American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-12-04

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 a safe investment.
There is, too, upon the part of
the public. a belief that the COM
pany is largely engaged in politics.
We imagine this feeling is caused
by the fact that in the past. simply
from the standpoint of self-preserv-
alton, certain corporations were al
most compelled to be in politics;
but in these days, when the
tendency is to place all corporations
and trust affairs into the hands of
a central body, such as the Inter
state Commerce Commission and
local state commissions, ETC., to
deal with the conduct of business
such as ours, being in politics, as
believed by the public, would be a
foolish thing and entirely unneces-
sary. This is, therefore, to state
emphatically 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 a campaign
like this, that u 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 pub
lie are inclined to be fair, and that
1t is not so much the question OF
what u telephone rates are as II
IS that when we make a state
ment regarding them, and SHOW
our true financing. that we shall b.
honest, and that the public shall
know that we are honest. Tha
when We make a statement as t
our profits and earning, shown
just where the dollar that our sub
scriber pays us goes, the public ma
know that we are not trying to dc
ceive them or keep anything bac
that should be shown. When W
honestly do this and our positio
seems to be just and right, we be
lieve that the fairness of the pub
lie will sustain us.
We are going to set forth Tn,
Inherent difficulties of giving mi
versal telephone service. Thes.
articles and letters are not TO h,
a piece of special pleading or adroi.
use OF words, but a clear business
like setting forth of facts. w,
hope before We get through. botl
ourselves and the public win under
stand each other better. There i,
at least no harm to be done in trv.
ing to accomplish this desired re-.
suit.
1t IS our aim to educate, please
and satisfy the public and to he
educated ourselves. It seems 70
us that every corporation has the
right of selfdefense the same as AN
Individual. The public has the sam.
right. Listen to our defense and
we will listen to yours. No problom
mas ever been harder for rs than
Just now We We're going to let the
public know truly about rs h,,4
We believe that no problem wos
ever more important to both. If we
really can make you feel tha+ vo,,
are a partner in our business. VIC
snah ave accomplished much A
large part of the problem will bo
solved, If we can only brine The
public through education r.
ful understanding that there i J
mutual dependence between a.
public service corporations ana 49,
public and that public prosperity