The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-21
COOPERATION
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CONTINUED from page six)
~ election in 1905 and again in 1870
and notwithstanding the fact th.t
this body Of men is entrusted with I'll
OF the economical affairs including the
laying and disbursing of the lcviaa
and the supervision oS the public
roads and bridges. the voters have at
each election by desicive majority
refused to increase the pay of provide
even expense allowance. This cond.,
ton can be accounted for by reason
OF adverse advertising which has
blinded the people to their real sense
OF justice in this particular case and
against their own interests.
These and other incidents indicate
the danger the railroads are facing.
The trained railroad men, the engin.
GERS. the thinkers that have evolved
abe railroad system are more capable
of handling this problem than vision
airy, theorizfng partisan politicians
They have pork barreled our river
Improvement and 1t, after years is in
adequate and ineffective. The writer
does not believe that the time is here
when government ownership OF the
railroads should be advocated. How.
ever, he does believe that the time
is here when the railroad people and
the business pople should come to
mutual understanding OF each others
wants and deal in spirit Of fairness
and cooperation instead OF spirit
OF rivalry and plays for position. The
whole trouble that confronts the Am
ertcan business public today issa lack
OF cooperation and confidence of
those representing one interest in
that OF another and q lack of under.
standing on the part of men who are
and 1t, ate yeas, is in
OF the needs Of their fellowmen in
other lines Of endeavor which can in
many instances be changed to mar
row-minded selfishness. This has
been demonstrated very clearly to the
writer in number of instances. He
heard the coal operators of all sec
tons Of the country condemned for
their heartless methods and for con.
dittons that prevail when to his own
personal knowledge these men were
doing everything they could under
existing conditions to make conditions
better and four years of work in con.
nection with the development of the
highway system OF the state OF West
Virginia has led him to believe and
know that a great majority Of the
men associated in the coal industry
OF this state are willing and ready
to do their part in developing their
community and to help their coun.
Try. "A more patriotic and loyal bunch
OF men cannot be found than the men
who are associated in the coal bus
mess as miners and operators. There
is sympathy existing that the writer
has not witnessed in any other pro.
fession. Some five or six years ago
he was called to accompany his
mother to hospital and while wait.
ing there with her. witnessed two
scenes of patients being brought to
the hospital where coal miners and
operators alike accompanied the
parties in such large numbers that
the question was asked, "Why do SO
many come to the hospital with a pa.
tient for such an operation One of
the men expressed it thus: ITO
SHOW THAT WE ARE INTEREST,".
p DIN HIS WELFARE" During the
same period Of time that the writer
vas about the institution, patients
were brought in from all other walks
OF life and only the near relatives or
the immediate family came or paid
any attention to them while they
were confined. This simple, yet, i'm
pressive picture and my association
with the coal people OF the State
through past years. their patriotic
support OF all school and road i'm.
provement campaigns and their will.
tngness to be taxed for public good,
has led me to feel that persons max.
ing such statements as the Gazette
editorial should be considered IN the
spirit OF the Great Teacher who, when
be was being prosecuted to the limit
Of human endurance. lifted his voice
and said, Father forgive them. for
they know not what they do"
In conclusion let this fact be borne
In mtnd-the trouble with the busin.
ess interests the labor iterests. the
railroads, the agricultural interests.
and the commercial enterprises of !
the United States, today, is a lack
Of personal cooperation. a lack of the |
spirit Of live and let live, a lack Of |
personal sympathy, lack OF studied
and admitted honest understanding,
failure Of the broader conception Of |
human rights. We must have the var
ious professions, businesses, and
callings. Each mans money and
effort invested in lines of endeavor
Tor the welfare Of the entire county
spopld be treated fairly and consider.
cd honestly by those engaged in
otner activities, but he or the inter.
esf should be willing to admit short
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