The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-04-21
Private Ownership Falls.

In the great city of New York there is
Subway, an underground street, which
was opened. at the expense of the tax
payers. Every dollar of the enormous
expenditure came out of the pockets OF
the citizens of New York. After this
Subway had been completed and paid for
by the people, it was turned over to pri-
vate corporation to be used for private
profit. 1t is unnecessary to say that such
stupendous piece of folly could never
have been committed by wise men or
honest men. On the face of it, the tran
saction reeks with rascality.
Let us, however, contemplate actual
results. The men to whom the property
was given operate the Subway to make
all the money that is possible out of the
franchise. Iu doing SO they have come
into collision with their employees. The
disagreement results in strike. The
experienced operators of the cars leave
them. Inexperienced men take hold.
The necessary consequence is danger to
life and limb, which only the careless or
reckless would incur.
The thousands of people in New York,
to whom the Subway is daily necessity,
are incommoded and injured. The en-
tire city suffers because of the dispute
between the corporation and its. en-
ployees. will not enter into the ques-
ton as to who is to blame for the strike.
1t is sufficient to say that under private
ownership of this public thoroughfare the
strike does occur and all of its evil con-
sequences naturally follow. No matter
whether Belmont is right or wrong, the
effect upon the public is precisely the
same. The public suffers and the public
is helpless. Such situation is surely
sufficient to arouse thought and inves-
tigation. Ever since we have allowed
private corporations to take charge of
public utilities we have had the strike,
the riot, the loss of money. the loss of
life. AS long as private ownership con-
tinues 10 exploit these things which be-
long to the public, we will contiue to
have the strike, the riot, loss Of money
and the loss of life.
| say nothing about the amount Of
which the travelling public is robbed by
these corporations which own the public
utilities. l confine myself simply and
solely to this thought. namely. that under
private ownership the situation, which
now confronts the travelling public of
New York City. is liable to happen at
any time and at any place throughout
the Union where public franchises are
used for selfish and private gain. That is
the fruit of the tree. 1t always has been;
it always will be. That kind of tree will
never bear any other sort of fruit. Then
why not cut it down?
Public ownership removes the motive
for misuse of public utilities, and when
the motive goes the evil will go As long
as sel6shuess and greed get the chance to
crafty themselves at the public expense,
just so long will they do it. In every
conflict between Capital and Labor the
public loses-no matter whether Capital
wins or Labor wins.
Public ownership would do for the rail-
roads what it does for the Post Office, the
Police Department or the Fire Depart.
ment. Who ever heard of strike among
the Post Office employees? Or in the
police force? Or among the fremen p
Tom Watson. in his Magazine for April