The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-05-30
PRESIDENT.
ROOSEVELT

.IfUU0EvEl.05
t, /. Continued from Page FIve.)
too earnestly say that as soon as the
natural abuses becomes indiscrimInate
and minimizing, II also becomes not
merely unwise aud unfair, but calcu.
lated TO defeat the very ends which
those feeling It have In view. There
has been plenty Of dishonest work by
corporations in the past. There will
not be the slightest Iet.up in thee fort
to hunt down and punish every dis.
honest man. But the bulk Of our bus.
mess Is honestly done. In the natur.
al Indignation the people feel over
the dishonesty, It Is all.essential that
they should not lose their heads aud
get drawn into an ipdiscrimInate raid
upon all corporations, all people OF
wealth, whether they do we'll or III.
Out Of any slch wild movement good
Will not come, can not come, and nev.
er has come. On the contrary, the
sHrest way to Invite reaction Is to
follow the lead OF either demagogue
or Visionary In Il sweeping assault
upon property values and upon public
confidence, which would work meal.
culable damage In the business world,
and would produce such dlstrust OF
the agitat0rs that In the revulslon
the distrlst would extend to honest
men who, In sincere and sane fash.
ion, are Trying to remedy the evils.
The great need Of the hour. from
The standpoint OF the general public.
Of the producer, consumer. and shin,
per allke--ls the need for better trans.
Dortation facilities, for additional
tracks, additional terminals. and i'm
provements in the actual handling Of
the railroads; and all this with the
least possible delny, Ample, safe
and rapid transportation facilities are
even more Necessary than cheap trans
poriailon. The prime need Is for the
Investment OF money which will pro
vide better terminal facilities, add
| tional tracks, and a greater numbe,
OF cars and locomotives, while at the
same time securing, II possible, bet
Ter wages and shorter hours for The
employees. There must be Just and
reasonable regulation Of rates, but any
arbitrary and anthiaking movement
TO cut them down may be equivalent
to Putting complete stop 10 the eff
fort to provide better transportation.
! There can be no question rs to the
desirability OF doing away with re-
: bates or any method OF favorfng one
shipper at the expense of competl
Tor, and direct dealing with the rates
Is sometimes the only method by
which this favortism can DO avoided.
but where fayoritism Is not alleged
and when the question IS nakedIy one
OF getting q lower rate. It must be
remembered that It is often possible
That those demanding It may be dla.
metrically opposed in interest TO those
WHO demand better, safer, and more
rapid transportation service. and high.
or wages and shorter hours for en-.
ployes. II the demand for more tax.
es, for higher wages, for shorter hours
Tor employees, and for lower rates be.
comes so excessive as to prevent am.
pie and speedy transportation and to
eat up the legitimate profits: Il non.
ular and legislative movements take
shape so nlhirectel as not only to
threaten honest Investments and hon.
est enterprises. but also 10 prevent
any effort for the bettcrment of trans.
portation facilities, Il then becomes
out Of the question to secure the nee,
eSSary Investment of capital in order
10 bring about an improved service
Rates should not be unduly high; there
ahoald be a thorough safeguarding
against accidents; there should be No
improper Sinking Of taxes; the shin
pers OF the country must be supplied
generously with cars AMI MI other
equipments necessary 10 propcrly
care Tor our commerce, and all tbis