Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-12-05
An Open Letter to the
Telephone Using Public

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
believe it to be safe investment.
There is, too, upon the part of the pub
lie, belief that the company is largely
engaged in politics. We imagine this
feeling is caused by the fact that in the
past, simply from the standpoint of self
preservation, certain corporations were
almost compelled 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 business such as
ours, being in politics. as believed by
the public, would be a foolish thing and
entirely unnecessary. This is, there
fore, to state emphatically that we are
not, either directly or indirectly, in pol
itics, 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 CAM
paign 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
il 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 a statement as 10 our profits
and earnings, showing just where the
dollar that our subscriber 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
fairness of the public will sustain us.
We are going to set forth the Inherent
difficulties of giving universal 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 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.
1t is our aim to educate, please and
satisfy the public and to be educated
ourselves. 1t seems to us that every
corporation has the right of self-defense,
the same as an individual. The public
has the same right. Listen to our de-
fense and we will listen to yours. Nc
problem has ever been harder for us
than Just how we were going to let the
public know truly about us, but we be-
lieve that no problem was ever more
! important to both. If 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, if we can only bring the pub
lie, through education, to full under
standing that there is mutual depend
ence between the public service CORPORA
,ions and the public. and that public
prosperity depends largely upon the