Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-12
NO MORE ENMITY
IF ROADS ARE GOOD
No Recurrence Of Agitation if
Railways Have Regard for Pub
lie, Association Declares-Fin-
ley and Others Are Heard.

NEW YORK, Nov. 11.-There will be
no recurrence of public agitation
against railroads If the reasonable desire
Of their patrons are not disregarded by
the management of railroads, is the
theme Of the annual report of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Railway Bush
ness association, which met here yester-
day. The report says:
THE public, speaking through boards
of trade, through the press and through
political representatives, has shown that
employers asking only fair and moder-
ate consideration of measures affecting
them, are welcome, and has cordially
acknowledged the worthiness of our mo-
tive, our right to be heard, and our
frankness conceding the need of regula-
ton as we'll as of some voluntary chang
es in railroad practice.
THE railroad officials, on the other
hand, have been convinced, by the very
cordiality of our reception at the hands
of the public, that the greatest success
lies in the conference, Cancellation and
concession as practiced in the diploma
cies of competitive commerce.
RAILROADS CONCILIATORY.
'It is our settled conviction that no
real benefit can come from a general
program Of obstruction to regulation.
Regulation has come to stay. There
will be commissions, whether railroads
like 1t or not. The railroads through
special magazines. bulletins and other
wise are urging their men to meet the
public desires.
Portions of the public often ask what
they ought not to have and what II is
not in the public interest for them to
have. An appalling mass of bills con-
fronts congress and every state legis-
lature at every session. 1t is physical
ly impossible for legislatures to spread
their attention over so many sugges-
tons and still give adequate heed to
the prevention of mistakes in the bills
which become laws.
1--WE find It nevertheless, to be the
conviction of many business men and
others that a large part of the antago-
nism to railroads has its origin in dis
pleasure over what seems to them In
considerate treatment given by the rail-
roads. Our representations might go
far to solve the whole question. II we
could induce the railroads to redouble
their efforts in the direction of strength
ening the personnel of those grades Of
their employees who come most in con-
tact with the public and have most to
do with forming public opinion.
Many thoughtful observers look for
ward with grave apprehension to another
reaction of public feeling against the rail-
roads. Disregard of the reasonable de-
sires of railroad patrons inflame those
who are Immediately affected by them,
and give opportunity for arousing wide
spread resentment among the masses of
the people. II the return to prosperity
and the present recession of hostility
against the railroads should foster heed
lessness and reult In lapse into practice
upon Just criticism. this will furnish ma
teriaI for a new anti-railroad campaign.
To avert this calamity, the best efforts
of all concerned and especially those
closely concerned should be freely given"
LETTER FROM MR.. FINLEY.
The panic of 1907 might have been less
severe had the railroads been able to
maintain their normal level of expendi-
lures is the opinion expressed in a letter
from w. w. Finley. president of the
Southern Railway company.
William c.. Brown. president of New
York Central lines, I'm a speech at the
dinner of the association, said that the
question OF railroad regulation admitted
of no further debate but that the extent
to which it should be exercised was still
open for discussion.
Representative w. P. Hepburn, Of Iowa.