Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-11-19
HOW GOVERNMENT
CONTROL; AFFECTS .
OUR Development
Southern Land Congress Plans Fer
Continuance OF Work Stopped BY.
Federal ControI-PresIdent War
field Points Out Danger In
Present Tendencies

Savannah, Cain the Southern
Land1 Congress just held here, with
fourteen Southern states represented,
il was clearly demonstrated that the
great land associations which are seek
ing Southern development, and, now, a
place 10 locate many of the returning
American soldiers, must have adequate
support. II they are 10 continue their
important constructive work.
The congress, which was held under
the auspices of four Of the largest land
associations in the South, all of which
were established by the Southern Set
Element and Development Organiza-
ton, represented a membership of
more than 5000, including leading
farmers in every Southern state. and
over $4,000, 900 acres of land.
Formerly, this organization, Of
which S. Davies Warfield of Baltimore,
Md, is president, and which has done
much toward Southern agricultural de
velopment, was supported largely by
railroads operating in the South.
Declined to Help
Since government control tof the
railroads these contributions have
been withheld and, in a striking state
ment to the land congress, President
Warheld said that Notwithstanding the
appeal made in petition by q South
ern senators from Is states, that the
national railroad administration. con
tinue these contributions TO the OF
ganization, the director general de-
clined on the ground that cOntribu-
lions should not be made to "pri-
vate organization not under govern
ment CONTROL
This position was taken, notwith-
standing Maryland had granted it a
charter, and given it $4,000 from the
state treasury, thus attesting its pub
lie character.
1T is indeed unfortunate" Mr.. War
field said, when an agency like this,
organized not for gain but for the
general good, and which is admitted
by the administration TO be a highly
meritoTious one must be discontinued
on a mere pretense in order that auto
cratic methods may be firmly entrench-
ed. If these organizations are TO &C
cOmplish their constructive aims in the
development Of the South and it's mil
lions Of acres Of productive land, the
restoration of saneiy regulated private
management of the railroads is essen
tial"
Mr.. Warfeld said support had thus
been withdrawn by the railroad ad,
minastratiOn from an agency which had
done and could do more than any other
in assisting in providing those very
products needed for the winning Of the
war
Shall Autocracy. Continue?
1T may be natural" he said, that
those in power should wish TO perpet-
uSte their great powers, but recently
granted to them, or as many OF them
as they can hold But such an au-
tocracy as congress was compelled, I'M
der conditions of war, TO temporarily
set up, it may be safely assumed, was
intended for the purpose of winning
the war only. And we must take care,
lest we now create in this country the
very conditions which the life's blood
of millions of men has been shed to
uGSOEON ia OlutE COuuIliSSs
Asserting that for this very reason,
questions arising from the two schools
of thought private or government
ownership Of utilities will likely be
made political issues, and very soon
occupy the attention Of the two great
| political parties, Mr.. Warfeld declared
| that the people OF the country must
decide upon one OF two courses: First,
| government ownership. under which
| the railroads viii seek TO get all they
| can for thar holdings, and without
| regard TO whether such ownership is
! to the advantage of the people; and
| second, restored and properly regulated
! private management which will assure
| 10 them better service and the benefits
! OF individual initiative.
my own Judgment Is" Mr.. War
| field said, that only through compre-
| hensive plans Of control and regula
| tion under private management and
| initiative, can the best results be OBJ,
! tanned from any OF the great indus.
| tries of the country"
Shippers And Lard Owners
Concerning the vital interests of the
| shippers and the land owners, in these
! problems Mr. Warield said:
| The shippers and land owners of
| the country are as much concerned in
| the questions at issue - whether the
railroads are owned and operated by
| the government or under private own
erShip and opeTatiOn-as any interest
involved. The securities OF their own
| companies, If they are corporations,
are affected; and if they are not
corporations, their business is affected
by tbs sympathetic effect Of any action
that adversely affects the billions OF
railroad securities outstanding More
over, the success OF the shipper and
land owner is directly dependent upon
adequate and proper railroad develop
ment and service"
III there Is a people to whom the
very idea Of such q system OF pater.
nalism-RoveTnmeRt ownership and all
that 1t fnyolVss-must be repugnant, Il
is those OF Us who live in the South E"