The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-05

men as had come up from the ranks,
powerful, assertive, forceful men, who
had won their spurs by showing that
they knew how to control men and
to get things done. A man so schooled
in the exercise of authority naturally
carries the trails SO developed into
a position of greater authority The
forcefulness that enabled him to OBJ
tain results in minor position is re-
doubled as he comes to a more impor-
tant position to deal with wider va
rtety of questions and "A greater num-
Der of obstacles. Thus it came about
that the railroad presidents. vice
presidents and general managers of
this second generation. while of
greater railroad experience than those
of the first, were none the less force
full. They were confident in their own
Judgment, impatient of argument. ac-
custoned to decide for themselves and
to have their decisions carried out
They partook' of the military charac-
ter. They were as the generals with
whom action follows thought who do
their duty without talking about it,
thinking little and caring little what
the public says of their actions. The
developing railway regime was char
acterized by the Capitalization of au-
thority. Rules and regulations began
to crystalline; there were presidents
even in emergencies, From central
offices instructions radiated through
division superintendent and through
out the ranks of trainmen, trackmen
and shopmen. The developing HER
archy approached the military. AS
the soldier obeys or grumbles over
the instructions of his officers with
out concerning himself about the pub
lie, so also did the railway employe
Traffic Rivalry Grows.
1t was along In the time OF this
second generation Of railway officers
that competition for traffic became
more intense. Railways had been
more lines connected the principal
centers of the United States The era
of rebates, cut rates. Determinations.
both secret and open, between per-
sons. places and commodities was at
hand. Shippers who could not get
rebates were incensed because others
did. Centers of production and OF dis
trihution that did not have rates
which they deemed as favorable as
those OF competing centers vociferated
their complaints
1hC pea ica Va CANSEhitS tpltipCA4~
ton for traffic. together with the Sc
we're financial depression beginning
with 1879. and that was largely
brought about by the too rapid con-
struction Of railways, caused many
of them to go into bankruptcy. Re-
organizations in many cases meant a
scaling down of capital, which caused
loss to investors. In other cases new
issues were made extending over long
~ sRtt "a
total outstanding capital of many of
the systems. This, together with the
fragrant acts of certain spectators, led
to the cry OF overcapitalization.
Prior to that developed use Of the
savings banks and life insurance COM
panies which has received its principal
impetus and has been most pronounced
within the last generation. railway
stocks and securities afforded little
opportunity for the investment OF
those with small savings; it was only
those who accumulated capital who
were the owners of railway stocks and
bonds. and but small proportion of
the population had attained such
wealth. The office-seeker, making
capital of vociferated grievances in
his solicitude for votes, did not tread
on the toes of those among whom he
lived when he denounced the rail-
arm of the government in resisting
their Entertainments and their exac-
tons.
Reason For Distrust.
A prime reason, however, IL not
the foremost reason. for the popular
slisaffection. against the railroads was
the fact that in many ways the prin-
ciples necessarily underlying their con-
duct were different from those appli-
h,.rt ina moi
mentary principles to be sure, but the
technical principles Immediately gov
erning practice. These principles
were not only not understood by the
public in general, but they were not
understood by the railroad men them
selves, who were doing the work that
had to be done, struggling with the
problems that Immediately confronted
them, with little time or inclination
to develop the philosophy OF the new
and rapidly extending form OF activi-
ty On the other hand, the lawmakers
in the various States have, with but
few exceptions, not been given to
economic analysis OF the transporta-
ton industry Individual complaints
have bene made the basis of general
laws; drastic and injurious legislation
has been passed with little or no de-
bate, and oftentimes practically with
out consideration. This in some de-
gree would seem to be accounted for
by the fact that the whole people do
not regard the railroad as really OF
themselves. as part of the bond and
sinew OF the nation. They cannot but
be aware that II this country were to
be deprived Of the railroads there
would be an indescribable recession
In its activities. bat nevertheless In
some of the States attacks upon the
railroads haxe beer so upspaEipG that
1t would seem to be the purpose to
cripple. II not TO drive them out Of
existence. Articles and cartoons In
the popular magazines indicate that
ths body Of the people have not In