The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-01-29
RAILWAYS AND THE PEOPLE.
Discussed by President Finley Of the
Southern.

Mr.. W. W. Finley, president Of the
Southern Railway Company, was one
of the speakers at the annual dinner
of the New Haven Chamber Of Com
merce in the Yale University dining
hall Thursday evening. Mr.. Finley
spoke on Estate Of Mind. He quot
ed from recent magazine article by
President-elect Wilson as follows:
Don't you think that some man
with eloquent tongue, without con-
science, who did not care for the ma
ton, could put this whole country
into a flame? Don't you know that
this country, from one end to anotn-
or, believes that something Is wrong?
What an opportunity it would be for
some man without conscience to
spring up and say: This Is the way.
Follow me'-and lead N paths OF de-
structIon."
Mr.. Finley followed this by quo
tation from NJ. Gustave Le Bon's
book entitled 1.-The Crowd, a Study
Of the Popular Mind" showing the
small part often played by reason
ing public opinion in economic truth
the ease with which It may be sway
ed by affirmation and repetition.
He argued that these quotations de-
monstrated the wisdom Of so ground
ing public opinion In economic truth
respecting the problems Of the day
that mere affirmation and repetition
could not lead to the belief that
wrongs existed where they did not.
Referring to the problems relating
to transportation as among those as
to which public opinion should be
well grounded, Mr.. Finley went on
to deal with the economic truths af-
fecting transportation from various
points of view as basis for an In
telligent public opinion and the fair
attitude OF the public mind as to the
railway system of the United States.
Pointing out that the transportation
system of the country was made up
OF the country highways, the water
ways, and the railways, each impor-
tant In it's particular field, he show
ed the relative magnitude OF the rail-
way system and Its importance as a
factor in civilization, national pro-
gress and development, and gave a
passing glance at some of the prob
lens Of railway management. Con-
tinuing, he said:
1.-THE railways of the United States
| give to society a transportation ser
| yIce that Is more comprehensive
from year to year. They perform this
service at rates Of compensation that,
on the whole, are lower than those
| paid for similar service in any other
country. They give employment d.
rectly or indirectly, to millions OF
our fellow-cithens and expend such
vast sums in the purchase of supplies
and materials that not only. the IN
dustrial life, but the general prosper
aty Of the country, are. largely de-
pendent upon the maintenance OF
their wage-paying and purchasing
power.
"In return for their service to 60
ciety the railways ask frona society
not as a favor but as a right, that
after they have been subjected tc
such regulation as will protect the
rights of the public they shall Dc
protected in their property rights
and shall be permitted TO enjoy sucf
q measure Of liberty in the manage
ment Of their affairs as Is necessar!
| 70 the success of any business under
taking. It IS just as true to-day ane
| in the United States as it was l,so'
wears ago in Judea that the laoorel
ia worthy Of his hire.
| "This great American enterprise =
willing to be judged oy the STANDARD
recently proposed by our distinguish
| ed citizen. the president-elect. in hi
question, Are YOU giving anything
to society when you wen 20 1aA
eomathing ont Of society,"