The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1918-01-03
RAILROAD CONTROL.

Since the last issue OF The journal
President Wilson has put the railroads
of the United States under government
control In a proclamation announcing
this action Mr.. Wilson gives his reasons
in clear and cogent language. The news
papers, with few exceptions, have voiced
their approval and the same may be said
of most of the managers of the import
ant railroads of the country. The people
have been aware for some time that some
thing ought to be done to regulate and
speed up freight traffic but of course,
having had no experience in dealing with
complex railroad matters, they could
Differ no suggestions They knew that
.Sec'y Baker, Sec'y Daniels, Mr. Hoover,
Mr.. Garfield, the ship construction board
and perhaps others had been saying to
the railroads, do this or do that till they
bossed transportation into tangle. Aside
from this and much more embarrassing
vas the fact that the railroads were ham,
,Dered by interstate laws and in many
asses by contracts or agreements with
each other which prevented such unity
Of action and prompt handling of freight
IS the exigencies of war now require
something had to be done, and, as author
led by Congress during the last session,
the President fearlessly took command
of the situation. This puts one man in
supreme command, destroys all legal en-
fanplements and brings the railroads of
the country into a confederation for the
benefit of the people and for the perform
ance of regulated service for the needs of
the government in preparation for and
the prosecution of the war. Govern
mental control of the railroads is one of
the really great undertakings of the CEN
fury in which we live. Much, if not
everything in relation to the wal, depends
On its success as an economic venture.
18th the hope of thus bringing order out
of chaos, the President has accepted the
tremendous responsibility assumed by his
proclamation. We believe he has done
right and we believe that better traffic
conditions will soon prevail. Mr.. Nc
Adoo, Secretary of the Treasury, has
been appointed director-general of the
railroads. Wessthink that here the Presi-
dent has made a mistake. The public
will not readily believe that Mr.. McAdoo
OF any other man can be a highly efficient
&c ho nd Mt ha
same time highly efficient director
general of the railroads. Either office,
especially at this time, seems to require
The undivided attention of a conspicu-
ously able man, Either office demands
constant thought and much responsibility.
Mr. McAdoo is an able man and in COM
osrlson with some of the members of the
Presidents official family he is a very
ah,e man. But if one were to make
list OF one hundred of the Democrats of
proven ability in directing important I'M
fertakings, Mr. McAdoo's name would
not be found anywhere near the head of
Nsle column either as fnancier or rail-
in the United States who stand high in
public esteem because they have repeat
ly demonstrated their capacity for doing
things and doing them we'll These are
the men who should be asked to solve
the important and complex problems
which now confront the administration
and the country. These are the men who
measure up to the standard required by
the danger and the need of this crisis
None but the best should now be allowed
to give direction to affairs. MIR. McAdoo
has enough important work as Treasurer
He should not be asked to do more. A
man carrying too heavy load often
stumbles and sometimes falls. There are
people who critisize the President because
Mr.. McAdoo is his son-in-law. This
criticism is illogical. Relationship has
no real bearing On the question, which is
solely one of fitness and capacity.