The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-11-30

Iht DISStSl ToDItII Idt hIoNl hS WV i"NN' hN
problem is looming big, and not even the surface OF 1t mas
been scratched by popular discussion. A man is apt to be for
il or against it for the same reason that the hen crossed the
road.
And there are just as many politicians in this country who
az "for" anything that will get votes as there were when the
'greenback" craze, the fiat money craze, the financial system
HAT proposed to make the country rich by setting the printing
presses to work and printing it until the presses were worn
out or the paper supply exhausted. Just as many as there
we're when William Jennings Bryan, in 1896, discovered the
Crime of r73." after the statute of limitations had run, and
convinced several million voters that it had caused the panic
Of 1898, under which the country was still groaning and
would continue TO groan until it adopted the double standard
and the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of i6
to without the aid or consent of any other nation on earth"
But these issues swept many states like wildfire and
threatened the very foundations of our national credit. And
all because politicians wanted office and these problems
hadn't been scratched by intelligent popular discussion. The
scratching showed the rotten kernel on the inside of a very al
Turing shell.
Now we are approaching the subject of government own
ership of railroads and a lot of other things. Well, we have
had government operation of a lot of railroads for about ten
months. We have had increase after increase in rates, the
last being a straight raise of 25 per cent, and we have got to
buy war stavings stamps or Liberty bonds or have ourselves
taxed some more to make up two hundred million dollars OF a
loss to date.
If the railroads under operation of their owners were
making too much money under the old rates how much toe.
much should the government have made under the higher
rates with a poorer service?
And who is going to build any new railroads?
Oh, the government you say.
Where?
Why, wherever anybody wants one, especially in
those sections most strongly represented by the party in
power. In those sections represented by senators and con-
eressmen most in need OF votes.
When?
Whenever the votes are necessary to keep "a political par
ty in power.
What party?
Any party.
K 4 4
We have "a railroad in Nevada that answers those questions
in all their bearings. 1t was built by private capital. 1t had
ceased to pay. The owners were ready to stop the loss and
remove the rails. When it was found that state officials,
wanting votes, could not compel the owners to continue the
operation at a loss, and that the congress, with the object
of helping Wilson win the war" had authorized the president
to take over such roads as might be useful in licking the Hun
when this situation arose the politicians just wired to Wash
ineton and Senator Pittman suspended his debate" on the
presidents appeal for votes long enough to get the president
to authorize his son-in-law, Mr.. McAdoo, to take over the L. "
\ T-untl after the election. Just to help Wilson win the
var" and make the world safe for democracy.
And when all the votes were in and counted it was found
that Wilson, with a little help from France and England and
Italy and Belgium and Serbia and the boys we had sent "over
there'-when it was found he had already won the war with
out the L. V. & T. it was suddenly discovered that he had taken
it over once before and turned it back as a white elephant,
when there was no campaign on hand. And having once
turned it back, he couldn't take it again without consent of the
owner, even if he lost the war-and the election in Nevada.
OF course some of us would have been very glad to see
the l.. Y. & 7. continued and to see McAdoo's name on the
folders and advertisements and even painted in big letters on
the box cars, if that would "help Wilson win the war" But
there are a good many people just silly enough to ask: IF these
one congressman to elect, what could be done in North Caro-
lima, where Khchin, and Simmons and Overman and Daniels
and a few other statesmen live? Or how many railroads
would be necessary in Illinois to send J. Ham Lewis and his
pink whiskers and the 25 congressman of that state back to
Washington"
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