Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-21
HARTMAN CRIES ENOUGH.

has given. lecture TO newspaper men
by saying that they could do more
to settle the present railroad situa-
ton than anybody else. Upon being
asked for an explanation be said:
you can do it by refusing TO print
one side OF proposition until You
nave seen the man on the other side
and let him have his say at the same
time. | am sick and most other men
are also sick of the continued at
lacks made on the railroads. When
charges are made against railroad
the proper thing to do Is to refrain
from publishing them until the marty
bringing the charge and the repre-
sentatives OF the railroad have had
a conference with representatives OF
the press present. As such things
are now run the charges are printed
IN the papers and the public receives
wrong impression, because the
railroad side of the question no
given at the same time. II Is Tho
hrSt impression that counts. Very
OFTEN railroad Is not able TO mako
a reply for several weeks after the
charge has been brought and the de-
MAJ Is not then noticed because .be
matter is no longer fresh news The
way to settle such things is to ge.
together at the outset and LET tho
charge and denial go before the pub
Tic at the same time. This would do
away with much of the i'll feeling
that Is now created against the rail
road"
But the trouble in giving the rail
roads side is usually been due To
their refusal to take the public IN
their confidence. Newspaper asa
rule are more than willing to give
both sides of any question, but are
often handicapped I'm doing so.
Mr.. Hartman has shown tho ut
most insolence to the public. He
has consistently refused to answer
direct questions before the interstate
commerce commission concerning tho
famous Union Pacific deal.
Mr.. w. w. Finley, president os
the Southern Railway, has issued
statement to the stockholders OF his
road in which he declares the south
Is not hostile to the railroads ne
says that because few demagog.eg
nave succeeded in procuring a few
hostile enactments against railroads.
Is not to be taken that the south is
hostile towards the roads. In speak
ing of the recent reduction of rates.
the consttutionality Of which is
now pending in the supreme court
of the Unitcl States, President Fin
ley says:
The boarl has considered IL cs-
sential not crly IN the interest of thu
owners of the property, but in the
interest of the pIblic (whose interest |
it is that the railroad shall not be
deprived of the means OF providing |
adequate facilities for the commerce
of the country that the issues raised
by the action e .hc-e states, whether
investment in RAILROAD properties.
are entitled to the same measure nj
protection as ether property and
whether they can lie deprived by any
form of state action of the effective
protection CT the constitution Of the
United States, shall be finally settled |
with the least possible delay"
This is the proper spirit with
which issues of mis- kind should be
met. a stand of this kind will do
much to create better feeling be- J
tween the roads and the public.
But to Show the utter insolence
with which Mr.. Hartman regards
the public. he refused to answer the
following questions before the inter
state commerce commission last Feb
ruary:
Were you directly or indirectly
interested in any stocks that were
bought between July 10 and August
II. 1906, that appreciated?
Ibid you own any of the stock
sold to the Union Pacific by the Chi
cago e Alton?
Were the 10000 shares of Iui
nois Control sold by yourself. NJ.
Rogers and Mr. Stillman, pooled?
Was that stock acquired with
view of selling it to the Union Pa
cifc?
WAS that stock purchased by YOU
at a much lower price than 175 (the
price the Union Pacific paid. with
the intention OF turning it over to
the Union Pacific?
Did you have an interest i'm 1866
600 shares sold by Kuhn. Loeb &
Company to the Union Pacific?
WAS that 10000 shares by tn
same pool for the purpose Of sell
Ing II TO the Union Pacific?
Were any Of the directors Of The
Union Pacific interested. directly or
Indirectly. in New York Central
stock AZ the time they were SOLD to
the Union Pacic?"
Mr.. Hartman has had ample on
portunity to make answer TO the
above questions. His request for
fair statement Of both sides comes