Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-12-25

people the right answer. An ounce of
experience is worth ton OF theory
and with the start already made under
war conditions, 1t would be COMPARE.
lively simple matter to complete the
test so we'll begun and thereby gain
the invaluable experience which win
determine the solution Of a problem
which has vexed our State and Nation
al politics and our economic develop
ment for the past generation.
Would Base Action on -knowledne
Rather Than Theory. =.
There are those who may ray that
an extension of five years for such
test will mean Government owner.
ship. Personally l do not belieye Il.
But whether such test would indi.
cate that the ultimate solution shall
be Government ownership or modi.
fed form Of private ownership under
effective Federal regulation, should
not cause US to hesitate or refuse to
act. 1t seems to me that in democ.
racy like ours, where public opinion
and the judgment of the majority must
finally control, the plain duty is to
take those steps which will fully In.
form public opinion, so that the judy
ment may be based upon knowledge
rather than upon theory. Any test
which will illumine the subject so
completely that public opinion may
operate upon it intelligently would
seem to me to be desirable in any cir.
cumstances.
In this connection, may draw your
| attention to the statement made be-
mi 0f tfa
January Fl, 1918, in reply to q Senator
who asked If believed Tin the Gov
eminent ownership Of railroads." I
said:
II do not, or I have not, at least,
felt that it was necessary to take the
| actual ownership of the railroads.
l believe that is will be impossible
after the return of peace to restore
the competitive conditions to the same
| extent as they existed prior to the
outbreak of the war. l favor some
form OF governmental regulation and
control of far stronger, more intelli-
gent and effective character than we
have had heretofore, because I am
| satisfied that a stronger Government
control will be demanded and will
| have to be worked out, both in the
interest of the public and i'm the inter
est of the security-holders of these
| railroads."
The Two Horns Of the Dilemma.
Those who may oppose an extern
sion OF five years should face the stu.
| alton squarely and acknowledge that
| they prefer the immediate return of
| the railroads to private control under
| the old conditions without remedial
| legislation. 1t is idle to talk of a re-
turn to private control under leg1sla.
ton which will cure the defects of the
| existing laws. There is neither time
nor opportunity for such legislation
at present. It is impossible and hope.
less for the Government to attempt
the operation of the railroads for
twenty-one months after peace under
the present law. Therefore, the coun.
try should squarely face the condition
that the railroads must promptly
go back into private control with all
existing legal difficulties unless the
only practical alternative, viz, an ex.
tension of time, is promptly granted
hope that the Congress in its wis.
| dom will grant a five-year period for
a test of unified railroad operation
under proper provisions of law which
will make that test effective and at
the same time take the railroad ques.
ton out of politics while the test is
being made. Unless this is done,
do not hesitate to say the railroads
should be returned to private owner.
ship at the earliest possible moment
The President has given fe permits,
sion to say that this conclusion &C.
cords with his own view of the mat.
| ter.
| Cordially yours,
| w. G. McAdOO
Hon, r. W. Sims,
Chairman, Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee, House of Re.
| personalities.