East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-09-24
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.

ROADS, ny attempting 10 pIeJuulCt ~
cal capital against bilding local lines
in Umatilla county, because the East
Oregonian favors government owner
ship of railroads.
Wherever there is settlement and |
development there will be adequate |
transportation, in time. The people |
will take care of that in their own way. |
II private capital will not bid, if 1t |
holds UP communities to lash them
into line for the corporations it only |
hurries along the ultimate triumph of
public ownership.
In the same breath the Tribune IA
vors government irrigation of the arid
lands, because it is Just and right and
equitable and gives the poor man a
chance for his life and opposes govern-
ment ownership of railroads which
means an equitable, fair and reasona-
Bile adjustment of the transportation
problem.
II government irrigation is good, If
| it pays to have the government pre-
pare the avenues of production and
place them in the hands of the peo-
/ pie irravocably, why is not govern
ment ownership of the means of trans
portation good? If a government
/ owned Panama canal is good for the
people, indeed so good that a republi-
can congress and president are spend
ing several hundred millions of the
peoples money 20 oild it. why would
not a government-owned transconti-
mental line of railroad be a good thing
for the people?
The Tribune's policy is one-legged
It won't stand thoro fysical examin-
alton. 1t is lame, decidedly lame
When the East Oregonian sees the
price Of electric light reduced by mu-
nicipal ownership all the way from 25
to rs per cent, it believes that munich
, pal ownership of electric light is a
good thing for the common people.
When it sees street car fares reduc.
ed under municipal ownership from
33 to so per cent it believes that mu'
nicipal car lines are good for the COM
mon people and it shall continue to
, agitate for these utilities as long a:
conditions make agitation necessary.
When it sees the people of Australia
travelling across that continent on
, and cent railroad fares on govern.
: ment-owned railroads, thus giving
q them an opportunity to travel, to Witt
, to educate and enlighten themselves
/, thereby becoming more capable anC
useful citizens, with the comforts o
q life within their reach, it is in favol
of government ownership of railroads
The editor of the Tribune is person
ally acquainted with thousands of peo
pie IN moderate circumstances VIII
q have never made a trip across tn
II American continent, simply becaus
, the expense of travel is too grea
n These people are denied a commo
" privilege, that of travelling in thei
i own country, informing themselves
gaining enlightenment by travel, b
n association with people in other sec
=. tions and other states than their owl
And at the same time the railroad
p under private ownership are accumr
=. lating millions in profits with whic
n, to intrench themselves more strongl
n behind favorable legislation.
Ia Would the government maintain
10 rate discrimination against Pendletol
Walla Walla, La Grande or Bake
70 City simply because there was but or
n road into those places? Would NJ
\, the object of government ownershi
20 be to give the best possible service
q the lowest possible cost?
Is this not the object of governmei
irrigation? Is not this the object
:, the postoffice system? Where wou
= government ownership of railroad
q. vary from either of these government
"A owned departments just mentioned
-, The cost of purchasing the raj
roads Is held up as an argumei
against government ownership.
Did not the party to which the TT
bune belongs bid the Union Pacifi
n Central Pacific and Northern Pacif
RS with the peoples money, give the
IL hundreds of millions Of acres of lar
w besides and then turn the system
over to the private companies wi
It. carte blanche to make extortiona
o. rates and to conduct wars of extern
ct lnation upon cities, states and comm
mites which refused to comply wi
he the demands of the roads?
be The East Oregonian favors ever
by thing-it makes no distinction.
FALL. WEDDING STATIONERY