St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-25
QUESTION OF RAILROADS
Debated by Young; Men at Wacouta
Street Chapel.


The second of a series of discussions
under the head of Timely Topics for
Young Men," which is being conduct
ed by the young men of the First Bap-
list church, took place in the lecture
room OF the Baptist chapel, on Wa
couta street, last evening. The sub
Ject considered was: Resolved That
the government should acquire and
operate the railroads in this country.
Frank Griggs acted as chairman of
the meeting. While the speakers on the
affirmative were F. :Begert and j. w.
Graham, and on the negative E. II.
Touhey and e. A. Clyde. The partici
pants mad each prepared statistics in
support or their particular views of
the question, and handled them with
a huency which bespoke careful and
thoughtful preparation. In opening
for the affirmative Mr.. Begert went
briefly into the history Of the railroads
OF this country, and, while admitting
the great advantages which they had
bestowed, argued that the system had
peen corrupted and miSmanaged until
the conditions Of previous times had
been reversed. Now instead Of aiding
the people and the country, greedy cor
poratlons We're rapidly assuming con-
trol OF Doth. The governments in Ger
many, Prussia Belgium and many 9TH
er countries had successfully conducted
the railroads in their states, and there
was no reason why the government of
the United States could not do like
wise. Rates would be cheaper, trans
portation facilities better, and the vast
sums being boarded up as profits
would be in circulation among the peo-
pie. The government would operate
the roads for the benefit of the peo-
pie and not as a money-making ven
ture. thus doing away with the main
cause OF the present evils connected
with the railroad systems.
e. II. Touhey followed with fully as
many reasons why the government
should not control and operate the
railroads. In the first place the rail-
roads had been largely instrumental
In making the country what it was
today Private individuals had accom-
pl1shed this great good, and could con-
1nue TO. Some governments had oper-
ated their own roads successfully, but
on the other hand France and Aus
tralia had made miserable failures of
endeavors in this line, and it was not
at all certain that the United States
would be any more successful. Com
petition entered. into the affairs of
railroads at present and gave the pa
irons the lowest rates and best accom-
modations. This would not be the
case IT the government owned the
roads. There would be monopoly,
and a government monopoly was the
worst possible form of this evil Mr..
Graham greatly strengthened his side
OF the debate with an array of facts
and flow Of eloquence which won ap-
preciative applause from his auditors.
In brief, he claimed government own
ersh1p would do away with disclim-
ination, corruption, speculation in rail-
road stocks, and, aside from giving
railroad employees more independence,
would lessen their hours Of labor and
give them the privilege of enjoying
more of home life. q q s,e
b. A. Clyde followed Mr. Graham
for the negative, with a definition of
corporation and IAN explanation of
the laws which governed them, MAIN
tanning that, conducted according to
their charters and the statutes. the
present system of private ownership
could not be improved upon by the
acquisition of the roads by the gov