Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-07
Copyright, 1901 by Frederick upham Adamal

below the standard or emclency ana
economy established in other countries
that there was n clamor for improved
service and reduced rates.
Then 1t was that the inertia of the
English and Scottish capitalists reveal
ed itself. These placid men could see
no reason why they should change.
They smiled at the assertion that there
was anything to learn from what had
developed in the United States and in
other countries which had mania for
tearing down old things and erecting
new ones in their places. George Fran
els Train had landed in England and
performed the miracle of introducing
term them. Was 1t not enough to
adopt one American device without at
tempting to follow the hazardous ex-
periments of cable cars and electrical
traction? They would not listen to any
demand for modern methods.
In taking this attitude they were in
exact accord with other property own
ers whose money was invested in enter
prises not SO public In their nature. The
landlord whose buildings were devoted
to offices did not tear them down and
| erect new ones when reminded that
New York, Chicago and scores Of
| American cities had revolutionized
that type Of architecture. The dens
of Fleet street and the Strand were
good enough for Dombey & Son, and
the squalid quarters of the Cheshire
Cheese served to meet the demands of
Samuel johnson and Oliver Goldsmith.
Why tear them down in imitation of a
nation which was woefully lacking In
antiquities and traditions? Some of
the hotels yielded to popular demand
for elevators, so they put them in and
called them lifts" but absolutely re-
fused to consider any such wild eyed
scheme as a system Of plumbing which
would provide hot and cold water il
rooms occupied by their guests. Nor IL
there hotel in Great Britain which
have seen or heard of that has adopted
this modern improvement"
With these and thousand other ex.
amples to fortify his course, it is small
wonder that the English investor in
street railways, gas plants and similar
quasi public enterprises declined to
yield to the growing demand for bet,
ter service. he was equally deaf to the
representatives of private manufacture
ers who urged that by the introduction
Of electricity and other innovations
an increased efficiency could be OBJ
tanned which would show in increased
dividends. He would not listen to 9
word Of 1t. That which had been good
enough for his father was good enough
for him.
Such was the attitude of the privat,
capitalist in Great Britain when tn,
public ownership movement had 1T
birth. and such Is his attitude at tn
present moment He does not believ,
n any novelty not of his own inven
ton, and he has neither the taste mol
the talent for invention. He therefor.
stood still, and the public ran over him
I am unable to find any record that thu
English capitalist offered any decided
opposition to this tragedy. Certainly b.
did not become excited over 1t. Tha'
would not have been in good form. HI
simply waited and watched the process
l
sion pass. Public ownership became {
recognized institution without his sane
ton, assent, dissent, comment OF ex
element.
England has adopted public owner
ship for the simple reason that privatl
capitalists refused to properly manag'
private monopolies. There was no sen
tment about 1t. There was no appea
to high economic ideals. There was n,
academic discussion. 1t did not evel
form partisan issue and was rarely ,
plank in local platform.
And despite all this there has bee
accomplished one Of the most tremen
6ous Industrial and economic revolt
tons since the birth of modern civil,
cation.