Arizona republican., 1913-12-01

They have all paid dollar for dollar in cash, at par, into the treasury of our company, for every share they hold, and they have simply come into our company because they believed it to be safe investment.
 There is, too, upon the part of the public, a 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 f-preservation, cer- tain corporations were almost com pelled to be in politics; but in these days, when the tendency is to place all corporations and trust affairs into the hands of d 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 foolish thing and entirely unneces- sary. This is, therefore, to state em- phaticaIly 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
 
 starting a campaign like this, that our efforts would be futile; that our subscribers would turn out to be selfish 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 ques- tiOn of what our telephone rates are as it is that when we make a state ment regarding them, and show our true financing, that we shall be hon est, and that the public shall know that we are honest That when we make d statement as to our profits and earnings, showing just where the dollar that our subscribers pays us goes, the public may know that we are not trying 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 fair ness of the public will sustain us
 We are going to set forth the 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 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 edu- cated ourselves. It 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 will listen to yours No problem has ever been harder for us than just how We were going to let the pubic know truly about us, but We believe that no problem was ever more lhl- portant to both. If we really can make you feel that you are part ner in our business. We shall have accomplished much. A large part ol the problem will be solved, if we can only bring the public, through education. to a full understanding that there is mutual dependence between the public service corpora tions and the public. and that public