The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-12-04

ever out of dealing in our stock. The
have all paid dollar for dollar, in cash
at par, into the treasury of our com
lpany, for every share they hold, an
they have simply come into our com
pany because they believed it to be
safe investment.
There is, too, upon the part of tn
public belief that the company il
largely engaged in politics. We mag
inc this feeling is caused by the fac
that in the past, simply from tn,
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 fool
ish thing and entirely unnecessary.
This is, therefore, to state emphati-
cally 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
starting campaign like this, that our
efforts would be futile; that our sub
scribers would turn out to be selfish
and only look toward the end of get
ting as cheap telephone rates as pos
sible. 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 statement as
to our profits and earnings, showing
just where the dollar that our sub
scriber pays US goes, the public may
know that we are not trying to de-
ceive 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 piece of spe-
cial pleading or adroit use of words,
but clear business-like setting forth |
Of facts. We hope, before we get
both ourselves and the public
will understand each other better
There is at least no harm to be done
n trying to accomplish this desired
result.
1t is our aim to educate, please and
satisfy the public and to be educated
ourselves. 1t seems to US that every
has the right of self de-
ense, the same as an individual. The
public has the same right. Listen
o our defense and we will listen TO
ours. No problem has ever been
arder for US than just how we were
.oing to let the public know truly
bout us, but we believe that no prob
en- was ever more important to both. '
f we really can make you feel that '
GU are a partner in our business, we '
hall have accomplished much. A
irge part of the problem will be
olved, if we can only bring the pub '
c, through education, to full under &
landing that there is a mutual de- i
Evidence between the public service c
and the public, and thatcii