll Inf-**
A Good Ono from tbo Chicago El*
press.
We have what ie called an "Inter
State Commerce Commission’’ whose
business it is, or is supposed to be, to
lee that railroad companies comply
ivith the laws, do not form pools and
other combinations, or otherwise band
together to cheat shippers, especially
tmall shippers.
It's a nice thing—on paper.
This Commission was provided for
by Congress, with the consent of the
orinclpal railroad companies, if not at
heir suggestion, to pacify and concily
ate the demand of the people for gov-
srnment ownership of railroads.
This law was to be “government con-
rol" of railroads, you understand.
This Inter-State Commerce Commis-
lion, so it was given out, was to be
.'lothed with the authority to bring any
railroad up standing for transgressing
:he laws regarding railroad traffic; that
Is, the commission was to act as a spy
on the railroad business, file informa-
tion and institute legal proceedings
against railroad companies, and then
the injured public could have the bless-
ed privilege of going to law in the
United States courts, presided over by
ex-railroad attorneys acting as judges,
most of w hich judges received their ap-
pointments from either Harrison or
Cleveland, both ex-railroad attorneys.
It’s a beautiful scheme, this “govern-
ment control” through an "Inter-State
Commerce Commission,” beautiful,
beautiful—for the railroad companies.
Let’s see how it works.
There is a law prohibiting railroad
companies from charging mote for
hauling a quantity of freight a short
distance than for hauling the same
quantity of freight a long distance.
The enforcement of this law devolves
upon the Inter-State Commerce Com-
mission.
When prosecutions for violations of
this law were first made, it was found
that to secure conviction it would be
necessary that the books of the com-
pany showing shipment* of freight be
produced in court.
This the railroad companies refused
to do, on the ground that they did not
propose to furnish eveidence tending to
criminate themselves.
Now, there don't seem to be any dif-
ficulty in making an ordinary business
man or merchant produce his books in
court in the progress of an ordinary
lawsuit. Not only that, but instances
have been known where officers of the
law have broken into a man's private
desk and produced in court e\ iences
tending to prove the guilt of the owner
under charge of violating the law.
But to thus serve a great monopoly—
whose influence makes laws, appoints
judges, makes and unmakes presidents
—would be little short of sacrilege!
So an accommodating ex-railroad at-
torney, serving as administrator of
justice for the people (!), decided it was
unconstitutional to thus compel deliv-
ery of the books and papers of a rail-
road company to be used in court
against said company, and another ex-
rallroad attorney, serving as judge of
the highest tribual of the land, sustains
his decision, and since then the prose-
cutions of railroad companies for vio-
lations of law have been little more
than a farce.
But these commissioners want to
make a show of earning their salaries,
and the railroad monopoly and the old
parties supporting them want to make
It appear just before election that “gov-
ernment control” is not altogether a
failure, so an accommodating ex-rail-
road attorney, serving as judge in the
supreme court, has handed down an
opinion on the “long and short haul”
clause of the law, that at first glance
teems to be more in favor of small
shippers, particularly farmers.
Commenting on this decision,
Charies A. Pillsbury, manager of mills
in Minneapolis that produce one-fif-
teenth of the flour made in the United
States, is reported as saying:
“No matter what the decision of the
courts may be, railroad companies
have it in their power and it is to their
interest to ignore the law relative to
long and short haul. If they don’t dodge
it one way they will another.
“I can deliver a barrel of flour from
my mills to Philadelphia or In France
for fifty cents, and that is what I would
have to pay to have it delivered at my
residence only two miles away.”
There is the whole policy of pluto-
cracy in a nutshell.
The Pullmans and the Pillsburys, tho
railroad monopoly and every other mo-
nopoly, “have it in their power and it
is to their interest” to run their busi-
ness to suit themselves, and our laws
are such that they can snap their fing-
ers at their employes, or the govern-
ment of the United States, or any other
power on earth that may object.
And though they may not express it
in words, their acts virtually and inso-
lently ask the question, "What are you
mudsill people going to do about it?”
In brief, we predict that tlm long-
suffering and mnopoiy-ridden people
will pay the extortionate demands and
submit to the tyranny of plutocratic
railroad combines but little longer be-
hen you dance in Russia you are
•xpeoted to go through all the Steppe*.
