Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-02-27
A POLITICAL ISSUE
Sins Of Railroads to Be the Rallying
Cry Of Both Parties Accord
ing to Mr.. Truesdale.
EVEN EMPLOYEES ALIENA7ED
After Telling Stockholders Of the "PaH
aIytle Stroke" Suffered BY the
Carriers Admits Earnings
Increased $1,6e1,2se.

New York, Feb. 26.--The underly.
ing cause Of all the general indiscri-
inmate abuses Of the railways and
their management" and Of the para
lytic stroke" which they have suffered
was attributed by w. H. Truesdale,
president Of the Delaware, Lackawan'
ma & Western railroad Tuesday to the
alleged plans of the great political
parties to make the sins Of the rail.
road the leading political issue Of the
coming campaign. This statement was
made In Mr.. Truesdale's annual report
to the stockholders OF the road. He
began by saying that the outlook for
1908 as respects railway earnings is
anything but encouraging. Opinion
Is to the causes of existing conditions
differed widely, he said, but there has
~been engendered very deep and
widespread distrust Of the manage
ment and financial standing and sound
ness Of all the railways Of the coun-
try"
OUuIluulH6, nc bulus
"The two great political parties Of
the country In planning their forthcom-
ing presidential campaigns, make the
sins Of the railroads and their man
agement and drastic correction OF
same their leading issues and herein
may be found the real underlying
cause of all the general, indiscrimi-
nate abuse Of the railways and their
management and Of the "paralytic
stroke" which they and all interests
connected with them have suffered.
With great foresight and shrewdness
those who have planned and are re-
sponslble for this political program
have alienated from the railways the
chief political influence that they
4 might and should have every reason ia
expect would use their influence ia
protect them against campaign Of
this kind, their own employees. This
has been accomplished by the passage
of certain laws governing the hours o.
service, wages, conditions Of employ
ment generally and others more far
reaching have been promised and arr
now pending"
After declaring that the sweeping
denunciation Of the managing authori
ties has weakened their authority owe
their employees, Mr.. Truesdale added
"The tendency, furthermore, Z
place the control Of the railways an
their operations, down to the minutes
detail, in the hands Of public officers
boards or commissions all Of VIII q
are subject to political influences 10
greater OF less degree is by no msa.
hopeful or reassuring as respects tn
future value or efficiency OF the trans
portation facilities OF the country"
Mr.. Truesdale was reelected nres
dent OF the company and Whhan
Fahenstock was chosen a director I
succeed the late Samuel Sloane.
The report Of the company for tn
year ended December 81, 1907. show
gross earnings Of SS7,264,473, an II
crease over the previous year Of 81
30l, sos; operating expenses Of t21
5Ss,73s, an Increase Of t2,6lO, 2s7, lea
ing net earnings Of s15.724.7S4, an Ii
crease Of i1.es1,2ss.
The surplus for the year after pa
ment OF interest, renewals, bette
menss and dividends amounting to
Per cent was t4,6i9,327. an increai
Of t4.2s2, ass.