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Show H DON'T THROW BOMBS. H Wall street was greatly disturbed Friday and, for a time, there H ' was promise of a " Black Friday, ' ' but before the break in stocks could H ! develop into a crash, supporting orders were received and the ner- B vous speculators regained their courage. B-' ' The upset was caused by the decision of the Interstate Coru- R merce commission adverse to the railroads in their demand for high- HI er freight rates. H i Tlie public had viewed the action of the railroads as simply a HI tactful counterdemand to offset the appeal for lower rates, but evi- fr ' . dently Wall street had taken the railroad officials at their word and H j ' was expecting a decision favorable to the railroads, the disappoint- H f ment proving a shock to that most sensitive body of speculators. H How far-reaching will be the present reaction is yet to be seen, H i though there seems to be no good reason why the big transporta- H j t tion companies should be extremely alarmed. The best of authori- H ' ties are agreed that the railroads, in a period of normal condition, H can make great profits on present rates. If it can be clearly shown that the railroads cannot do business H ,. on the rates now in force, the people will accept an increase with-H with-H 1 out complaint, as they realize that the country's future in great part Hi depends on the solvency of its railroads, but the members of the H r-j Interstate Commerce commission, "with their record of conservatively conservative-ly ) ness, have the confidence of the people and in the face of their H) decision, it would be a difficult task to prove to the country that H they have not acted with wisdom and fairness. H I The railroad officials, like the common people, should bow down H with good grace to the mandate of the courts and, in this instance, H they should proceed to make an earnest effort to conform to the con- H j ( ditions imposed. This talk of disaster and the inflicting of a penalty Hi on the Public is not justifiable. The example is such as to inspire H the disgruntled with a spirit of rebellion against high authority. We H all complain if the anarchist hurls a bomb to emphasize, his dislike of H government', but the bomb that the powerful financial interests might H hurl would prove more destructive and the act be outrageously in- H j defensible. |