The Topeka state journal., 1908-08-29
SHONTS FOR TAFT
President Of the Alton and the
Clover Leaf
Comes Ont SQuarely for the he
publican Ticket
MATTER OF BUSINESS.
Preference Based on the Cand1'
dates Railroad Views
Quotes From Public CtterSnces
in Support Of Position.

AnfCEEn. AaE- AAlC~HtNt7'N
<~,r-s. |r-esiaeut 81 me Anon snS the
Cnsver Leaf rsflrcs6 systems, came es't
~-.S-.-sssr IN an o1csal suaoSocemeos
rs,,,-7nr re rsnsssscy q Tan for
x~eS5aers.. ese SaSs shss square zeal
- -. --xr1s-sna - ~ rSrrrosSS co0ld
- exrecses srozn Tar ana hat al
-ssr~,es men o%cerS sS well IS erss-
rSrs,aS saxhr - v,a~s< Ssc rs Slecssor-
~ Shcr-S ASSes rs nreSerence ~
-sFg IN an analysis ~ TIE cSHosSSse
r--r~a-ccS IN sese question q rSalroS0
-eSala-son- Ese sceoS ShSS EsSfS stands
~ government reSGls1se1 oasS HeS
esu--S ars an adjustment ~ rates that
49, siaopC rfe SSs- return IN the N
VeSsuceCt Which = SeGaSnSeo ~ sSe
ssec-Nsr RISKS ~ the Business No
rhs-SS csn EoS SrNrAsrS - fesr IA me
polcfcS advocated ~ Tan
Mr.. SasoatS' >tSScnc0t.
THe statement follows
~Pes-x rSS-roa6 nam myself,
rEtErallr Sand Tor and believe in
rs5lroNss ana rai1roS6 men l am Tor
NJ Tar Tor president Seoa0Se ne
SANDS Tor = ScoSrc deal with railroads
and railroad men - far aS the under
rgS-C principles essential 10 the de-
rs1rornenr - the transportation inter
eSsS ana rhe resultant prosperity 81 the
caDnrrc are concerned
Nj Tsf<'S views can be readily
cSr hereS from public utcerSnceS. both
trc~n hsS speech - acceptance and
from the ian statement that he made
n ms speech ~ Columbus On the 18th
of August. aSo-. and il IS upon these
thar I rely in what ] say here,
F-Sc-Ne believe that our nsttCnal
x-cNth Sns well being depend. socre
than any other ore thing. uoon the
character and extent q our trSnSpor-
tArsan fscsrstseS. Mr.. TSf< in his let
ter ~ acceptance says Oocd business
~ The railroads Is essential 20 gen-
ersl prcSperiSy.' SrG. again. New rSis-
rad corStrsctscn IN returning
proSpe-ooS times is sure 10 be essential
- c-zr material rr>greSS
-SecorS-We believe that the vast
suns which viii annually be required
oS the railroads 10 enable them to pro-
vide the Increased facilities necessary
70 handle the constantly increasing
trSffSc of the country can only be Sc
CURED by 6rSt receiving a remuneration
Sufficient to not only pay 1air return
On the coSs % the service rendered. but
also 70 cover the risk incident to the
nature 81 the business and by. second.
receiving the assurance that they will
be permitted to operate their properties
On business hssiS-that Is to say.
operate their properties having in
mind. on the one hand. the traffic re-
oCirements OF the communities served,
SllOs on the O1lcIs tNSir ADlllNN To per-
form the service required.
Quotes From Taft's Speech.
As to the tirst condition. Mr.. Taft. in
his letter OF acceptance says: The
question what is a fair profit is one in
volving not only the rate OF interest
usually earned on normally safe in
veStments. but also a sufficient allow
anee 10 make up for the risk of loss
both Of capital and interest in the
original outlay
To Sccentuate this view he goes on
20 say that TO ignore these and other |
equally potent considerations mention
ed by him might so seriously and un-
justly impair settled values as to de-
stroy all hope or restoring confidence
and forever to end the inducement for |
Investment in new railroad construc- |
tion.
As to the second condition. that
railroads be operated on business
lines. Mr.. Taft believes in government
al regulation but not in governmental |
operation. He believes that all unjust |
discrimination in rates. whether be-
tween communities or individuals
should be stamped out for all time, !
and wants such additional legislation /
as VIII make certain the progress the |
government already has made in this |
direction. He believes the government |
should legislate to protect the people |
against the possible issue of fictitious |
securities. He believes in absolute |
publicity OF the affairs of Interstate |
corporations in the interest of the !
stockholders and the government as
we'll. to enable the latter to see that |
the corporations obey the laws: but |
We may infer from his Columbus
speech. made Aug. II, 1907. where he |
discusses the subject, that he is unaI- |
terably opposed to governmental op-
eration of railroads. either with or |
without governmental ownership. he
cause he believes in the doctrine Of in
dividualism and does not believe in
that OF socialism.
Sees Grafters' Opposition
Il realize that those who expect to
derive an advantage from a violation
Of the law cannot look with hope to the
election of Mr.. Taft, and that this an
plies to railroads as Well as other con-
Germs. But no just person need take
alarm at this fact. Indeed. the public
should learn to know that the best |
railroad men of today fully appreciate.
even II no higher motive controIlej |
them. that honest policies ami respect
for the law are essential to the sue |
cessful management of their charges.
I'm view of Mr.. Taft's position ON
tnese important questions as shown by
the quotation / have made from, his
letter of acceptance and from his we'll
known attitude in the matter of rail-
road regulation as contrasted with
government operation, and from his
further Just statements that the pros
perity OF railroad employees is insepara-
bly, interviewer with the prosperity of
the railroads themselves. it seems to
me every intelligent and thoughtfui
railroad man from president to section
man should vote and work for the
man who publicly stands for every
thing that is vital to the well being of |
railroads and railroad men.
This is a question in which We all /