The Elk Mountain pilot., 1913-12-04
Denver, Colorado, November soth, 1913.

The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company
in the consideration of its future development recognizes
that its highest interests public utility lie in establishing
the closest and most friendly relationship with the public
GENERALLY and with its patrons in particulars therefore, 1t Is
the purpose of The Mountain States Telephone and Te!e
graph Company through this announcement to naugurate
what he termed advertising educational series OF
to its customers 1t is our hope that this campaign may
mark in the relation of the public utility corpo
work both ways-tha the public learn the truth about
and that may learn how the public regard US, and
words what just and right and to the people and to
convince the public that will voluntarily remedy any
wrongs doing if pointed out to
We shall show you financial affairs frankly and freely
1t happens that financing has been of such nature
that it is easyfor clearly show to this side Of our al
fairs. What by this is, that have absolutely
water in stock we have no bonds preferred stock
and mortgage of any kind upon which fixed char
ges We have invested in plant mt its present
placement value than issue of common Stock and we
have other stock issued than the common stock There
are no wheels within wheels nor companies within compan
les absorb profits We finance ourselves from to year
by selling stock to the people, at not less than
par, in the states in which we operate -
When tell the story of financing will prove
You that there have been any fortunes large small
made out of the manipulation OF our stock-n other words
high financing has been done in connection with The
Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company, its
predecessor The stock has had speculative value;
it has been, and is now simply safe investment
There is great misunderstanding upon the part OF the
public to this side of business Persons with utter
Tor motives striking for office, and newspapers wishing to
give startling (ee below frequently publish stor
les OF how rich certain officials of company Right
now this is being done with the
We suppose these stories out OF the belief OF GER
tain of the public that the executive officials OF our com
pany the entire plant. 1t absurcd for these
tive officials of company merely trustees OF the prop
erty for the stockholders, and Of them rich
have they very heavy holding Of the stock 1t is true
that certain reputed ch have large holdings OF the
stock of company-some Of them being our Board
of Directors-but of them has made money
whatsoever of dealing stock They have all paid
dollar for dollar in cash. par into the treasury of
company every share they hold and they have simply
into company because they beived it to be safe
investment.
There upon the part Of the public. belief that the
company is largely engaged in politics We imagine this
feeling caused by the fact that in pa simply from
the standpoint self preservaon certain corporations
almost compelled be in politics; but in these days,
when the tendency place all corporations and trust af
fairs into the hands of central body, such the Inter
Commerce Commission and local state commissions,
to deal with conduct of businesses such being in
and entirely unnecessary This is therefore, to state
pacaly that not, either directly indirectly in
politics, in way shape manner, and shall not be-
We going attempt give you the entire story as to
rates. We have been told when stating to of the
public that proposed starting campaign like this, that
efforts would be futile: that subscribers would turn
out to be selfish and only look toward the end OF getting
cheap telephone rates as possible. We do not believe
this We believe that the great majority of the public are
inclined to be fair and that it is much the question
of what telephone as it that when make
statement regarding them and show true financing that
shall be honest and the public may know that
honest That when make statement as to our profits
The Mountain States Telepht