Vhe most common dance now is the
Ca-choo-ca.
The revolution in Brazil will make
eoftee searoe, but the abundant clove
crop v. Ill serve to help out between the
acta.
The cnpilal of the liothehllrt firm is
now said to exceed *1.000.000.000, and
the Viena branch of the family is the
richest.
In 1? days a letter from Cudiz will
be delivered in New York.
An ordinary tortoise lives lrom It
to 150 year*.
England leuds
sumption.
in champngne cca*
Boer is 2‘, cents a glass at Stock-
ton.
I here is au incandescent gasoline
/a tup.
After a man bus finished putting up
liis stovepipe the family parrot has to
t»e kept out of the room when the min
;ster calls.
Larldn— “Jaysrn ith's record la bo-
fond suspicion, isn't it?” Maddox—
"Beyond suspicion! I should say it
VVe can prove the facts.”
A Sinking Fund
Of »IUl encrer ia roily sod pleasant!? replan-
la liable. Uoatettera Stomach Biltera ia an In-
Tiger ant without a peer, ami will apoedil? infuas
fresh stamina into an enfeebled phjaiqus. Be-
sides this, it aveitaaDd temedies malaria, tad
subdues bil iu*, kidney, dyspeptic and rheumatic
ailments. The nertoua derive grea, benefits from
Ue use.
Mail between New York and Auck-
land is 26 days in passage.
Only 11 days are required to trans-
port a letter from Florence to New
York.
It is said that the Greenland whale
sometimes atia'ns the age of 400years.
A frigate bird can remain an entire
week ou tho wing, without stopping
to resL
The ezar of Russia has two hobbies—
the collection of postage stamps and
birds* eggs.
Ireland has 18 daily papers.
Railroads use a third of England's
coal.
Evaporated potatoes, prepared in the
same manner ns evaporated apples,
are to be put on the market from Min-
nesota, this full.
It is claimed that North Carolina
must henceforth hold the highest
place in the production of early fr lit*
for the Northern markets.
The Vatican has 1100 rooms
asing
Paralyzing Pie!
Captain Cleveland: “Hi! Come back here! (a pause) All right, then, go! For
will be obeyedf"—-.National Bimetallist.
clal ermine through unjust decisions;
railroad corporations may brag and |
bluster and mock at the law of their
ow n making; the old parties may hedge
and dodge the issue before election, and
prate about fanaticism and socialism
after election; populist “leaders” may
seek to exclude the demand from the
“great popular platform” they are going
to get up if—but it's bound to come,
and that right speedily—
Government Ownership of Railroads.
No truer statement is contained in
that grand document, put forth at
Omaha four years ago—which all true
$230 drawn out. of the people and
handed over to the banker. That same
$100 government bill is the redeemer
of the national bank bill. Why not the
government issue the money and save
that to the people?
* m *
__ The union carpenters of CrippL
Creek have given an example of what
some people will call foolishness, but
the more thoughtful will characterize
as an aunusual example of the spirit of
fairness to and consideration of their
fellow men in distress, which should,
but does not, find imitators in other
callings. After ’he recent fire had de-
populists swear by and all monopolists j gtroy“d the greater part ^ ttat eUy The
1 Carpenters’ union met in special ses-
and platform trimmers swear at
this:
“We believe that the time has come
when the railroad corporations will
either own the people or the people
must own the railroads.”
When thia question is settled there
will be but one result:
Government Ownership of Rail
roads!
And that Is what the people are go-
ing to do about it.
NOTES AND COMMENT.
Snap Shots Taken at the 1’afisins: Pro-
cession,
The democrals in Tennessee have
coine as near adopting a populist plat-
form as the gold clement and a proper
respect for the seventh commandment
would permit them. They declare, in
their state piatfrom, for a rigid re-
striction of the federal power, for the
largest measure of individual freedom;
for local self-government; for free sil-
ver at the ratio of lb to 1 regardless of
the action of any other nation; that both
gold and silver shall lie a legal tender
from Dan to Beer Sheba; against the
Issue of interest bearing bonds; against
payment in gold of government obliga-
tions; for the repeal of the 10 per cent
tax on state banks; opposition to na-
tional banks and so down to 19thly.
