Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-07-02
RAISED RATES ARE
ALWAYS PROTESTED
INCREASED FREIGHT CHARGES
MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE
PUBLIC, NEVERTHELESS.
is REALLY A WAR MEASURE
Agricultural Department Hopes to Use
conscientious Directors" in Work
on Gardens Around Army Camps
Trade Boycott of Germany.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.


BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. = Naturally shippers
protest against the advance in freight
rates. For nearly half a century,
since the Granger movement was first
started, there has been protest on
the part of shippers against high
freight rates. Most of the prejudice
that has been built up against rail-
roads in the past has been due to the
belief on the part of shippers that
freight rates have been exorbitant. OF
course the shippers made the produc-
ers and the consumers pay these rates
and this prejudice among the people
finally resulted in the Granger legis-
latiOn in the several states and inter
state commerce legislation by con-
gross, all with view of curbing the
railroads and reducing rates.
No one except Director General Nc
AdoO could have put over anything
quite so startling as the increase of
freight and passenger rates. And even
II government ownership or control
had come TO us when we were not at
war. the people would not have stood
for the advance in freight rates. Pre-
vious to the war when the railroads
made an application for a Is per cent
advance the protest against such an
increase was such as TO prevent it.
But as long as the railroads have
been taken over for war purposes and
are run by the government the in
creased rates must he accepted by the
public, although the shippers will con-
tinue to protest.
The increase in passenger rates may
be protested, but the protests will be
ineffective, as the average individual
will not make a complaint. Although
large number of this average indi-
vidual" makes up the public" he is
not very effective in protests because
his protests are individual instead of
collective as in the case of the ship
pers. The average individual will pay
his extra railroad fare and say moth
ing.
The agricultural department has an
idea that it can reach conscientious
objectOrs," those individuals who use
their conscience to prevent them from
going to war, by drafting them for
service in work on gardens around
army camps. The department has also
1nHnIvt Al ion n I1tilizn Xvhn
unfit for overseas duty for the same
purpose. Maybe they will finally 90
far enough to take German prisoners
and informed aliens and set them to
work growing crops. The Germans do
not hesitate to use all their prisoners
for work behind the lines, and in this
time of labor shortage the United
States might well do the same.
We have frequently heard men in
congress describe the difference be-
tween an "agriculturist' and a far
mer. AS one man put it: 1.-THE farmer
farms the farm and the agriculturist
farms the farmer" But it remained
for Congressman Caraway of Arkan-
sas to introduce new one. During
discussion of an agricultural bill in
the house he said: 81 have observed
that whenever bill dealing with agri-
culture is to be discussed, all shade
tree farmers arise" 1t was unfortu-
nate that he did not go further and
describe the ''shade-tree farmer"
However, it may be surmised that the
"Shade-tree farmer" is rarely covered
with the sweat and CRIME of the fields.
Possibly the U-boat warfare brought
to our own shores will result in arous-
ing the American people TO a
more thorough appreciation of the
fact that they are really In the
war. If our people would consider
for moment they would see that just
at present this nation is really the
most important factor in the world
war. At present we do not have the
| most troops nor the most ships, but
we are rapidly preparing to equal any
nation in the number of troops and
also in the number of available trans
ports. But mighty factor in the
whole thing is that the United States
since it entered the war has financed
and fed the nations which are fight
ing the central powers.
1t ought not to have taken an attack
by U-bOats upon our ships within sight
of our shores TO arouse our people.
But now that they are aroused they
will probably make the Huns under
stand that they made second mistake
in regard to the United States. The
first was when they forced this coun-
try into the war. This last attempt is
one intended to brighten our people,
and the result will be to make them
more determined than ever to put an
end TO German frightfulness.
Real economy knows NO politics.
This was shown when Senator Thomas
was conducting his lonesome fight
against the new pension bill. 1.-THE
situation" according to Senator Thorn
as, presents one bill from the house.
championed by a Democrat, and an
other in the senate, championed by a
Republican, and seemingly involves the
problem as TO which of the two parties
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Correct Spelling.
One of the most polished and pains
taking of English authors regarded
correct spelling as totally unneces-
sary accomplishment. In his introduce
ton TO r. L. Stevenson's letters, Sid
ney Colvin writes: Il have not held
myself bound TO reproduce all the au-