South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-18
Letters of the People
DEFENDS THE RAILROADS.

boAutu tSSS 30 ldI L VIII nave ia
agreement with me those who may
read these words Now for divergent
paths, for my further postulate is that
the railways OF this country are given
scant justice by our state and national
authorities. Big business in general
and the railways in particular have
been and are being so roughly man
handled that one may be excused for
suppOsing that they are regarded IN
certain quarters as public enemies
whose existence is less a blessing than
a curse. Not even the manufacture
and sale OF liquor is repressed with
SO stern a JOY az appearsto character
ize those TO whom authority Is given
TO crack the whip over our railways.
A vast and intricate system of reports.
statements, schedules. special book
keeping and what not entailing extra
expense running into hundreds OF
thousands of dollars is required; anu
the regular progress and dispatch or
railway affairs is confused and hinder
ed to an extent most veXatious and IT.
ritating. Not only so but rates are
dictated by commissioners who may
or may not have knowledge of what
is fair between the carrier and the
shipper, who may or may not be
/
against railways as having no rights
that any one is bound To respect and
from whose fiat there is no more APP
peal than from a subject of an auto
crazy to his car. Rates have been
arbitrarily cut down, destroying all but
the most meager profits or none at all
Protests have been unavailing. New
burdens are imposed. like the out
rageous demand by the federal COM
Iasa 4
at the old contrace price, notwith-
standing the addition of the parcel
post packages, an enormous increase
of bulk and weight never originally
contemplated. The result is manifest
in a condition of things glOOmily re-
flected in the condition of the railways.
Dividends are cut or passed altogether,
and renewals or refunding accomplish
ed with difficulty at eXorbitant inter-
est charges. Beset 10 run the gaunt-
let of oficialdom and a hostile public,
eager to bestow obstructive blows and
kicks. railway men are in sorry
plight The heart is taken out of
them.
This might be endured with equan-
unity if not with cOmplacency by the
average OnlOoker. but for the econ
omic fact that you can't cause serious
injury TO any great interest like the
railways without serious consequences
TO general interests. The ruin of the
railways would spell disaster to every
soul in this or any other civilized
community. 1t Is one thing to cut
down the earnings of the railways to
the quick. while threatening them
with further vengeance IL they reduce
their payrolls, assuming no RESPONSE
bility for providing for interest on
bonds. to say nothing Of returns To
stockholders who furnish the means
for running the railways, and quite
another to expect or require them 10
maintain their equipment provide for
renewals in market that observes
suspiciOusly the evidence of impaired
and decreasing returns and the spec
ter that looms like a hostile Zeppelin
TO throw them into bankruptcy.
The screws have been put on pretty
tight, but no way has yet been dis
covered TO compel the railways to
cease retrenchment when they can
no longer see where the money is
coming from to buy new rails. to re-
build decaying bridges, TO replace roll
ing stock that belongs on the scrap
heap. 10 improve station buildings or
keep them in repair, TO say nothing
of engaging in extensions Of roadway
To sections where the advent of the
iron horse for the time being, a; any
rate. is hailed as a friend instead of
foe. Hostility comes later. when
isolation has been relieved. It needs
but hint TO make the situation clear.
When railways stop purchasing, the
car shops, the steel mills. the produc-
ers of wheat, corn and cotton in re-
mote or pioneer sections. all are at
fected and worst of all the waiting
and increasing army of the unem-
ployed and their dependent wives and
little ones suffer. II is folly TO kill
-. IL, 4
II is the Veriest platitude 10 assert
that the railways have done more for
the upbuilding of the country than any
other agency. Even the Ounce knows
that Then why harrass and cripple
and brow-beat them? It is because
we falsely assume that their prosper
ity is derived at the expense of our
we'll being. 1t is because we can do
so with impunity; because il suits our
tyrannlcal natures to be despotic. and.
as indicated. because we are SO stu
pidly ignorant of cause and effect
that we believe that injury inflicted
upon a railway even TO burning and
loOting will not react upon those who
thus cripple and destroy. Some OF
us initiate the boy bully in school, en-
Vious of the lad a size smaller who
wears a clean collar. He forces a
quarrel upon him. thrashes him, rolls
him in the dirt and then cautions him
-" Mother time let that learn you"
Not one boy in so comes TO mans
estate with the idea that ii is really
q sin to steal rides on a railway train.
Ask the yard masters for a report on
the youthful plunderers. who swarm
about when unmatched to stea and
carry away railway property that
their cunning and strength can COM
pass. Think Of the influence Of these
experiences on the after life of these
children. Many a thief and marauder
in and out of the penitentiary got his
education in the loose morals common
Is entertained regarding the property
rights of railways The child Is father
Of the man. Who knows, maybe
some of these boys in after life. escap-
ing the worst faint Of early training.
have become respected members OF
society and have secured appoint
ment as railway commissioners. In
qualifying for such a position they
ought 10 be able 10 answer in the
negative quiz TO this effect: Did
you ever as child or since steal
from q railway-and get away with
II %" I plead guilty myself TO having