"A national bank $100 for 20 years
fore they will arise in their might and c0*ts I,e°Ple $-30 to keep it afloat,
wine from our statute books every v— wh"? *he government $100 costs the
That is to say they get on nineteen
sides of the dear people in one platform
and not a breath of suspicion of ”ism”
in it. In the populist platform proper
there are about nine distinct demands
or propostions, and we are accused of
wanting the “earth and the fulness
thereof.’’ But this Tennessee platform
outreaches us at a ratio of 16 to 1
regardless of all that has been said
heretofore. And not a hint, not a horn
tooted in favor of trimming it. And
now the question arises: how would
the populists look trotting along side
of such an imposing structure with a
little bobtailed platform that didn’t
have anything in it that wasn’t in the
democratic platform, and with an
apology on their lips from bringing
that out in the race for political pie?
* » *
And the Arkansas democrats are go-
ing to follow now in a few days. They
will not be a whit behind their brethren
in Tennessee in building their plat-
form. They have got up their free
silver steam, and will have their an-
ti-bank and bond pitchforks on hand.
If they will take a pointer from us
we’ll tell them how they can discount
the Tennessee fellows and take all the
wind out of the populist sails. Declare
for the referendum. Of course they
won’t know what that means but most
of them will likely be too drunk to ask
any questions, and if they do they can
be told that it is a new kind of ballot
box that will withstand the X rays of
populist investigation. Just do this
boys and make the Tennessee demo-
crats mad with envy. Of course it
don't make the least bit of difference
what you promise, you don't intend to
perform it anyway.
* * »
Old Uncle Ben Colvin lives at St.
Charles, Michigan. He is an old green-
backer, on" of the anti-fusion and anti-
compromising kind. He has held his
town in line against both old parties
for twenty years. Some one wrote and
asked him to give the difference in the
cost of a $100 bank bill for 20 years.
Here is his reply:
will write in bold letters which cannot
be erased—
"Government Ownership of Rail-
roads.
Supreme Court Justices may con-
tinue for a tims to smirch their judi-
prove: The bond under the
sion and resolved that the question for
an advance of wages, which had been
under consideration before misfortune
had overtaken the city, should be in-
definitely postponed, and that no ad-
vance on the old rate of wages would
be asked pending the rebuilding of the
burned district. Those having stocks
of lumber, hardware and other building
material cn hand were not so thought-
ful of their unfortunate neighbors who
were burned out. The business nun
took advantage of the prevriling dis-
tress and extraordinary demand for
building material and provisions and
advanced the prices of everything ex-
orbitantly. There was none of that
“fellow feeling that makes ns wond-
rous kind” to be found among the busi-
ness men.
There are many examples of this
kind occurring every day that prove a
more sympathetic feeling among the
alleged lower walks of life than there
are among the pillars of the commercial
world. It is true that tho rich and
powerful stand together better than do
the working classes, but then It is for
the purpose of more easily robbing the
weak and unprotected. They are not.
producers and their whole time is given
to the study of the science of fleecing
their fellow man without running the
risk of getting into the penitentiary.
And this is called business. Collis }’.
Huntington secures an extension for
the payment of the Pacific railroad debt
and the right to fleece the people for
another long term of years. It may
have cost him several million dollars.
What is that to him? The people pay
the freight. The people are controlling
the railroads, you know. Tho burning
of towns and disasters of cyclones don’t
disturb Huntington and his class,
a « «
The Star and Kansan says:
“Up at Leavenworth last week there
was a destitute woman with nine
young children, who had to be provided
for the by charitable people there. Her
husband was in jail for defrauding the
United States government. Ignorant of
wrong he had used a cancelled two-cent
stamp in mailing a letter; and for this
crime he was sentenced to the federal
penitentiary for two years! That is
the same sentence the republican state
treasurer of South Dakota received for
stealing $350,000. Think of !L A poor
man with a large family dependent
upon his labor for support, and our
wise and just and humane government
gives him two years in prison for rob-
bing it of two cents. Carnegie cheats
the government out of hundreds of
thousands by furnishing defective
armor plate, and President Cleveland
remits most of the fine imposed on him.
