Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-06-01

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higher rates must prevail In order 10
yield adequate returns,
Yet there seems always 10 be In the
public mind the suspicion that tho
natural gas company--and other pub
lie service companies-is a veritable
gold mine,
There seems 10 exist misappre-
hcnsion that gas companies make an
enormous profit-far In excess OF
what Is actually earned,
The public, as the buyer, wants the
best service al the lowest possible
price; the gas company, as the seller
wants 10 give the public the best SER
vice at the lowest possible price con
slstent with a legitimate margin Of
profit.
And, as have said before there is
no reason why this profit should not
be as great as the legitimate profit
Of private enterprise.
There is, then, between the public
and the gas company the natural, the
mutual bond that always exists be-
tween buyer and seller.
And my belief is strong that whore
differences exist they are due TO a
lack Of understanding 10 projudiccs
aud antagonisms conceived as the re-
suit OF wrong information or informa-
tion given wrongly,
have an abiding faith in the good
common sense, fairness and honesty
Of the people, and | believe that
when they understand the common
interest that does exist between the
buyer and the seller, our trouble will
be reduced to a minimum.
But how can the public be made to
understand? How can the public be
made TO realize the tremendous,
vital advantages we Offer them? How
can the public be made to appreciate
the ever-in-creasng difficulties under
which we must naturally labor?
That Is the problem confronting the
men who are trying to render salts
factory service. Efficient service and
uniformly courteous treatment Of the
consumel--and l mean the little con-
sumner as well as the big consumer
by officers and men who have moro
interest in their business than the
mere drawing OF salary, is, and will
be, very important factor in bring
ing about the harmonious relations
desired.
II is, indeed, a hopeful sign that so
much thought and energy are being
devoted TO increasing efficiency and
promoting courtesy. II is n trite but
true saying that "Ie who serves best
profits most'--but we must not leave
1t entirey to our service to speak for
itself. The success OF public service
companies depends. as | have indicat-
ed, on clear understanding and ap-
probation by the public Of the service
rendered I personally am inclined
to favor a clear, definite presentation
Of the facts TO the public.
favor this because believe that
an honest, conservative policy Of pub
licity is conducive to the best interest
Of any public service company. But
that policy must be discriminatiye
and discriminating Publicity is not
an unmixed good, but 1t is also not
an unmixed evil. 1t is a two-edged
sword: It cuts both ways. A good
deal depends on the man who is
handling the weapon. He may cut
himself il he rushes into print too
often, or too carelessly. Or he can
cut down opposition and hostile opin-
ion, if he uses frankness and discre-
tion. If you haven't something pleas
ant to say to the public it's u pretty
good rule not to say anything. The
old idea Of making the public it"
was brutal and unchartable, to begin
with. But. what Is more to the point,
it was unbusinesslike. 1t was found
ed on the mistaken idea that good
will wasn't worth anything in dollars
and cents.
The wise manager knows better.
IIe knows that good will is distinct
asset. He knows that if he Is con-
tinually at war with the world, in
his private life, he suffers for it as an
individual And he also knows that
IL he is continuously at war with
public opinion in his commercial
operations he suffers for It as a bust
ness man.
Some editors no doubt abuse their
power, and so do some public service
corporations. Editors as a class, are
just average good men, like the rest
Of us. They have their faults and so
have we. We can't keep the good will
of some papers, no matter how fairly
and squarely we deal It's their busi-
ness to oppose. But in the mass and
as class, publishers will measure up
with the rest OF US at least, and even
If we find them unfair; it's poor busi-
ness to try and fight that unfairness
by angrily rushing into print. The
minute you get angry you too, become
unfair-and the newspaper pounds
you to pieces. You'd far better keep
your temper, and reply temperately
If you reply at all.
What you consider unfair in the
editor. probably seems fair to him.
Try and convince him Of it first, man
to man. If you can't, keep a cool,
still tongue between your teeth. In
the language Of the Mutt and Jeff
cartoons. For the love Of Mike, be
reasonable'-be reasonable about
and beyond everything else. Some
times silence Is the best sort Of pub
licity. That sounds like an Irish bull
but It's true just the same. II you
just refrain from making the hot