Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-16
Only u Railroad Man Can succeed

DRESS dispa tcheS from Washington indi
cate that President Wilson has reached,
in his own mind. what he believes will prove
a solution OF the pressing railroad problem.
His ideas to how this country is to pre-
vent complete brea kdown OF its tranSporta
tion system at this vital time he is expected
TO present to Congress during the week. per-
hapS tomorrow. So far as is known here.
he hes taken no one into his confidence and
his decision. heavy with the weight Of the
future OF the United States and its allies.
cannot be forecast There is substantial rca-
son to believe. however. that he will reject
at present the government ownership plan.
holding that in allegiance u:iil il shall have
been proved absolutely necessary. That he
will advise Federal supervision Of the rail-
roads, operating them one system under
direct control OF the government with as
sistance from the Federal Treasury if needed.
is the consensus OF opinion.
Upon whose shoulders will the burden OF
directing the operation OF this unified Sys-
tom OF American railroads. with their hu =
dreds of thousands of miles OF tTackage and
their manifold business qualifications. fall?
Who will be the choice of the President to
bring order out of the present II importation
chaos and raise the railroads TO that point
OF efficiency demanded OF them il this war
is 10 be won? The question comes with
limitless force to the public mind for upon
the Presidents answer may rest the fate.
not only of this country and IT'S allies. bu, Of
all civilization. Upon it perhaps rests life
or death for those who to-day fight under
the Stars and Stripes i'll France and for all
those who may follow them there.
The answer should be: THE most efficient
railroad man :hc President can find" The
nation hopes that will be the answer. hut
public problems do not always work out that
way. II is true that when we wanted d man
to clean UP the lsthmus Of Panama sent
down eminent physician. not lawyer.
When man was needed to lead our troops to
France, soldier. not merchant. was Sc
lcctcd. But what happened when this coun-
try crying out for ships and still more
ships to carry food and munitions to our be-
leaguered allies? Why. the President picked
out an army officer because he had proved
good canal digger. and lawyer because
he had acquitted himself we'll at the bar and
put them in charge OF the shipbuilding pro-
gram. Result: the ships not yet built.
nor launched. nor even in sight of the most
optimistic. That blunder to-day is being
felt on the western front, where England
and France are calling for our help as they
stagger under the blows OF Hindcnburg's
slcdgchammcr, and our men are not there
to answer.
An experienced railroad ma. must take
charge of the railroads for the government
if Federal supervision is TO succeed. Such
men are available and at the Presidents
hand if he will but reach out and take them
There are few whose names stand out
prominently. There others perhaps
equally capable, any one OF whom can
be drafted TO the governments service ii the
President wills. II is inconceivable that
hc should will otherwise. but, realizing what
direful consequences might follow upon a
contrary course, an anxious people will
await his announcement praying that the
shipbuildng blunder may not be paralleled
when Federal railroad administrator is
named.