The Great Railway Combine
One of the latest and greatest things in imperialism is the reported ownership by a combine of railway capitalists of the great thru trunk lines of America, as well as lines of trans-ocean steamers on the Atlantic and Pacific. The head of this gigantic combine is a triumvirate consisting of John D. Rockefeller, J. Pierpont Morgan, and James J. Hill. Connected with them are W. K. Vanderbilt, E. H. Harriman, Russell Sage, George J. Gould, E. J. Berwind, Anson R. Flower, the Seligmans, and D. O. Mills. The railways involved are New York Central; Lackawanna; Pennsylvania; Norfolk and Western; Chesapeake and Ohio; New York, New Haven and Hartford; Southern Railway; Erie; Reading; New Jersey Central; Baltimore and Ohio; Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul; Northern Pacific; Great Northern; Missouri Pacific; Missouri, Kansas and Texas; Rock Island; Atchison; Southern Pacific; St. Louis Southwestern; St. Louis and San Francisco; Union Pacific; Chicago and Northwestern; Burlington; Chicago and Great Western. In the Wall Street transactions of January 7, the official announcement was that on that day alone 2,164,650 shares were dealt in, involving over one billion dollars. The aim is to “harmonize” interests by creating “joint national control.” Of course it will destroy competition and raise rates. Before it, the Interstate Commerce Commission is powerless, and calls for greater powers. This great Triumvirate of Plutocracy is paving the way for the Caesar to come. In the affairs of men, money seems king; but it is well for all to remember that the Most High still rules.