The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-04
CARLISLE AND THE sOCRATIC
METHOD.

Democratic newspapers have sought TO
make much capital out of Senator Car
isles application of the Socratic method
arguing by catechizing-in his recent in
terview at Cincinnati with delegation OF
Alliance men. While the method Is al
ways ingenious, and when practiced in
controversy with tyros is generally con-
fusing to the latter, it must be grounded
in unerring and unassailable logic to be
permanently effective.
Such was not the case with all of the
points made by the Senator, including
some that are reported to have most COM
pIetely nonplussed his interlocutors, and
which on a superficial view seemed well
calculated to produce that result. OF this
character was his questioning in regard to
the declarations of their convention con-
corning government control of railroads.
Forcing them by his catechizing to ad-
NIT that they could not defend policy of
confiscation, but that the roads must be
purchased at fair valuation, his first as
sumption was that this would cost sum
greater by several multiples than was the
cost of suppressing the rebellion. The
irrelevancy of any such comparison is
palpable. It would be as relevant to COM
pare the Louisiana purchase with the war
of 1912, the Gadsden purchase with the
Mexican war, or more aptly the cost of
silver bullion with the purchase price of
Alaska.
1t may cost more to open and work
valuable gold mine than to pay for "a
fight to a finish" between Sullivan and
Peter Jackson, but that proves nothing
against the wisdom, the probable profit or
the legitimacy of gold mining. But the
Senator proceeded further on the same
line, and is said to have put the Alliance
men to fight on an inquiry whether they
were willing to be taxed for the cost
of running the roads if purchased,
or for the deficit in receipts compared with
expenses, all founded on an oracular as
sumption that the government can do no
business with profit, and at all events that
the roads as whole could not be made to
pay expenses.
No doubt the Alliance men have very
crude ideas on this subject. All clear
headed, successful and prudent business
men are agreed that government owner
ship or control of railroads would be
matter of doubtful expediency, if not ex-
tremely hazardous. All such are agreed
that it should only be resorted to in dire
emergency, when all other expedients had
| failed, and then only by degrees, and ex-
| perimentally. 1t is not the Senator's posi-
| ton, but his manner of arguing it that is
| under discussion.
As TO our governments capacity to con-
| duct business at profit, there is but one
point at which its experience will afford
| ground for a comparison with this rail-
road proposition, and that is with reference
| to carrying the mails. In that case, thus
far, the charge for carriage has not met
| the expense. Part of the cost is paid in
that way and the balance by general tax
alton. In populous districts the small
charge yields enormous profit; in sparsely
settled districts it falls far short of cover
ing the cost. The latter. on strictly
business" principles, applied TO these
separately, would have to go unserved or
be subjected to crushing exactions. But
on the whole the service is we'll done, is
| wisely and economically administered,
and rebounds 10 the benefit of the whole
people in far greater measure than would
result from subdivision and reliance on
private enterprise.
Moreover. TO say nothing about the ex-
perience of other countries In respect to
government ownership or control of rail-
roads, one of the Senator's positions has
been squarely controverted. since his
! Socratic demolition Of the Alliance dele
cation, by a very eminent American rail-
road authority. Since the Carlisle-AIli-
ance interview at Cincinnati Mr.. C. P.
Huntington has publicly declared that if
he were placed in control of all the rail-
roads in the United States he could make
sweeping reduction of p per cent. in cur
rent rates and realize per cent per an
mum of interest on the consolidated
properties.
If this be so the Senator must concede
to Mr.. Huntington monopoly of the
railroad wisdom of the country, or admit
that these transportation lines as a whole
| might be run without serious loss, nece.-
stating onerous taxation TO cover the
deficit Then, as the people (another
name for the government) would not
require or desire TO make 5 per cent. or
any profit out of their service TO them
selves, it would seem that they might
forego Mr.. Huntington's superior sagacitv
and nearly or quite keep even.