The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1918-01-01
GOVERNMENT CONTROL

L
Under the authority conferred OF
him when the country is in Il state Of
war, President Wilson assumed con-
troll of all of the railroads in CONT
mental America at noon Friday and
named Secretary of the Treasury
McAdoo director general. II had
been contemplated for some time,
but it was thought it would not be
done until congress reassembled af-
ter the recess. The problem is one of
the most stupendous ever attempted
of solution by the government and
will be of great difficulty unless there
is complete co-orporation by the
heads Of the many corporations. For
the present operations will be con-
Quoted by existing railroad organi-
tions, which have united under war
board of five presidents, of whom
Mr.. Fairfax Harrison, of the South
ern, is one. Government shipments
will be given the preference and
sent the shortest route, no matter
how billed. The war board has done
the best it could, but numerous laws.
hampering it were in the way of full
working power and these will be set
aside during the term of government
COntTOl. iHOLItI fcdSOI lOi tohiliS
charge of them is that it will place
the employees in the service of the
government, which will prevent them
from striking under penalty of being
tried for treason. 1t is stated that the
wages of many of them will be in
creased, while making reduction in
the salaries of all who receive
large amount. The railroads are
guaranteed pre-war profits and the
right to raise funds to keep the roads
in the best physical condition. We
have never been an advocate of gov
eminent control of railroads, but
circumstances alter cases, and know
ing that the president has studied the
matter from every angle, we are
more than willing that where he
leads we shall follow. 1t may be that
the experiment may prove so advan-
tageous that the system will always
continue and prove the theory of
Bryan and his school of statesmen.
The magnitude of the undertaking
can be better appreciated when it is
recalled that there are some 100000
miles of railroad i'll the United
States and that the order takes all of
them in. including their appurtenan-
ces. The private cars of railroad Of
fcials as well as all the Pullman cars
are also included.
There are those who claim that
Mr.. McAdoo is hardly big enough
for the job imposed on him, and that
the president should not have ap-
pointel his son-in-law, but their crit
icism are not well founded, since Mr..
McAdoo has shown himself man Of
great executive ability and the presi-
dent would not be small enough not
to take the best man he knew, simply
because of relationship.
With the complete cooperation of
the railroad managers, and the set
ting aside of laws that prevented
full results, government control will
relieve the congestion of freights
and make for better service gener- |
ally. But Mr.. McAdoo has the biggest |
job ever assumed by one man and it |
will tax his unGuestioned ability to |!
the limit. That he will be equal to |
the occasion we verify believe and |
place another laurel upon the brow |
of the man in the white house, whom |
God seems to have raised up to guide |
the nation safely through the pillows |
that are trying mems souls.
Clarence f. Woods. who has been
editor of the Eustis Lake Region,
well-known Florida paper, for sever
al years, has resigned to accept the
of Explosive Inspector
of his State. Mr.. Woods fight for a
betterment of conditions generally
has attracted widespread attention
and has resulted in much good, as
well. News comes that A. D. Miller, :
for years editor of the Richmond Gil
max, will succeed Mr.. Woods as edi-
tor. and that he will fill the place
we'll. none who know his ability will
for a moment doubt.
Senator LaFollette has been ex-
PEELED from a club in Wisconsin be-
cause of his disloyalty and traitor
Dus utterances. If the committee in
lestigating those utterances does its
duty he will be expelled from the
Senate his presence disgraces. Then
ne should be tried by court of COM
)etent jurisdiction and hanged. To
stand such a creature up before a
iring squad would in no measure be-
it the occasion or the crime.
Cold weather, but never too cold
% make good resolutions. Have you
N a do Unurc9 4,