But the poor man who defrauds Uncle
Sam of two cents is left to rot ir. jail,
while his family starves. A beautiful
system, a noble civilization and a grand
government, surely! Can't we improve
upon such methods and punish the big
thieves a little more and the small ones
a little less. Can t we approximate u
little more closely to justice and reason
in our penalties? If we can't, it's
about time to conclude that the experi-
ment of human government is a fail-
ure. "By their fruits ye shall know
them.” A social system based on the
ideas of interest, rent and profit for
idlers, at the expense of the toilers,
can't work out any better, though. It
is the worst imaginable form of an-
archy.
A woman is never so badly In love
that she does not try to find out the
cost of her engagement ring.
v.RtT* -All»»»*tot>ry«lfrwM 1N% Ji lltl«**n Cr-.n
Aervc !<«*fttor*r. No Pit«nrter iij«* nr»t«tav •* u*#..
■ arveluuM urn*. Tn-uiis«*an, I $•_*trial i*»tt!»• f»t .
kiltHMi. Scud to Ur. Xlilif.fcu AIX'li OU.l’iiliM., I m.
Those who say that a woman has no
sense of humor have evidently failed
to notice how a mustache tickles her.
ir (ho llabjr la Cnltlne Tooth,
B# ror* and use that old and well-trM n mndy.
Hinnlow itsooriiiMi bruvr for Children Teething.
There is more billing than cooing in
the household where there is an extra
vagant wife this season of the year.
Hepmin'a Camphor leo with Olrrorlno.
1b« orlsinal »nd only genuine. Cure. Cmkiinetl iimiii,
out! lac, Colil Sor»-. a«. C. U. Clark Co., N. Uni ,n. ct
It is stated that 13.’’)'.’ trains arrive at
and leave Chicago daily, about one-
fourth being freight trains.
All Aliout W »iiorn Farm J.nnfla.
The “Corn Belt” is the name of an
Illustrated monthly newspaper pub-
lished by the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy K. R. it aims to give informa-
tion in an interesting way about the
farm lands of the west. Send 25 cents
in postage stamps to the Corn Belt, 209
Adams .St., Chicago, and the paper will
be sent to your address for one year
The Royal Arsenal at Woolwich Eng-
land, employs about 12.000 workmen
and has 10 miles of internal railway.
Hall'* Cninrili Cure
Is a constitutional cure. Price, 75c.
In France when a railroad train is
more than ten minutes late, the com-
pany is fined.
In Wyoming the women have the
right to Vote for all officers, even for
presidential electors.
In three days a letter from Havana
will reach New York.
In eight days a New York letter is!
delivered in Panama.
Ten days are required to carry a !
letter from New York to Berlin.
How good it looks! How
good it is I........ And how it
hurts. Wlay not look into the
question of Pill after Pie?
lvat your pie and take Ayer’s
> Pills after, and pic will please
i) and not paralyze.
I! AYER’S
! Cathartic Pills
| ' CURE DYSPEPSIA.
b i
W. N. U.—WICHITA,—VOL. 9. NO, 2B
When Anmt «• rhijj AUvertisem««ta
I*I»m« Mention Thl. Taper.
fiir ’ere: zrz- teix’ grgi
Mrs. Brown—“What prompted that
hold ycniug man to kiss you at the
door?” Cora—“Why.ma. 1 do not think
lie needed any prompting.”
l’iso’9 Cure for Consumption has been a
family medicine with us sine# 1865.—J. R.
Madison, 2,0M'2d Ave.. Chicago, lib
Dobson—“Old Bowser may’ be a
miser, but he lias the 1 art of a spring
chicken.” Blobson—“I do not think
him as old as that.”
» Tlirps for m Dollar!
Three what? Hire© cliuriningTv exe-
euted posters in colors, drawn by W.
W. Denslow, Ethel Reed and Ray-
Brown, will be sent free of postage to
any address on receipt of One Dollar.
All whoiare afflicted with the “poster
craze will immediately embrace this
rare opportunity, as but a limited num-
ber of the posters will be issued. The
scarcity of a good thing enhances its
value. Address Geo. II. Heafford,
General Passenger Agent of the Chi-
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway,
Old Colony Building, Chicago, 111.
