The Brinkley argus., 1907-10-18
THE AMERICAN IDEA.
lndividuaIism the Keynote of OuI
 National Success.

the National Civic Federation tom mission on Municipal Ownership Show
 Why American Institutions Should
 Not De Abandoned at the Demand oi
 Socialists and Munieipalizers.
 The efforts of the National Civic fed grafton have resulted in a commission of Americans whose first interest in this investigation, as tn all else, IS 10 do what they may to preserve and con tjnue 1he American idea and American institutions, believing that the hi2h state of civilization and prosperity in America Justifies the American idea and the American method and places the burden, of proof heavily upon those who would say another idea and an- other method would result In improve ment in the condition of the people.
 Believing this to be the thought and intent of the membership of the com mission and of the committee subor- ] dinate to it, we still believe that there ] are ills in the American body polite | that may be remedied or cured. We believe that the remedy should be ap- piled and the cure effected without any l unnecessary departure from the Amer ican idea and the American system. We believe that the framework upon which may be built purity of admins tration and the highest possible good of the citizens Is in existence with us and that it is not necessary in the eff %1 al n body polite may be suffering to de- stroy that body. We submit that, lfv- ing in land where peace and pros perity are the common lot, we must be very cautious of change. This does not mean that where abuses are found to exist they should not be promptly and mercilessly eradicated, but 1t does mean that changes in system should | be undertaken only after conclusive proof that such changes will result in bettering the condition of the individ- | ual. We had better bear the relative | ly few ills we have than subject our selves to unknown conditions that may bring in their train greater ills of which we do not know.
 Our investigation has determined with certainty many heretofore mooted questions It indicates the probably correct answers to other mooted ques- | lions. Where the facts are clear and l the conclusion evident our task has | been to summarize and indicate Where there is remaining uncertainty as to | facts and conclusions are not evident we have made an effort to determine l the probabilities. This has resulted in arguments based on such facts as our l investigators have recorded and on our own experience as operators and ob- servers.
 We believe no intelligent reader of the vouminous record of this commis- sion's work will fail to conclude that it clearly proves municipal ownership to be productive of many and serious ills, l with little or no compensating good. The writers of these chapters, agree l ing, we believe, with the other members Of the committee of twenty-one, that public service companies should reason l ably be regulated and afforded the pro | tection that comes with regulation and | appreciating that the committee was not appointed or constituted to consider methods of regulation, nevertheless de sire to record their opinion that some form of regulation of private com- panies should be adopted in each of the United States. What that form should be this commission Is not pre- pared by any investigation or any study 1t has made to suggest.
 Finally, we who stand in opposition i tt to municipal ownership, speaking, We believe, for all individualists. arragn the arrogance of many of its advocates in assuming that they exclusively oc- c,lpy the field of reform in dealing with the problems concerned and that they are the sole promoters of meas
 lres of economic improvement in mu- nicipal affairs. We assert that the op- ponents of municipal ownership and operation, firm and consistent support CTS of justice, are the class seeking the public welfare intelligently and in ac- cordance with American principles. On this point we do not yield to my body of men.
 , We seek, as a first principle, to 1n- sure every man his own. In doing so and in endeavoring to protect the pub lie against oppression and error we
 find it our duty to demonstrate the er-
 TOTS in the schemes of municipalizers and Socialists and to warn against the
 oppression that they threaten. We are
 resisting efforts to put burdens on the
 backs of the American people. We can
 not and will not remain silent while
 the attempt is made to thrust costly
 and impracticable projects upon GUS
 toners of public service corporations
 and upon the public at large.
 We know the truth will out. We are
 confident that ultimately the American
 people must appreciate at their value
 the unsoHndness of the arguments of
 the municipal Socialists. We shall aid
 in hastening the day when our fellow B citizens will know through discussion what the public of London have been taught by bitter experience. London has awakened to the perils of munici-