Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-03
YOAKUM DISCUSSES
DUTY OF RAILWAYS
SHOULD WORK IN HARMONY
WITH THE PEOPLE
BY Seeking Mutual Interests May
Check Legislation Aaimed at the
Companies and viii Benefit The
General Public.


lieving that peace must be estab-
lished between tie contending for; es
of capital and the public, Leon
| Westm0reland, who has just been
nomina ed as a member OF the Ar
kansas legislature, has written to b.
f. Yoakum, chairman of the Frisco
lines, asking his opinion on the sub
ject, and has received in reply an
interesting letter from the railroad
man.
Mr.. Westmoreland is of the orin-
ion that the remedy for existing
conditions does not lie in legislation.
He declares that he has watched
commerce disturbed by turmoil, and
has watched at the same time the
tide of property in Arkansas going
down. He would like, he says, to see
| his state set the example in bring
ing peace between capital and the
people. This is part of what he
wrote to Mr.. Yoakum:
'The people rise in their Nigh
and throw broadsides Of legislative
canister into your ranks, and you
return it with thirteen-inch proioc-
tiles Of judicial decisions, which rout
them, but add to the animosity or
the Nation The war is going on,
with both factions at fault, and both
sides are losing.
1--WE are holding caucuses instead
Of revivals. Each side holds its par
ticular meetings 10 devise means to
antagonize the other, when we
should meet together to devise
means for the best interests of all
| want TO begin now to work out
this idea, and | want you to help me
81 want to see the railways run
ming up every valley of our state,
and I want to see the smoke Of fac
tories lining every hill. | want
to know what you want in the way
OF legislation and what you will do
if you get it, not what you will do
for me. but what you will do for
the general public"
In his reply, written from New
York, Mr.. Yoakum points out that
there is no doubt in the minds of
thinking people that the "war" that
Is going on between different fac
tions is an economic waste of time
and money upon both sides Mr..
Yoakum writes
The subject of your letter is the
biggest one of the day, and can
only be successfully handled through
a better understanding by the peo-
pie of the railroads and their meth
ods Of dealing with and cooperation
with the different communities they
serve. The inclosed bulletin issued
by the government shows thirty
nine ways the railroads are aiding
in agricultural extensions and de-
velopment Of the country These
problems must be worked out in a
friendly and harmonious manner
and to the mutual benefit of all in
terests.
Several years ago the Frisco
railroad officials inaugurated a sys-
tematic organization to find the best
WAYS and means Of overcoming what
you refer 10 a. useless warfare be-
the railroads and its patrons.
"In the beginning this was dis
couraging. as progress seemed slow,
but our people felt that we were
adopting the only safe plan for sub
stantianl benefit and we have en-
larged our work until we all feel
encouraged.
THE officers Of our company are
directing their attention to bringing
around the most important eonsid-
Grafton to he railroads, WHICH is
the friendship and confidence or tht
public we serve.
I'm the first place. we must ad-
nit as a general principle mankind
is selfish and in business there i
little sentiment. As a rule. a mar
il your friend only as long as yol
; can help him; therefore. he NOR
! YOU can help him. the more it is II
: his advantage to help you.
''The railroad business offer
many opportunities for helping var
ious communities it serves. and on
road is trying to find ways to rem
der such assistance wherever prac
.icable. Our management is tryini
Ia devise the best methods Of reach
ing and convincing the people aloni
: our lire that the railroad is an i'm
: portant part of their business, tha
Il wishes to further the interests Q
! every business and individual wh
Il living or doing business on ii