The man who doesn't know where
his next dollar is to come from always
sends it where his last went •
It’s very monotonous to be rich, but
there is a variety about being poor that
sometimes makes one weary.
It's a Good Thing. Push it Along." " lH
Why buy a newspaper unless you
can profit by the expense? For 5
cents you can get almost as much if
m “BATTLE AX” as you can of |
jp other high grade brands for JO cents*
|| Here's news that will repay you for
jjj the cost of your newspaper to-day-
ME
I
a
COLUMBIA
AT ONCE.
The Columbia you want is ready for you. Not a day’s delay,
if von choose regular equipment. We have been preparing for
months to meet the present great demand.
Gladness Comes
fith a better understanding of the
transient nature of the many phys-
ical ills, which vanish before proper ef-
' * gentle efforts —pleasant efforts-
‘100
TO ALL
ALIKE
drawing 4% per cent in twenty yeai
would be $90 without compound. A
banker never loans his money below
7 per cent. That would be $lio in 20
years without compound; adding that
to tbs $90, there is a clean robbery of
A MlUnkf,
Railroads in Russia are almost en-
tirely under control of the government,
which is a great mistake, for it pre-
vents private companies from exerels-
hank !n^ *n conntIT the great American
j privilege of robbing the jeopie. See?—
rears Coming Nation.
If you want the rich to bear their
share of the burdens of taxation, vote
the People's parly ticket; it is the only
party that favors making them do it.
forts „ _______|____ w__
rightly directed. There is comfort in
the knowledge, that so many forms of ,
sickness are not doe to any actual dis-
ease, hut simply to a constipated condi- |
tion of the system, which the pleasant :
family laxative. Syrup >f Figs, prompt- I
ly removes. That is why it is the only j
remedy with mil lions of families, and is 1
every where esteemed so highly by all i
who value good health. Its beneneia! j
effects are due to the fact, that it is the
one remedy which promotes internal
cleanliness without debilitating the
organs on which it acts. It is therefore
all important, in order to get its bene-
ficial effects, to note when you pur- j
chase, that you liave the genuine arti-
cle. which is manufactured by the Cali- \
fornia Fig Syrup Co. only and sold by-
all reputable druggists.
If in tlie enjoyment of good health, I
and the system is regular, laxatives or
other remedies are then not needed. Jf
afflicted with any actual disease, one
may be commended to the most ski! Iful j
physicians, but if in need of a laxative, J
one should have the best, and with the j
well-informed everywhere. Syrup of j
Figs stands highest and is most largely j
Used and gives most general satisfaction.
Tandems, SI50
Men’s Columbias
Women’s Columbias
Tandems
THE STOCK 13 COMPLETE.
HARTFORD BICYCLES
$65, $50, $45
Such quality at such prices is unheard of. But Hartfords are lead-
ers in both price and goodness. Regular models ready for delivery.
POPE MFG. CO., Hartford, Conn.
Branch Store* and Agencies In a!rn<v»t every rity and town. If Columbias are not properly
represented in your vicinity, let us know.
(IDIIItl Bet lairt. Thousands
IJl III |H eured.« he»p**«t mrui heel cure. Farr Trial.
w 1 1 w M*t«, »•*>«#* Da Marsh. Vofney. Mleh.
READ ABOUT MEXICO.
NEW MANAGEMENT AT
hotel geuda,
BEST Horn IB TNB CITY
: . ^ tout heaifh ,% p<.«or Geuda U the piaea la
I Improve it. l sm rltme t© the Springs and Path
Douae. Niee. cool rooitii and good BtC(>aiiZ)o4a
art HUiBtrm j rooms and gv
uni«r«TL H»j lon* BOARD BEASOXABLE.
^uhacTibe for Mookrv Mexico,
t«4 paper, desofed to mim*u and alkii r» tl h* i
m Mcsice, tl.uo per year. American Address. I-ettert of Inquiry proatf tJy antwerad.
* uahi < ItXI.v, Topeka, Kansas. I Geuda, Kt% 1 **----“
1*4U3 Hours, i'z
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Hudson, C. C. Oklahoma Champion. (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, June 19, 1896, newspaper, June 19, 1896; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc941397/m1/3/: accessed March 28, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.