Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1913-12-06

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they have simply come into our
company because They believed It 10
be safe investment,
There is, too, upon the part of the
public, a belief that the company is
largely engaged in politics. We mag
inc this feeling is caused by the fact
that in the past, SIMPLY from the
stand ont of sell pres ervaticn, certain
corporations were almost compelled
to be in politics; but in these days,
when the tendency lis to place all cor
porations and trust affairs into the
hands of a central body, such as the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
local state commissions, ETC., to deal
with the conduct of business such as
ours, being in politics, as believed by
the public, would be foolish thing
and entirely unnecessary. This is,
therefore, to state emphatically that
We are not, either directly or indirect
y, in politics, in amy 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 a campaign like this, that
our efforts would be futile; that our
subscribers would turn out to be sci,
fish and only look toward the end
of getting as 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 not so much the
question of what our telephone rates
are as it Is that when We make, a
statement regarding them, and show
our true financing, 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 where the dollar hat our sub
scrlber pays us goes, the public may
know that we are not trying To de-
ceive them or keep anything back
that should DE shown. When we
honestly do this and our position
seems to be just and right, we be-
heve that the fairness of the pub
lie will sustain us.
We are going to set forth he in
herent difficulties of giving univer-
sal telephone service. These articles
and letters are not to be a piece
of special pleading or, adroit use of
words, but a clear, business-like set
ting forth of facts. We hope. before
we get through, both ourselves and
the public will understand each 9th
er better There is at least no
harm to be done in trying to accom-
plish this desired result.
1t Is our aim to educate, please
and satisfy the public and to be ed
ucated ourselves. 1t seems to US
that every corporation has the right
of self-defense, the same as an indi-
vidual. The public has the same
right. Listen to our defense and we
win listen to yours. No problem
has ever been harder for us than
just how we We're going to let the
public know truly about us, BIT we
believe that no problem was ever more
important to both. If We really can
make you feel that You are part
ner in or business we shall have
much. A large part OF
the problem will be solved, If We can
only bring the public, through educa- /
ton, to full understanding that there
Is a mutual dependence between the
public service corporations and the
public, and that public prosperity
depends largely upon the utilities
that bring them in contact with
.atas TeIanhnne and TeIe