The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-04-18

duty to the railway system entrusted to
my management and to the people
dealing with that railway to contribute
to this work to the best of my ability,
because l am convinced that the pros
perity of this section as a whole and of
each community and individual in it
depends upon the just and proper solu-
tion of all questions affecting transpor-
tation facilities. have tried to make
plain my conception of railway corpo-
ration as a great business institution,
subject to the same economic and com
mercial laws that regulate the conduct
of business of all other kinds, and to
direct attention to the danger of legis-
lation that may hamper railway devel
opment or compel determinations in
service.
Present tendencies in some localities
are toward undertaking to regulate all
the details of the business of transport
tation by rail by statute law, regardless
of whether or not the statutes come in
to conflict with the immutabe laws of
economics and OF trade. This is not a
new proposition, and lessons as to the
futility of attempting it may be learned
from the history of the past. Ever
since the day when King Canute stood
upon the coast of Britain and forbade
the tide to rise there have been men
who have believed that the laws of ma
ture and of economics could be repeal
ed or modified by legislative acts. At
tempts have been made to fix by law
the prices of the wages of labor and to
prescribe impossible conditions for the
conduct of business, but every such at
tempt has ended in failure, and the
failure has generally been attended
with consequences more disastrous
than the wetting Of the royal robes that
followed King Canute's mandate to the
tide.
The transportation problem can moi
be solved in prejudice or passion or in
any misunderstanding of the condi-
tions that surround it. It's just solu.
tion calls for moderation and Justice on
the part of the people and full under.
stan ding and cooperation between oul
state and national governm ents and the
railroads. In such an effort to work
out successfully the problem, which if
the greatest business and government
al problem of the times and which cal
only be solved on principles Of con
struction, and not destruction, and il
full recognition of the high and jus
purposes of both sides, may God speed
the railroads and the people of tn
great state of Georgia.
One word in conclusion. 1t has be
come popular to discredit the purpose
OF the railroad manager. Whenever b
announces policy intended to improv
: the relations between the carriers an
a the public and founded upon broad an
, just principles, there%are those VIII
' question his sincerity. An effort
/ made to make of him a thing apal
a from the good and patriotic men of tn
!. community. I appeal against such
sentiment to the sense of right and iut
: tice of the American people. We, VIII
o are striving to improve conditions an
n to perform we'll our public duties, mus
q be admitted to your confidence and III
q held by your encouragement. The tas
at best is hard. The conditions thu
surround us are most trying. We ca
8 only succeed if the sincerity and hor
s esty of our purposes are recognized b
It the people and we are upheld by the
:, generous favor and cooperation.