Evening journal., 1916-12-29
WHY RAILROAD INVESTORS WORRY

think they have secured for themselves the railroads
would today be able to meet their demands
And where ia this controversy stand the 100000 rail-
way investors, who ombody the great force that lies
latent in the owners Of the railroad property Nobody
ever hears peep from them, and Congress and the
Commission simply ignore them il they were
negligible quantity That is not the way to carry on
effective campaign. Why shouldn't they appear by
means Of their own chosen representatives before the
Newlands Commission whatever body may finally
be appointed Ia crystaze conclusions on this all-im
portant problem? Why shouldn't they. organized
and politically formidable body bring their influence
to bear on the press and on the public? OF course
their representatives in the persons of presidents legal
counsel, etc, appear and speak for them but we all
know very well that isn't the thing, because the
public prejudice is against the managers Of the rail
roads, not against the stockholders who own them II
is of supreme importance that the owners should be
satisfied, because it is they who furnish the funds to
develop the sections OF country not properly sup
piled with transportation facilities. It is the owners
that Congress and the Commissions ought to hear from
and the owners are as dumb as oysters and as power
less jeyfsh with no solidarity or means OF express
sion
And now The Saturday Evening Post says. "In the
face Of billion net last year railroad managers and
investors in railroad securities wondering what the
situation will be after the boom. If public regulation
of railroads is applied in narrow and jealous spirit
II for some years before the war Individual
shippers may applaud when particular rate they
interested in Is cut down. Farmers here and
there may be fooled into thinking that the lowest pos
sibe freight rate which does not throw the carriers
into actual bankruptcy is to their interest But It Is
very certain that for the country at large regulaon
in that haggling oppressive spirit does not pay
I quote from the Bible when | say. beware Of the
Withholding which leadeth to poverty"
You have no doubt that the present condition
Of the railroads has been likened to man suffering
from hardening Of the arteries. This is q striking
smile, but I cannot fully subscribe to it. Hardening
OF the arteries decay and approaching ds-
solution This is not the with this country We
are young vigorous and have plenty OF rich virgin sec
tons yet TO open and cultivate But we are hampereo
and hemmed in by the wants of this growing nation.
We need blood to pulsate through these arteries The
thousands and tens OF thousands of small investors
stand ready furnish the means to inject blood in the
shape OF rails ties. rolling stock terminal taciiues'
to develop these fields But they hesitate and tight
shy Of new propositions where by the lesson OF last
Summer they see that their employees demands are
satisfied and taken out OF the earnings OF e Iaoaus
bv the government and their own rights for proper
compensation are ignored
| Now the Railway Investors League has been organ
lied to consolidate for protective action that immense
power and influence possessed but heretofore unused
by hundreds Of thousands of unorganized investors
The League is neither anti-labor nor political It's
aim is TO fair play alike from railroad manas,
ers railroad workers railroad regulatory bodies ano
political parties It Will oppose UNFAIR tacuc5' WIe'i b
attempted by Federal or state government poui'. "
| railroad arrangements railroad employees. II IS
"anti" nothing-save unjust practices from ABOVE o.
I below from without or within
This is The Railway Investors League which is now
growing like young giant and to which we wan
every man woman who owns one share OF STOCK o.
one thousand one hundred dollar bond or thousands
10 belong and to support this immense power TOT ran
| play-fair play for owners and employees, for snip
! pers for the public and for the country.
Mr. Paul Mack Whelan. the secretary OF the League
! IL here He will furnish the platform Of the League
and you in sympathy and accord with us oDle1
and nurpose enroll yourself More especially d.
invite regeneration and enrolment from the mem
hers OF the brotherhoods. There is not one idea o.
sentiment in The Railway Investors League lncompa
tibin with the broherhOods' desire to obtain fair pla
from their corporations and for their corporations In
stead az being 400 900 and 100000 let us make mil
ION combined 20 assert maintain and defend on
rights. .
Brothers OF the brotherhoods you with us7
40 come forward and act jointly with US.
We do not think that anyone can read the abov
without obtaining reasonable and rational vie'
OF the railroad situation as It exists in this country to
day and should exist in future Certain 1t is tina
II the investors railroad securities, the real owner
OF the properties do not organize for their own Pre-
lection they place very small value upon somethn
which they have a right TO demand not only from tn
Federal Government but also from the government {
each Of the several States.