The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-12-05

that puts an inordinate value on
mere wealth, that makes man
ruthless and conscienceless in trade
and weak and cowardly in citizeni
ship, Is not a good thing at all, but
a very bad thing for the Nation
This Government stands for man
hood first and for business only as
m adjunct 10 manhood.
The question of transportat 90
lies at the root of all industrial sue
cess. and the revolution in transpor-
tation which has taken place during
the last half century has been the
most important factor in the growth
of the new industrial conditions
Most emphatically we do not wish
to see the man of great talents re-
fused the reward for his talents.
Still less do we wish to see him
penalized; but we do desire to see
the system of railroad transporta-
-fion so handled that the strong man
shall be given no advantage over the
weak man. We wish to insure as
fair treatment for the small town as
for the big city: for the small ship
per as for the big shipper. In the
old DAYS the highway of commerce
whether by water or by a road on
land, was open to all ; it belonged to
the public and the traffic along it was
free. At present the railway is this
highway, and we must do our best to
see that it is kept open to all on equal
terms Unlike the old highway it
is a very difficult and complex thing
to manage, and it Is far better that
it should be managed by private in
dividuals than by the Government.
But it can only be so managed on
condition that justice is done the
public. It is because, in my judg- |
ment. public ownership of railroads
is highly undesirable and would
probably in this country entail far
rcaching disaster, that wish to see
such supervision and regulation of
y I'm in the interest of the public as
will make it evident that there Is no
need for public ownership. The
opponents of Government regulation
dwell upon the difficulties to be en-
countercd and the intricate and in
volyed nature of the problem. Their
contention is true. Tt is a compile
Gated and delicate problem. and all
kinds Of difficulties are sure to arise
in connection with any plan Of sold
lion, willie no plan will bring all the
benefits hoped for by its more oPti-
mistic adherents. Moreover, under
any healthy pinn. the benefits viii
develop gradually and not rapidly
Finally, we must clearly understand
that the public servants who are to
10 this peculiarly responsible and
7elicate work must themselves be of =
HE hinacst type both as regards
integrity and efficiency. The, mu7t
be well paid, for otherwise able men
can not in the long run be secured
md they must possess lofty pro
hitv which will revolt rs quickly at
The thought Of pandering to any
INST of popular prejudice against
rich men as at the thought Of any
thing even remotely resembling sub
=ervioncv to rich men. But while
fully admit the difficulties in the
way. I do not for moment admit
chat these difficulties warrant rs in
stopping in our effort to secure
wise and Just system. They should
havo<no other effect than to spur US
on 70 the exercise Of the resolution
think of as tvpicallv American, and
the even-handed Justice. and the fer
tilitv Of resource, which we like to
which will in the end achieve good
rosplts in This as in other fields of !,
octiyitv. The task is great one
and underlies the task of dealing
with the whole industrial problem
But the fact that it is a great prob !
lem docs not warrant us i'm Shrinking !
from the attempt to solve it. At
present we face such utter lack OF
supervision, such freedom from the
restraints Of law. that excellent men
have often been literally forced into
doing what they deplored because
otherwise they were left at the
mercy of INSCRIPTIONS competitors
To rail at and assnil the men who
have done ms they best could under
such conditions accomp1ishes little.
Whit we need to do is to develop an
orderly system and such system
can only come through the gradual
~ increased exercise of the, right OF
efficient Government control.
SAFETY APPLIANCES