The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-05-03

The idea of a banquet for the Of
ficials of the Northwestern railway
was a good one. and should result in
bringing the railroad company and our
city into closer and more harmonious
relations We trust an invitation will,
in the near. future. be extended to the
officials Of the Illinois Central railway
and that they will consent to become
the guests of the Commercial club
1t is a good thing for the railroads
and the communities through which
they pass to become better acquainted
and meetings such as the one held on
Friday night should aid in bringing
about a better understanding. The
inevitable results must be to re-
move prejudices that grow up
from the policy Of standing off at
arms length from each other. 1t is
not to be understood that ban
quet rendered by the city to the Of
ficials of the railroad company will
1cSull III SStIliIeo IiiS ioetS W N'A A.o
trains according to the wishes OF the
community, unless it is able to show
good reasons for SO doing. Railroads
are not social organizations by no
means, to be f1attered and controlled
by attentions of this character. They
are run for financial profit and to
-, 1>L low.
and they rather incline to resent out
side suggestions and interference in
the details of their management. I'm
til recently they denied the right of
the government to control them in any
respect, but are now compelled to
recognize that they are creatures OF
the law and necessarily subject to it,
and to such reasonable control as the
government may see fit to impose upon
them But it required more than
banquet on the part of the government
to convince them it was their duty to
submit to such control 1t is safe, how
ever. to assert that Notwithstanding
their Indifference and selfshness their
active friendship is preferable to their
Indifference or hostility, and when in
friendly way representatives Of the
road and the business men OF COM
munity meet and talk over their diff
ferences good results must necessarily
follow 1t is said that the exchange
of views at the meeting on Friday
night induced promises on the part
of the company of certain reforms for
which Denison has for some time been
contending. If nothing more comes
from the banquet than the granting
of these reforms there is reason for
congratuation. 1t may be that the
substantial demands of the city may
not be granted on mere request, but
if not and we are entitled to them,
there is a way to secure them and in
time the remedy can be applied, but
we all feel better that the city made
an effort by friendly means to secure
the concessions which we feel are so
essential to our comfort and conven-
fence. II we do not secure by friend
~ efforts what we determine we are
entitled to, there will be plenty of
time to use the stronger remedies,
and it is to be hoped that without
further efforts a full measure of
recognition may be given us by the
railroad company.
There are certain trains which do
not stop here at present which the
business men of Denison insist upon
having stop, but we believe the agita-
ton started in this direction will re-
suit in the company's consenting to
having them stop. In the meantime
let no one imagine that the banquet
was mistake.