The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-10-02
Quit Harrassing.

over the action Of the Missouri Press ,
Association, In protesting. 10y resou-
tion, against the harras~ing and EN-. I
barrass.ng the railroads, 10y every way
possible. and ask tie pubic and legis.
lative bodies 10 aid the railways IN
every honorable way. 10 obtain sui.
| iirlcnt remuneration TO enable them
to render high.cia,> service aud To- re-
establish railway securities IL 4 high
class Investment.
! In recent interview President u.
/ T.. Bush, Of tie Missouri Pacific ran.
way, stated that Ia his upiui,n tie
/ railroads IT thr country Wr'r facing
crisis. aud that lhr Lurnpran war
vas irjutiou-iy affecting 'hrr,ilroads
. OF tie country more than any other
/ industry.
Some t"o weeks age the officials n
/ the leading Eastern railroads called
assistance IN obtaining rrucariny,
at tie hands ot tie Interstate Com.
| mrtce Commission. Uf their petition
asking for a uniform Increase Of ) per
cent In freight rates. President Wi.
son was favorabl impressed with the
Arguments advanced by the railroad
officials aud seemingly left them un.
der the impression that lac would use
his good offices IN their behalf. but
stated that he had no authority TO In.
teriere with, or any right confluence,
the rulings Of tie Interstate Com.
mercc Commission.
Tie leading papers uf tie country,
press associations, manufacturers,
and IN fact, the great commercial In
terests Of the country, are advocating
increased freight and passenger rates
for the railroads, and have repeatedly
pointed out why IL was impossible for
the railroads to continue their bust.
ness proiitably unless some relief Il
extended them through an increase
In rates, both freight and passenger.
Owing TO the adverse ruling Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission on
the petition OF the Eastern railroads,
the Western railroads seemingly con.
cluded that there was little TO he
gained by their filing such petition.
However, as stated by President Bush,
In his able article In the st. Louis Re.
public Of September IL, conditions
have gradually grown worse; operat
Ing expenses have increased, net earn.
ings have decreased, and owing to the
European war, the net earnings OF
the railroads are suffering and are
threatened with even greater impair.
ment. II Is quite clear to any think.
Ing person that the original request
Of the Eastern railroads for a ) per
cent increase should have been grant.
ed when asked, but II there was any
doubt, such doubt has been removed
by reason Of existing conditions. A
rehearing should be granted and q
uniform increase OF ) per cent should
he allowed.
As to Western railroads, We believe
Il Is up to the Public Service Commits.
sion Of Missouri TO lead the way by
Immediately permitting the rest ora
tion Of the old passenger rate and per.
hitting general increase IN freight
rates. Missouri cannot await aotiol
at the hands Of the Interstate Com.
merce Commission.
II Is up to Missouri to save It's rail
roads from bankruptcy and financial
ruin. We have already had receiver.
ships for the Wabash and Frisco rail.
roads, and lie timely words Of warn.
ing which we're delivered by Mr.. Bush
merely forecast What viii happen as
To all our railroads, unless immediate
relief Is granted and assistance forlL-
coming.
Tia day has come when act lon can
no longer he delayed, and each hour
OF delay threatens the prosperity Of
the grand State OF Missouri and Its
people. II the government cannot as.
sist the railroads In general, the State
Of Missouri can at least aid and assist
those operated within It's boundaries
and should do SO.
THE SENTINEL urges Its readers, ev-
cry fair.minded individual, every per.
son In authority and every person Of
influence with such persons IN au-
thority. to their best efforts In secur-
Ing action In behalf Of the railroads,
This Is the time for all good men to
come TO the aid OF the railroads.