Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-04-01

Ii is hard to remember statistics,
but / want TO get this simple fact
in your mind because it comes pretty
near telling the whole story. In the
whole of Europe. out of every 100
communications sent by mail. tele-
graph or telephone, 26 Of the 100 are
carried by the telephone. Now what
do we find in the United States under
private ownership? Out OF every 100
messages we find as against 26 in
Europe so messages sent by telephone
Gentlemen, this hasn't Just hap
pened,"
/ want to repeat what / said when
/ started in to talk about Govern
ment ownership. A majority OF the
citizens OF this country are going to
have what they want. We are not
going to oppose them, but IL a real
campaign ensues in which this is a
real issue we are going to make the
public acquainted with such facts as
we possess, and then the people must
judge for themselves.
Personally. / have no fears or mis-
givings as to the result of this legis-
lation.
This opinion is based in part on my
confidence in the good judgment OF
the American people, and more partio-
ularly on the good work done in tho
past by each and every employe OF the
Bell System. and which good work I
know you will continue TO do in the
future.
Through these individual efforts the
public has been trained to expect and
demand good service, and they will
not consent to any change which does
not guarantee continuance Of this
same character Of service.
IT Is not question Of price alone
IT is a question first of service in
the broad sense OF that term, and then
OF the lowest possible price consistent
with the rendering OF that service
Whether from the standpoint Of de-
velopment or the quality OF the service
when compared with any publicly or
privately operated organization, the
people in these United States are get
ting the very best there is to be had.
AS to the cost, the business and the
Public Utility Commissions that the
public may be assured they are get
ting the very lowest rates consistent
with continuance Of good service.
If each of us will do faithfully and
concienthously her and his duty, I
feel that we need have no fears for
the result
Gentlemen, have saved TO the
last thought on this subject from a
gentleman that we all wish we could
have with us here tonight Last year
at your dinner you had the president
of the company, Mr. F. H Bethel,
and he has written to say how sorry
he is that the press of other matters
makes it impossible for him to be
here tonight. But he has put in his
letter thought about this very serious
matter which want to leave with you
for a closing. You may take it as a
message from Mr.. Bethel and one to
which l most heartily subscribe.
IF / were with you, / would, with
your permission, say something on
the question OF Government owner.
ship Of telephone properties. This
great question of policy is bigger,
much bigger, than the business Itself.
1t is of vital Importance to every
man and woman in the country.
THE idea of the founders OF this
nation was that the people themselves
should do all things possible for them
to do. The principle applied in Eu-
ropean countries In just the reverse.
There the Government undertakes to
do all things possible for 1t to do.
/ Our nation has prospered as no other
nation ever prospered, and the tele-
phone service, developed by private
enterprise, has done much toward pro-
noting the general prosperity. That
those now at the head OF our Govern
ment would reverse a policy that has
been this nations policy since its
birth without the most careful con-
sideration OF the great questions in
volved seems inconceivable. l, for
one. do not believe 1t possible"