Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-10
AS TO SQUARE DEALING.
IMnscatina Journal.l

pamphlet called Railroad Entitled to
a Square Deal which, we are IN
formed on the title page contains the
Sentiments Of scores Of Iowa EDITORS.
This pamphlet which Is compiled by
a. Kansas City publicity firm Is sent
out ostensibly with the purpose OF
calling attention TO the sentiment
among Iowa editors favortng higner
rates on passenger traffic and freight
for the railroads, especially II it can
be shown that such higher rates are
necessary to re-establish the roads on
a sound business footing.
With this sentiment or the purpose
and intent Of fostering it there can be
no quarrel. But those who come ask
ing square deal ought to be ready
to give it. While many OF the editorial
expressions quoted confine themselves
to ad iscussion Of the railroads. pro-
posed rate increases. the supposed Sc
rious financial plight Of the roads ana
kindred subjects, quite occasionally we
find included in the columns OF the
pamphlet expressions which are notnlnS
but jibes at or attacks upon CommiS-
sioner Clifford Thorne.
We fail to see why such expressions
should have place in square dealins
pamphlet. To be really square dealing
one must be informed and Chnoro
Thorne can be the. squarest dealer
with the railroads in all Iowa because
he is best informed. If the railroads
want something to which they are not
entitled, that Is not square dealing. II
the railroads by jugSled accounts make
a showing of poverty that is not true
neither Is that dealing on the square.
We have never found any proof that
Clifford Thorne opposed railroad de-
mands because they were made by the
railroads. He always claims to oppose
them, when he does. because they are
unjust. Yet this square dealing
pamphlet is filled with frequent at
tacks upon the state Commissioners
which have no relation 10 the ques-
ton supposed to be under consideration
in its pages and which are certainly
OF themselves anything but square or
just.
Railroad batting Is no longer popular
we are frequently told. rhe railroads
reaped for a time the harvest OF their
own arrogance and misdoings. Un-
ouestionably there is at this time
tendency in the other direction. From
peing too harsh we are inclined In the
name of business and prosperity 10
be too lenient. We have seen the
party in power tho holding up io
hands in horror at the idea OF buying
prosperity by paying tariff taxes. yet
compel a reluctant interstate COM
merce commission to permit the coun-
~ to try to buy prosperity by paying
Transportation taxes. We have &C
cepted the same philosophy. We al
want prosperity. We are weary OF the
lean times we have been experiencing.
We are willing to grant almost any
concession to win a change.
But there are few men who arc
not moved by the psychology OF the
moment, who cling to hard facts
These are men who tho they see the
Wall street-wrecked Rock Island or
Frisco on the verge Of bankruptcy, can
not forget that the Burlington or the
Santa Fee, charging on the same rates
on traffic, are making handsome re-
turns on their investments. These men
merely wish to be shown. For that
they are attacked in pamphlets which
|purporting to deal with economic
questions are in fact but political doc
uments with thin disguise. The rail-
roads, or at least their publicity de-
partment still have a little to learn
about square dealing.