The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-12-02

dollar, in cash, at par, into the treas
ury Of our company, for every share
they hold. and they have simply come
into our company because they be-
lieved II to be safe Investment.
There is, too, upon the part Of the
public, belief that the company is
largely engaged in politics. We imag..
inc this feeling is caused by the fact
that in the past, simply from the
standpoint of self preservation, Ger.
tain corporations were almost COM
PEELED to be in politics; but In these
days, when the tendency Is to place
all corporations and trust affairs into
the hands OF central body, such as
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and local state commissions, etc., to
deal with the conduct of businesses
such as ours, being in politics, as be-
lieved by the public, would be a fool
ish thing and entirely unnecessary.
This is, therefore, to state emphatic
ally that 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
c<orxtp~ N m m low ItLa th;c that
our efforts would be futile: that our
subscribers would turn out to be sell
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 II is not so much the question
of what our telephone rates are as 1t
Is that when we make a statement re-
garding them, and show our true fin
ancing, 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 earn
ings, showing just where the dollar
that our subscriber pays us goes, the
public may know that we are not try
ing to deceive them or keep anything
back that should be shown. When
we honestly do this and our position
seems to be just and right we believe
that the fairness of the public will
sustain us.
We are going to set forth the in
herent difficulties of giving universal
telephone service. These articles and
letters are not to be a piece Of spe-
cial pleading or adroit use Of words,
but clear, business like setting
forth of facts. We hope before we
get through, both ourselves and the
public will understand each other
better. There is at least no harm to
be done in trying to accomplish this
desired result.
It is our aim to educate, please and
satisfy the public and to be educated
ourselves. 1t seems TO us that ev-
cry corporation has the right Of
self defense the same as an individu-
al. The public has the same right.
Listen to our defense 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 believe that
no problem was ever more important
to both. II we really can make you
feel that you are a partner in our
business, we shall have accomplished
much. A large part of the problem
will be solved, II We can only bring
the public, through education. to a
full understanding that there is b
mutual dependence between the pub
lie service corporations and the pub
lie, and that public prosperity de-