The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-02-12
PUBLIC ROADS MUST BE THE PUB
L1C'S PROPERTY.

Every proposed~reIief of the users of |
the great transportation lines from the |
evils Of combined extortion; Of indif- |
ferent service; of needless sacrifice of !
human life; every proposal for the
relief Of the employees of the great |
transportation corporations from
injustice; from oppression from
liability to be thrown out of
employment upon the cold world,
with avenues for other employment
closed and bolted by. power against
which his efforts are futile; every pro-
posal fUr the relief of stockholders of
the great railroads against the raids of
wreckers, the schemes Of jubbers, the
calculating robbery of manipulatUrs;
each and every proposal orreIief from
the wrongs which have grown to the
dimensions Of huge parasites on the
/ transportation business of the country
| is met and answered by the reflection;
The giant is too strong;'' The wiz
ard is too subtIe;'' The tyrant is too
ruthless
But, is it true that the people, having
created the transportation system have
brought to life creature they cannot
control? that they have produced an
agency against whose spoliatiou they
are powerIess?
It is true that apparently superable
obstacles are presented to every
method of control short of government
ownership aud government manage
ment.
\ case which has recently called pub
Tic attention to this subject is that o.
the strike at Arkansas Pass, in Texas
In commenting ON tho. Termination OF
this strike that conservative and emf.
nently level-headed journal, the Tsra'
Stockulun and Farmer, under the head
, ing-''It must come, - says;
: THE Arkansas Pass strike is settle,
by means of concession by both sides
and to the satisfaction of neither. L
was settled because it was the frs
square hitch between organized CAPT
tai and federated labor, and both side
n were afraid to continue the struggle
e the character and end of which n,
= man could predict. But the truce j
e but temporary, and sooner or later tn
g battle must be fought to "a finish
d unless the people on the one hand an,
v OF the other the corporations controll
n ing the transportation lines save tn
d conflict by recognizing and adopting
@ the only possible preventative, namely
= gov srnment ownership and manage
k ment Of she public service.
Il But the writer, natural born optin
J, list as he is, has no hope of such Il solut
IT ion Of the problem. The late strike wa
e buta skirmish between the Fetirin
a pickets of the opposing forces. -FThe
" fairly on it will be conflict the lik
il of which was never before, becaus
n never before were the conditions suc
N as to render pOssiBl6-such a struggle
J. When 1t is over and d. the wreck
viewed, everybody viii see that OF
transportation lines, like our post
IS system. should ANA must he owned L
II the people and managed for the
a. benefit.
he "a shelf-yvorn argument against go
y ernment ownership is that it wou
l. place too much power IN the hands
n the party i'm power, thus giving it Il
X powerful q lever for the perIsstuatiC
eF ofIts incumbeney. Under the presei
at sposls system Of politics Che point
10 wen taken. But there are two poin
ag on the other slde-either OF which on
iiy weighs It. One is that ere people q
ag tired Of the spoi!s system which, sig
ID. uoa IN spite Of tie spo.is-Iaen7 IS 81
ais ing place to civil service reform =
a. other Is that government oM'nsssii
ana CONTROL cannot bo hs4fieii-
en- Mrs =. sfuetzgf-tz Is Tl7astsz-Es eve
bis Gus Ia prices q groceries ana Rol
by ~ e. s, 9. ~ - p5s ever ~,