The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-19
Changes il Last FIX Years.


the principal speakers at the annual
banquet Of the Greater Charlotte
club, tonight made a noteworthy
statement Of the proper attitude of
public service corporations towards
politics. While insisting on the pre-
servation to these corporations Of all
their rights. and on the propriety of
pursuing proper means to preserve
these rights, he advocated their COM
plete abstinence from political ac-
tivity. He said:
Governmental regulation Of rail
ways, within its proper sphere, does
not involve the surrender by a rail
way company of any constitutional
right. It is not inconsistent with gov
ernmental regulation for a railway to
adopt proper means to acquaint the
public and state. and federal author
tiles with facts as to legislation that
would be hurtful to it and injurious
to its owners. I am not willing to
believe that the American people, or
any government deriving its author
ity from them, will ever be so arbi-
trary as to deny to a great property
interest, performing an important
service to the public, and subject 70
governmental regulation, the right to
be heard in argument and in protest
before the legislative body or admin
istrative tribunal that determines the
nature and extent Of that regulation.
This right is inseparable from free
government. 1t is. embraced in the
sacred right Of petition, which we
have, inherited from the gr~at charter
which vas wrUng from King John
at Hunnymede, ald which has been
guaranteed in Our state and federal
constitutions.
In advocating the application OF
economic principles to the regula-
tios2 of railways, recognize that this
presupposes the conformity Of rail-
way management to high standard
- of ethics. Th- railway manager who
.:eves, as 7 do, that the property
interests entrusted to his care should
be made the object Of regulation bas-
ed on economic and business prl1cl-
pies, must see to it that has business
is conducted in accordance with the
fact that the property entrusted to
his care is public service institution,
devoted to the performance Of a
function essential to the prosperity
II the community, and he must strive
at all times to nave all questions at
letting it's rela> ons with the public
considered on their merits as affect
ing an enterprise in the successful
and proper management Of which
both its owners and the public are
concerned. He must see to 1t that
he does net arouse popular resent
ment a1G. political animosatles
through being properly credited with
controlling, or with attempting to
control, political action.
1EBut it must not be forgotten tnat
a few years. ago participation by rail-
way companies in political affairs
was, by public sentiment, not only
tolerated, but was encouraged. Ap-
peals were made to them to assist, as
a highly patriotic service, the success
Of men, of parties and Of principles
deemed essential to our civilization
as a people. If abuses arose from
this it was hardly more than could
have been anticipated-hardly less
than a. natural and inevitable conse-
qusnce.
IL fully recognize, however, that
such participation by these companies
in Political matters is no longer JUS
tilted, If it ever was, by conditions,
and is no longer approved by public
sentiment. It has passed away with
many other political abuses which
have been condemned and abandon
ed.
":I am in hearty accord with this
change and elevation of public STAN
dards, and with the view that would
limit the participation Of these com
panies in public matters to the field
Of fair statement, protest and argu-
ment.
*EI do not, however, think it just to
the management Of railways, which
have been only too glad to conform
to these higher and better standards,
to ocndemn them for a course, now a
matter Of the past, and which was,
when in use, adopted and pursued IN
accordance with a public sentiment