The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-15
|ORATl0NIBN ARTHURI JACOBS
A1NORnAL SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

IN their effort to get at any Of the
great railroad wreckers, the men who
by swindling devices. rob investors.
Cypress wage carriers, and do lnjus.
tice TO the general public.
Probably the greatest need of the
hour from The standpoint OF the pub,
lie, the producer, the consumer and
the shipper alike. is the need OF ample,
safe and rapid transportation fac!ll
ties.
This can be accomplished by the
majority Of railroads which have yeas
after year in the past worked patient.
ly and honestly to build up these great
systems.
The people during this agitation
have seemingly lost their heads and
have been sweeping in their assaults
;pon the entire railroad system Of the
country because few OF them have
as head officials, dishonest and IN.
scrupulous men.
Agitation Should Cease,
The time to call halt on this agl.
tation Is at hand, and especially is
this true in West virginia.
In this State railroads are not over
capitalized, they are paying their Just
share Of the taxes, the two cent law
Is In effect, and no serious complaints
Of discrimination In cars have as yet
been made.
The further development Of this
State depends absolutely on the pros.
perity Of its railroads.
West Virginia railroads properly
managed and fairly treated need
have no cause for concern as TO their
future.
Coal Basis Of Modern Industrial sys.
TEN.
Conl today Is the basis OF the mod.
ern Industrial system and great
source OF revenue that will last IN
West Virginia long after the forests
OF the South and the Northwest have
become matter OF history, and long
after the great wheat and corn crops
have been much reduced in the middle
West on account OF worn out soil, and
When Australia, South Africa and the
Orient will be furnishing bread for
the world, years after all these things
have happened, long freight trains
will be hauling coal through or hills,
across Our valleys, and along our rly.
ers out into the markets Of the world,
In order that factories may be built
In West Virginia 10 consume our nat.
utal gas, and other railroad systems
be built to further develop our coal
fields. agitation Of the railroad qnes.
ton should stop and these railroads
allowed 10 take the high place in the
business world to which they are en-.
titled.
State Needs Railroads 10 Develop Coal,
This State in the next ten years
ought to double It's railroad mileage,
This can only be done by allowing
them TO earn reasonable profits on
their Investments, and TO 20 into the
financial circles and borrow large sums
of money at the lowest possible rate
Of interest. In doing this they should
not only have the hearty support Of
the governor, State officials, Judges,
members OF the legislature and all
municipalities, but should have the
announcement and loyal support Of
every citizen Of West Virginia.
Government Ownership OF Railroads.
W. ]. Bryan's speech at New York
made, after his tour OF the world was
severely criticized by the American
people on account Of his favoring gov.
crnment ownership OF railroads.
il these nsItaiions, Investigations.
and leeislatlons are TO be carried
much farther or continued much long.
er the people Of this country Will not
only be in frame Of mind TO own
and control railroads, but coal, oil,
timber and all other great commercial
interests as well.
President Mckinley said, open the
mills instead Of the mints, give the
American lahorer n chance 10 earn
n dollar and give him an honest dollar
when he bas earned H.,
The mills can only be kept running
when the railroads are In healthy
and prosperous condition. Let the
people Of this country not be afraid
in the face Of all this clamor against
the railroads to stand up for a square
DEAR for the railroads as well as all
other great commercial interests.