690 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



railroad matters and the question of their ownership by the 

 government before the people with much force. Since then this 

 question has grown in importance ; the working-men have taken 

 it up and a party has made it the subject of one of its platform 

 planks. There is a quietness about all this movement (agitation 

 if you wish to call it such) which is apt to give the casual observer 

 the impression that it is not deeply rooted. But the indications 

 are that should the matter come to a vote, the question would 

 be decided in favor of government ownership of the railroads. 

 Popular opinion regardless of party is liable to break out at any 

 time and secure the measure desired. The reason that it has not 

 yet reached this stage probably lies in the multiplicity of problems 

 before the public, which need solution far more than does the 

 railroad question. In this agitation the People's Party as a whole 

 occupies an extreme position. It not only hopes for the cessa- 

 tion of abuses, but for material aid in the way of low rates and 

 reduction of taxes, brought about by the government's use of 

 railroad earnings. 



To a very great extent this party has taken advantage of the 

 demand for government ownership of the railroads, in order to 

 secure support where perhaps it might otherwise fail to find it. 

 In the West there has always existed more or less hatred of 

 the railroad, and any movement to change the ownership would 

 be sure to secure much support. 



The popular feeling in favor of government ownership is largely 

 due to the newspapers and periodicals. Despite their unreliability 

 they are believed, and must be considered in connection with the 

 causes of the Populist movement. Probably the earliest demand 

 for government ownership was on the ground of extortion. The 

 idea soon prevailed that a railroad was an instrument by which 

 certain Eastern capitalists were to be enriched by the plunder of 

 those unfortunate enough to be obliged to use their road. This 

 view has been deeply rooted in the minds of the early settlers, 

 who were perhaps justified in its assumption. The feeling of 

 injury has been increased by the tales of watered stocks and land 

 deals, containing a great deal of truth, but much magnified 

 for political purposes. 



