The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-06-26
.YOAKUMURCESU.S
|. CONTROL OF ROADS
OUTLINES PLAN TO TURN AGITA-
TIoN FROM DESTRUCTION
TO CONSTRUCTION.
COOPERATION IS NEEDED
Between People, Government and the
Rail Systems For Mutual Aid
Wants Only capitalization
Curbed.

4 New York, June 25.--A plan TO turn
| the present current OF railroad agita-
ton from destructive into construc-
Itiye channels Is presented by B. II.
Yoaknm. chairman OF the executive
board Of the Chicago. Rock Island anil
Pacific railway In an article In the
/ Forthcoming issue Of Worlds Work.
| Mr.. Yoaknm expresses himself as In
flavor of direct federal control OF rail
road capitalization publicity Of rail-
road accounts and operations and
lcomplete and fair adjustment OF the
/ interests of the public, the railroads
and the government. He says:
| believe that the solution Of the
railroad problem Is TO be found In the
cooperation Of the people and the rail-
roads, through the government of the
| United States. The time has gone
by when the railroad could go ahead
and work out its plans, and carry on
Its operations without consulting the
| interests of the people. The railroad
i fHuAl Ihli III 1fuG Will lf1G uEltOGia atAI
institutions of the country
| THAT there have been mistakes by
ftho railroads, we admit. and that some
Of the roubles of today are the iegiti-
mate and logical outgrowth of such
| mistakes. The object OF the enl'ght-
encd railroad manager and OF the
enlightened legislator must be 10 cor
rect as far as possible existing errors,
to make repetition Of them impossi-
Ible, and to establish permanent
basis upon which the people and the
lrailroad can transact their business
lin the future without injustice either
Ito one or the other.
The rurrent created by the existing
i agita ton must be turned into safer
lchnnnnl. ct great harm will be fnAAss
Iboth to the railroads and to the peo-
pic. This agitation has now reached
a point where 1t may be said To carry
a threat To the general welfare of the
country; because II threatens to affect
1 the Industrial enterprises Of the cCtiils
TRY, with the millions Of men. women.
and children directly dependent upon
| these enterprises. ! do not believe
that the people desire the destruction
| CT the railroad properties: and ! be-
lieve that the people, the government,
and the railroads are united in the de-
sire to turn this current OF agitation
from destruction to construction.
The public demands that the rail
roads of the United States shall be
so regulated by law as TO prevent
future injustice in their management
or discrimination in their conduct.
The government of the United States
is shaping its administrative policy
to that end. AS a railroad manager
and as an individual, | heartily en-
dorse this policy, and shall do all |
can to promote such a course.
We are not planning and legisla'ing
| for today alone. but for tomorrow.
when there will be more than 100000
600 people In the United States. pro-
Gucing and consuming. Therefore the
problem of a fair adjustment between
the railroads and the people through
the government is a problem OF
greater responsibility than any other
problem of the generation We must
face it with open minds, laying aside
/ all personal ambition and our private
preiudice to seek first the good OF all
the people. which Is also the good OF
all the railroads.
The Importance Of the Commission.
The scope of the interstate con-
nerce commission should be SUM
cicnily broad. and. at a time not far
distant. full enforcement OF the law
should be had. 1t will in time become
a necessity that the proper fulfillment
of the functions Of the government.
IN dealing with this most important
nues ion affecting. as Il does. eyery
industry, man. woman. and child In
the land will require the creation OF
a new cabinet officer. whose depart
ment will be charged with responsi-
biliiy in matter pertaining to railroads
and navigation: who, through his
pos;tion in the cabinet will enable
the cabitnei members 70 keep In
touch with all matters involving the
movement Of the commerce Of the
nation. 10th domestic aud foregn.
A. the laws multiply. the labor OF
enforcing them. Of judging affairs us
der them. Of making rulings and in
testigating charges. must also multi
piy. The commission. too. must con
sinue to grow strong or. he whole
,vstem Of administration viii be in
effective.
| believe that have touched upon
most OF the vital points thai are at
issue. In dealing With them, have
buf one policy That is. that the peo-
ple and the railroads shall get to-
geiher and confer upon the matters
that arise between them. and that
that the government shall be the In