The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-09
NEW ANGLE OF THE
RAILROAD ISSUE

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
In reading the editorials of some of our
newspapers and the comments by some
of our supposed to be representative citi-
zens on recent questions of general in
terest, one naturally begins to ponder; not
upon the logic of the opinion so expressed
nor the idea SO conveyed, but the object
in expressing their opinion.
The most recent TRADE has been directed
against the railroads of this country, the
worst has not been said by labor, but by
those who wished to crystalize the senti-
ment of labor, not for the benefit OF la
Dor, but by and for those whom labor
may benefit.
By ANALYSIS we ask the question, why
is a railroad? Have we ever needed 1t?
Walking never has been crowded, why
not dispense with 1t? The world would be
so nice and quiet and the people could not
help but be happy and contented, there
could not be any labor troubles and
threatening of nationwide strikes JUST
previous to our general elections, then
what a relief it would be to the President
and Congress to know there were not any
1t is a pity we did not have some Of
our would-be statesmen Of today 60 or
20 years ago to warn against the evils OF
nation building, and nipped the whole
false movement in the bud when our lore
fathers started to cross the Alleghencs
when the Erie and Chesapeake and Ohio
canals were building, when the old ma
tional turnpike was being pushed west
ward through Cumberland and wheeling,
and when the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road was laying the iron Tor the nrst
trunk line railroad.
Not anyone, then, seems to have known
of that article In the constitution Of tho
United States which reads CD like this:
ANY person so unwise as to put money
in any corporate enterprise outside the
state in which he lives shall. at the eX-
piration of the experimental stage. as a
patriotic duty. relinquish all rights or
ownership and voice in management TO
the pseudo statesmen Of such state or ter
ritory for the exclusive purpose Of pro-
noting and putting the pork industry
on an equitable and sound basis"
1t further provides that any moneys in
vested in the so-called public service en-
terprises located wholly within the cor.
porate limits of any city shall be declared
an orphan and administered to by the
milk maids of such cities.
1t further provides that any investor
claiming the right to collect DIVIDENDS
from such Investments shall be guilty OF
treason against the state or United States
as the case might be. and shall be pun
ished by being hanged in effigy in public
in front Of the nearest polling place. 1t
may require politiscope to discover lhis
article
Has a railroad any economic value in
the business world? Yes, 1t has. l started
to try to prove the contrary, but there
are four extensive uses ! must admit, viz:
Politicians ride them; municipal govern
ments milk them; juries soak them
And the ignorant public knock them.
/. p. McCUSKER.
P. S.: Since starting this letter I have
been advised. that should Congress pass
the equal suffrage law. the cooks and
other house servants are going to organ
ize nationally and ask for an eight-hour
day, also reducing the, number of dishes
that may be used in serving one person.
1. P. McC.
Birmingham. September Z. 1916. No. 1925
South Twelfth street.