Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-04-10

their money.
I'm case OF sale, II the government
had 10 take the road for the debt
what, In your opinion, would De tae
RESULT"
THE government might have to buy
In the roads 10 protect itself, no doubt.
and probably il would continue TO OPP
crate them. II might operate them nn-
I'll IL had an opportunity TO reseil thelh
or lease them. or 1t might decide y
operate them permanently. That - no
new thing. except in this country. y
Is done in Germany, in Australia, ~
New Zealand, Ia Austro-Hnnsary anu
il was done in Russia. What other
paoples can do We can do. Are We
less honest and less efficient ~ ADMIN.
istratlon than the Germansg ! aunt
that we have less public honesty. but
we have as great genius Tor ADMIN
Istratlon as any people In the WORTH
and all that We need II yltasized pub
lie opinion to create public honesty
Don't you think that this country
would be better of II all the ralifoahs
we're in the possession Of the govern
mcnt and working under . Uniform
system with one controlling head
THAT Is a large question. very
large question. have for lons time
felt very strongly that the only So
luton or the railroad problem y gov
ernment ownership, The railroads are
being merged into great systefns, ana
these are being linked together ~ great
combinations pools. trusts or WHAT You
viii. The name makes no Inference
The purpose Ii. under one manage
ment, 10 keep down competition ana to
keep rp rates. without refereacs 70 INF
cost OF the service, and 70 @rtag from
the people the uttermosI faFthirs
Eight great railroads went into trust
Oh that character about year aso. Win
the pretended object u supporting the
interstate commerce laS by preserving
uniformity OF rates. Nov. uniformity
and stability Of rasea Is . good tnlns
In itself; ii is something 70 BE- desired
In the Interest Of all legitimate ouAt-
ness. ii enables business 20 - con
Quoted with a certainty that y inpna-
slbis with daily fluctuations In rates 81
freight. but the real object OF thia
combination was not 10 maintain sta
bic rates. but the highest rates possi'
bic under the laws Of the various states
In which they operate and under the
Interstate commerce law. Their OBJ
Ject. in short. vas 10 rnppress eompT-
tlGlon In an unlawful way. Wow. thrFf
Ii only ono Kind Of . trust thar can
meet that kind OF trust. and that
trust Is the government Of the Nnltea
States. whether our government y
strong enough 10 do Il. ! arm not pre-
pared 10 say. but the attempt u go
Ing TO b. made. You will sec u made
The question Is knocking At the doo'
and win b. brought ont. and you yoHns
men will have 10 fight u out.
go you think that a. long as this
government remains Ia the hands u tbs
Republican party We are likely 70 have
government aNnsrship Of railroads."
sThe idea il not confined 70 any ons
party. ii permsates them all. and IL Il
working like leaven. Some Of tbs
Al rouEeat advocates OF that experiment
are nov found in the Republican party
, That party, II II true. Ia q business
mans party. capitalists party. cor
poratton party. II you will. more 50. a
, least than the Democratic party. Bu
these ideas are growing In the mind
, OF men OF all parties and OF all classes
Some OF the more far-sightcd rAIIroat
managers themselves toresec the even,
, and some Of them have been courageous
enough to avow their belief that it vii
be best for the railroads as well as tn
1 people. The chief danger ID that " VI
load upon the government 80 many un
!. dertakings II "a apt to get top-hsayy
: Those In power have such great oppor
4 tunities to steal in one way or another
: that the scattered and segregated PEG
!. pie have not the means OF safesguar
> ing themselves from this danger. w
: do not know what tho result would b
3 of adding to our present civil seryic
o OF about 100000 men. tho vast army o
i railroad employees. numbering. be
e lieve. something like 1000. 010.r
g You think. then. the government
9 will eventually own the railroads.
1T has got to be tried. II ID some
Y thing that Is coming with state social
Q ism. thing that Is advancing in a.
countries. The government, not onl
Z this government. but tho government
y Of every civilized people, il taking upo
le itself new Offices and doing thlns
! which were formerly left to indlyidus
enterprise. illustrations OF the FAC
II win occur 70 every observing mind"
e III. then. the government should bu
q in and retain these roads, you think
I would be a good thing for IT to tr
2. the experiment Of government opers
2 tion?'
= Il would be glad to zee the govern
ment try the experiment Of owning nm
ID operating a great railroad system.
ID do not know whether the experlme,
4 would be successful or not. but wa,
n. to see II tried: and furthermore I ~,