Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-25
ORGANIZED woRkMEN APPLAUD
Recommendations FAVOR.
ING TELEaRAPHs.
SIMILAR EFFORT MADE
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Jay Gould Once Defeated Senator
Who Advocated Government Owner.
ship-Not Expected That TAFT Will
Concur in seerstary's Plan-Asita.
ton Will Not Cease.
Especial Correspondence

Especial COrreSpOnoence.J
Washington, Jan. 25.-Postmaster
General Hitchcock, in recommending
government ownership Of the telegra phi
lines, to be used as a part of the pos
tai system. has taken step which is
warmly approved by leaders of organ
lied labor. Organized labor journals
are calling attention to this fact and
to the fact that government ownership
Of the telegraph has been advocated by
the American Federation Of Labor fol
years.
In this connection, there is recalled
some interesting history. Something
like twenty years ago, Senator n. p.
Hill. of Colorado, introduced in the
United States senate what was known
at the time as the postal telegraph bill.
It's Introduction caused a furore. sena-
tor Hill was frnportuned to let the bill
remain in committee. He was urged
to suspend his activity In behalf of it.
He refused to do SO, tho there was APP
parently no hope Of its being reported
out Of committee
Gould Defeats Hill.
Gould was at the height of his power.
He Controlled the destiny Of the tele-
graph business and he did not like the
notion Of government ownership of the
telegraph lines. Eventually Senator
Hill became candidate for reelection
and the Gould interests, 1t is charged.
spent s25o,0oo in Colorado and defeated
Senator Hill.
Since that time, tho there has been
more or less discussion Of the govern
ment taking over the telegraph lines,
there has not been anything like a well
directed effort to secure legislation.
Taft Will Not Concur.
Nobody expects Presiden, Taft to
concur In the recommendation OF the
postmaster general. The mystery as to
why Mr.. Hitchcock made the recon-
mendation has never been solved. It is
known. however, that Mr.. Hitchcock
has not taken the question up sudden
ly. he has been looking into it and
has had experts Of the postonice de-
spartnlent looking into It for something
like two years. In fact, ne began hav-
Ing It investigated soon after he en-
tered office This fact is cited by the
friends Of Postmaster General Hitch
cock to refute the charges that in.
making the Recommendation he was
animated solely by political motives.
Agitation Will Continue.
The fact that the administration Wilt
not stand for the recommendation OF
government ownership Of telegraph
lines. however, IL not going to halt the
agitation and discussion Of It. AS a
matter Of fact there is a great deal Of
quiet support IN congress for the pro-
position. And from this time forth it
Is likely to be heard in congress a good
deal more than It has been in the past.
Indeed. some Of the democrats are al
ready talking about grabbing Hitch
cocks idea and annexing II like unto
the manner in which William, Jennings
Bryan charges that the republicans
have annexed much OF his thunder.
Those who favor this idea point out
that Metropolitan could not charge
them with radicalism now that a re-
publican postmaster general had advo-
Gated government ownership.
Among progressive republicans, there
IL much sympathy with the Hitchcock
notion. And along this line, there is
much support for the idea Of the gov
eminent taking over the express lines.