The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-12-05

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cold not foresee and therefore could
not provide against, they have become
so serious and menaclpg as to demand
entirely new remedies, 1t is in the
interest of the best type of railroad
man and tt rest type Of shipper no less
than Of the public that there should be
governmental supervision and regulu.
ton Of these great business operations,
for The same reason that 1t Is in the
interest of the corporation which
wishes to treat It's employees Alright
that there should be an effective en-
rloyeB' liability act or an effective
system of factory laws to prevent the
abuse Of women and children. All such
legislation frees the corporation that
WISHES to do well from being driven
into doing Ill, In order to compete with
It's rival, which prefers to do III. We
desire to set up moral standard.
There cnu be no deIusion more fatal
to the Nation than the delusion that
the standard of profits, of business
prosperity, is sufficient in judging any
business or political Question-from
rate legislation to municipal govern
nent Business success, whether for
the Individual or for the Nation, is a
good thing only SO far as It is accom-
banied by and develops high stand
ard Of Conduct-honor integrity, civic
courage. The kind Of business pros
per.ty that blunts the standard of hon
or, that puts an inordlnate value on
mere wealth, that makes a man ruth
less and constituencies in trade and
weak and cowardly in citizenship, is
not good thing at all, but very bad
thing for the Nation. This government
stands for manhood first and for bust.
ness only as any adjunct of manhood.
The Strong vs.. The Weak.
The question of transportation lies
at the root of all industrial success,
and the revolution in transportation
which has taken place during the last
half century has been the most impor
tant factor in the growth Of the new
Industrial conditions. Most emphati'
cally we do not wish to see the man OF
great talents refused the reward for
his talents. Still less do we wish to
see him penali2ed; but we do desire tc
see the system of railroad Transports
ton 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; 70" the small shipper as for
the big shipper. In the old days the
highway Of commerce, whether by wat
er or by a road on land, was open to
all; 1t belonged to the public and the
traffic along 1t 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 1t is very difficult
and complex thing to manage, and 1t Is
far better that It should be managed
by private individuals than the govern.
mcnt. But it can only be so managed
on condition that justice Is done the
public. tits because, In my Judgment,
public ownership Of railroads is highly
undesirable and would probably IN this
country entail far.reachlng disaster
that wish to see such supervision and
regulation Of them in the interest OF
the public as will make It evident that
here Is no need for public ownership.
The opponents Of government regula'
ton dwell upon the difficulties to be
encountered and the intricate and IL.
yolved nature of the problem. Their
contention Is true. 1t is complicated
and delicate problem, and all kinds Of
difficulties are sure to arise in connec.
ton with any plan of solution, while
no plan will bring all the benefits
hoped for by its more optimistic ad
herents. Moreover, under any healthy
plan, the benefits will develop gradual
ly and not rapidly Finally, we mus
cleary understand that the pubic ser
wants who are to do this peculiarly re
spon3lble and delicate work mus
themselves be of the highest type botF
as regards integrity and efficiency
They must he well paid. for otherwise
able men can not in the long run be
secured; and they must possess a lof
ty probity which will revolt as quick
ly at the thought of panderlng to an
gust of popular prejudice against ricl
uen as at the thought Of anything even
remotely resembling subseyiency t.
rich men. But while fully admit tn,
difficulties in the way do not for /
moment admit that these difIicultie;
warrant us in stopping in our effor