The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-30
President Ripley Of Santa Fe
Answers Editorial.
Policy of . Railway President
Is Discussed.
RESIGNATION IS HIS DUTY
Ripley Criticises Man Who
Hangs On to . Job.
Other Items of Interest in the
Traffic World.

E. p. Ripley, president Of the Atch.
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
company. who keeps in tune with pub.
lie sentiment by reading all the news
papers printed along his lines, submits
to the Wichita Eagle a few comments
about an editorial which lately ap-
peared in that paper under the cap
ton, Hard Luck for the Railroads
II ask your indulgence to this ex-
tent in the interest of fair play to
the railways that are honestly and eff
ficiently managed" President Ripley
says. You truthfully say in your ed
itorial that unless the railroads are in
mt shape. and can be operated profit
ably, the entire country must suffer
SO vital in modern life is this thing OF
transportation. Then you, spoil it all
by declaring that the railroads are,
however. in the situation of the prodi-
gal son who returns busted after hav-
ing sQuandered his sustenance in a
riotous carousal' In your description
of the 'carOusaP you mention the New
Haven anc the Frisco as the principal
participants, but the editorial is SO
general in terms that it possibly gives
some of your readers the impression
that all the railroads are 'tarred with
the same stick / am sure you will
agree with me that all the railroads
are not SO tarred. and that is what I
want to make plain to readers Of the
Eagle.
YOU quote the president of the
New Haven road as saying, after his
ever to do with the financial policy of
the railway; that he simply was the
operating head. 1 am somewhat fear
ful that readers. judging from the
tone of your article, will think you
have in mind that railway presidents
generally handle their jobs in that
manner. I hasten to say the idea that
the policy of a railway is dictated by
the directors in opposition to the
wishes of the president is folly. No
president of any road Of consequence
is ignored in financial matters, and the
cases are rare indeed where his wishes
are ignored. or a policy, financial or
other, adopted against his will. II
railway president disagrees with a
policy that is being pursued, and for
which he, as the principal officer, is
rightfully held responsible by the pub
lie, he should resign, and make public
his reasons for doing SO. II in his opin-
ion there is danger in store for the
public or the stockholders.
ITO condemn all railroads because
two were badly handled would be the
same as condemning all government
because Mexico and Turkey have
made a botch of it; the same as con-
demning all newspapers because some
of them are venal. One retired rail-
way president having said he had
nothing to do with the financial policy
Of his company. you reach the conclu-
sion that a railroads prosperity can
not be argued upon freight rates when
the railroads financial condition is
such a remote subject for actual rail-
roading.' What. pray, has the railway
to sell? Only one thing-transporta-
tion-and the railways prosperity, or
lack Of it, cannot be argued on any,
thing but rates.
You ask, Why should the public
which is concerned in the price of
service, be concerned whether a roads
earnings are adequate?
You answered that question in the
second paragraph OF the editorial,
when you said: Unless the railroads
are in fit shape. and can be operated