The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-03
Talks With Men of
National Prominence
At Washington. d. o.

go -
Should no, the railroads he per
mittcd I" participate in the general
prosperity about which We hear so
much on every side" asked ]. J..
Campton OF Johnson City. Tenn. vice
president and rattle manager OF the
Carolina. Clinchiicld and Ohio railway.
Transportation IL inscparablc from
prosperity. yet the general feeling
seems to prevail that the railroads not
only should he prosecuted, but perse-
cntrd. II is n fact. however. thai tho
railroads have much to do with the
great prosperity that We arc enjoying.
and upon the railroads will depend in
n large measure whether the prosper
lily shall continue. This year Of 1912
is a parallel of 1906. when prosperity
vas greater than II had ever been
known before.
The railroads in that year enjoyed
the largest amount OF business they
had ever had. and their earnings were
NOR" than ever before. hut In the fol-
lowing year tho railroads were drag
god into "ur cases and have been
constantly prosecuted over since. with
the result that today the net earnings
OF the railroads will average less than
amy hig business enterprise in the ma
ton.
Il think the net earnings Of rail-
roads will average less than 3.S per
cont on what it would cost to repro
duce the properties. What big busi-
ness enterprise could continue to do
business on ii like profit? This is not
the worst of II. The earnings Of the
roads arc going TO become less every
Year. I fear. Then when they reach
II stage where all work must stop. II
is hard to say what effect it will have
on general business. Today there are
100000 fewer freight cars available
on all the roads than there were in
1906. and we are face to face with Il
condition where shippers will have to
wait for weeks before cars can he pro-
Htded for transporting the abundant
crops everywhere reported. II Is per-
fcct!y r that the railroads in every
part of the country are doing n larger
volume of business than they have
don" In the last five years-sreatcr.
perhaps. than v @ bcfore-but the
earnings nre n great deal less than
they were previous to 1906. l believe
in government regulation OF business.
! believe tho railroads should be reg
ulated. but they should not h over
rerulated. All the railroads want ia
n living II the opportunity 10 extend
operations. The cost Of material and
Of everything pertaining to the opera
lloh or railroads. IS greater than In any
other line Of work. hut this has never
been taken int consideration.
Business and politics will not mix"
added MIR. Campion. wherever the
attempt Is made business suffers. and
! think tho tendency today is to di-
rorcc politics from business. II this
ran he accomplished. then the rail-
roads may expect some consideration
that will enable them to meet the con-
stantly growing demands made upon
Thorn. which under present conditions
they II do"
West Virginia Republican. lie Says.
Forty thousand plurality would be
n fair estimate OF the republican vote
In West Virginia next November" said
Davis Elkins. former United States
senator. There Is no doubt that the
republicans will win tho state this
year. We shall elect every candidate
Tor state Office. the legislature. and re-
claim the seats in congress which were
taken AWAY from lis two years ago.
"pr. Hatfield. the republican nomi-
nee for governor. will carry the state
by n greater plurality thar ever Was
given Il candidate for tina office. In
III" election Of a legislature We shall
have TO overcome an ADVANTAGE that