The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-09-04
Railroads and People,

At this time the railroads are prominently
before the public eye, and are receiving from
the people, treatment, which seems to us like
resen tment II not persecution.
High officials have been defending them
selves before the people, and recently have
been defying some Of the laws OF the States
through which they pass.
President Finley of the Sou thern has been
seeking To molly public sentiment against
the roads. by appeals showing the import
ance or value OF railroads to the general pros
perity. but he forgot TO promise that his sub
%ordinates should not be allowed to excite OPP
position by their Ill.advised treatment OF the
people.
The people as q rule, are very susceptible
to q little kindness or q little consideration
from the peat and powerful corporations.
and they are equally sensitive TO anything
like lack Of consideration.
It may be, too, that the people sometimes
expect too much.
While this newspaper may be In error. we
are however, of the opinion that with q con-
citiatory in trihing m alters would do much
to bring about a better feeling between the
railroads and the people. And II better feel
ing existed, better results would follow.
That the railroads are being prosecuted II
not robbed is not TO be denied. That there
Ia cause for the existing ill-ieeling 10 equally
clear.
That the existence OF the railroads Is OF the
greatest importance in promoting the
growth and prosperity OF the country ID not
to be denied.
That the goodwill Of the people is Of I'M
portance to the railroads is equally true.
1t is also true that the officers of no State
would extort unreasonable taxes from the
railroads II there was not behind them q
sentiment OF popular hostility to such cor
porations.
The excessive verdicts In damage suits
only voices the ill-fseling Of the people, and
their disposition when tie opportunity Of
fers, to resent fanoied or actual grievance.
While agreeing with all that President
Finley has said 30 often in his speeches, yet
he failed to tell 1t all. He should have prom
Used to meet the people in that friendly spirit,
which would bring an amicabie condition
between the railroad and the people. HI
didn't once say that bis subordinates should
at least be white 10 people who might AK
favors. Politeness Is the cheapest commodi-
Ity and railroads, as we'll as other peo-
pie, might AVE a good supply OF It constant
ly on hand.
| There are times when the railroads could
gain tn graft tude and good will OF q commu.
nifty without other cost than q little polite
ness and the exhibition OF q disposition 10
accommodate. Suppose, for instance, that q
Sunday school teacher should wish TO take
his class to a creek TO nah or to romp In the
woods, or TO simply 60 on an outing, the
railroad could sometimes grant the favor and
make o friend OF all, without cost to the
railr Dads. Instead OF making the reduced
price on condition that an impossible num-
Der be sold, why not let the children 60 for Q
nominal sum, or Tor nothing at all, provided
the number did not exceed the capacity of
the train t take them without i~neonven-
ience? An occasional favor TO church peo'
pie and TO little children would be Q winner.
II In other matters, subordinates were po-
lite II would be seldom hat anybody would
take o1ense, even In the demand OF "
seemed q reasonable request.
II q claim for damage 10 goods In transit is
made, why not settle It at once one way or
another. az has been don for 30 many years
by our station agent, Mr.. Z. D. Brown. It
Is bad policy 10 defer such settlements until
the customer is out Of patience and then
must threaten TO sue.
Railroads and people should get along IN
harm ony. In matters Of differences, and
where ILL., feeling exists. we believe the rule
is, for the man who has most sense to make
the first move to reconclliation In the case
Of the railroads and the people, this rule
would apply. II the people have more sense,
then they ought 10 make the first move. But
II the railroad officials have more sense then
they ought 10 make the advance.
Ang hostility between people and railroads
Is injurious alike TO all.
President Findley. instead OF trying to In.
duce the people to bear more, should direct
his energies TO the doing away OF the cause OF
friction. In none OF his speeches did we see
notice OF intention along that line. he only
wanted the people to bear more. He magni-
fed the Importance OF the railroads, but said
nothing about the importance OF the people.
It takes both people and railroads to build up
q conntry-