The Ordway new era., 1913-12-05

hold, and they have simply come int
our company because they believed it t
be safe investment.
There is, too, upon the part of tn
public, a belief that the company i
largely engaged in politics. We imag
inc this feeling is caused by the fac
that in the past, simply from the stand
point of self-preservation, certain cor
porations were almost compelled to b,
In politics; but in these days, when tn,
tendency is to place all corporations ant
trust affairs into the hands of a centra
body, such as the Interstate Commerc,
Commission and local state commissions
etc, to deal with the conduct of bust
ness such as ours, being in politics, a.
believed by the public, would be fool
ish thing and entirely unnecessary. This
is, therefore, to state emphatically thai
we are not, either directly or indirectly
in politics, in any way, shape or manner
and shall not be.
We are going to attempt to give you
the entire story as to our rates. We
have been told. when stating to some OF
the public that we proposed starting 9
be futile; that our subscribers would turn
out to be selfish and only look toward
the end of getting as cheap telephone
rates as possible. We do not believe
this. We believe that the great ma
jority of the public are inclined to be
fair, and that it is not so much the ques-
ton of what our telephone rates are as
it is that when we make . statement re-
garding them, and show our true financ-
ing, that we shall be honest and that the
public shall know that we are honest.
That when we make a statement as to
our profits and earnings, showing just
do tkuf % vi ihlpv n IN q
us goes. the public may know that we
are not trying to deceive them or keep
anything back that should be shown.
When we honestly do this and our posi-
tion seems to be just and right, we be-
lieve that the fairness of the public will
sustain us.
We are going to set forth the inherent
difficulties of giving universal telephone
service. These articles and letters are
not to be piece of special pleading or
adroit use of words. but a clear, BUSH
ness-like setting forth of facts. We
hope, before we get through, both our
selves and the public will understand
each other better. There is at least no
harm to be done in trying to accomplish
this desired result.
1t is our aim to educate, please and
satisfy the public and to be educated
ourselves. 1t seems to US that every
corporation has the right of self-defense,
the same as an individual. The public
has the same right. Listen to our de-
fense and we will listen to yours No
problem has ever been harder for us
than just how We were going to let the
public know truly about us. but we be-
lieve that no problem was ever more inn
portant to both. If we really can make
you feel that you are partner in our
business, we shall have accomplished
much. A large part of the problem will
be solved, if we can only bring the pub
lie, through education, to full under
standing that there is n mutual depend
ence between the public service corpor-
atoms and the public, and that public
prosperity depends largely upon the
utilities that bring them in contact with
each other. and that the more nearly
perfect in efficiency and sufficiency the
utilities serving the public are, the more