The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-31
RAILROADS APPEAL
TO PRESIDENT
The Common Carriers Ask for Re-
lief - President Wilson Directs
Attention of Public to

Their Needs.
The committee of railroad execu-
tives, headed by Mr.. Frank Trumbull,
representing th1rty-tive Of the leading
railroad systems of the nation, recent
1y presented to President Wilson
memorandum briefly reviewing the diff
ticulties now confronting the railroads
of the country and asking for the CO.
operation of the governmental authori-
ties and the public in supporting rail-
road credits and recognizing an emer-
gency which requires that the rail-
roads be given additional revenues.
The memorandum recites that the
European war has resulted in general
depression Of business on the Ameri-
can continent and in the dislocation
of credits at home and abroad. With
revenues decreasing and interest rates
increasing the transportation systems
OF the country face most serious
crisis and the memorandum is
strong presentation of the candle
burning at both ends and the perils
that must ultimately attend such a
conf1agration when the flames meet
is apparent to all, In their general
discussion the railroad representa-
tives say in part: by reason of leg
islation and regulation by the federal
government and the 1crty-eight states
acting Independently of each other, as
we'll as through the action of a strong
public opinion, railroad expenses in
recent years have vastly increased.
NO criticism is here made of the gen.
eraI theory of governmental regula-
ton, but on the other hand, no in
genuity can relieve the carriers of ex-
penses created thereby
| President Wilson, in transmitting
| the memorandum of the railroad
| presidents to the public, character
! ICES it as "a tucid statement OF plain
truth The president recognizing
the emergency as extraordinary, con-
tinuing, said in part:
You ask me to call the attention
of the country to the imperative need
that railway credits be sustained and
the railroads helped in every possible
way, whether by private cooperative
effort or Dy the action, wherever
feasible of governmental agencies, and
! l am glad to do so because l think
the need very real
The conference was certainly a
fortunate one for the nation and the
president is to be congratulated for
opening the gate to a new world Of
effort in which everyone may cooper
ate.
There are many important prob
lens in our complex civilization that
will yield to cooperation which will
not lend themselves to arbitrary rul-
ings of commissions and financing
railroads IS one of them. The man
with the money is a factor that can.
not be eliminated from any business
transaction and the public is an inter
ested party that should always be con
suited AID happily the president has
invited ali to participate in the so1u
iion OF our railroad problems.
The Next Great Man.
They are de-Anglicing Berlin, eve1
in the matter Of hotel names. Well
if it comes to signboards, what o
our own King of Prussia ?" Abou
half a dozen such in London still com
memorate Frederick the Great, an
over all England you may still fin
widespread the tavern glory of tn
victor Of Rosbach Shall we procee
to paint them all out, as has just bee
done at Barnet? One recalls Colo
smiths tale of the alehouse keepe
r of Islington, who made Of his Frenc
King sign a Queen of Hungary
Under the influence of her red nos
} and golden scepter he continued t
sell ale till she was no longer tn
: favorite of his customers; he change
her therefore, some time ago, for tn
I King of Prussia, who may probabl
> be changed in turn for the next gres
) man that shall be set up for vulga
4 admiration" Now, who is the "ne'
great man" that shall emerge fro1
: the fog?-London Chronicle.