Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-04-02
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP GROWING.

~ AAo~dA S"S ANS
The tendency towards government ownership is
unmistakable. Men who are opposed 10 it upon prin-
ciple admit that public sentiment is shifting towards
the idea that the eventual solution of the problem of
transportation lies in government ownership.
1t matters not whether the principle involved is
based upon sound reasoning, the fact remains that
there is a growing conviction in the minds of the PEG
pie that in order to bring about an equitable system
for transporting the products of the soil and Of the
factory from the producer to the consumer the govern
ment must undertake the task, taking it out of the
class of profitable vocationS from the standpoint Of
private capital.
1t does not seem to matter, either, that there is a
diversity Of opinion as to the working of the system in
those European countries where government owner
ship has been experimental with for a series of years.
III we seek a reason for the development Of the
idea with respect to government ownership, we need
not 20 far. The men in control of the great avenues of
transportation have been blind to their own interests.
Capital, within certain limitations, has been blind ever
since the dawn of history. 1t has been subject always
10 the manipulation Of human greed. 1t has taken
advantage Of its opportunities to acquire that which
does not legitimately belong to it. In brief, it has been
given to too frequent application Of the principle of
high finance
1t is not to be understood that men of vast resources
have done what men Of lesser means would not
have done had the opportunity arisen; but the state
iaent cannot be refuted that revelations with regard
to manipulation of railroad stocks and bonds within
the past twenty years have been appalling.
The public seems to be getting around to the be-
lief that there is but one way by which these manip-
aiatioas can be stopped, Government ownership, i'll
the opinion Of many students of economic conditions,
appears to offer the best remedy, and in fact the only
safe remedy.
TT is d mistaken policy, the opponents Of the prep
~ostitioa contend, but unless an adequate remedy IS
suggested, and suggested with sufficient logic to MAKE
a favorable impressions, it is useless to point out the
undesirafiity of government ownership.
What the people object to is not the payment OF
such railroad rates as will assure a reasonable return
upon actual investments, but such rates as will afford
d full measure of interest upon water represented
IN the bonds and upon the dividends in the water
with which so much OF the stock is s,rchargea.
Therein lies the difficulty, and the man who shall
be able TO offer an adequate remedy aside from gov
eminent ownership will best serve capital by losing no
time in presenting The case.
Government ownership, it is true, is not coming
today nor tomorrow, but it is moving on apace, never
theless.
1t probably so happened, and it probably SO hap
pened because the governor foresaw the opposition he
had to- contend with In these various localities, but II
appears that wherever the governor made the greatest
number OF speeches The opposition to his denomination
was the most pronounced, Judging from the returns.
AS Nc have suggested, it is very likely due to the fact
that the governor pounded the hardest where he
thought ii was most needed.
EM&& IS