The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1918-11-22
HOW GOVERNMENT.
CONTROL AFFECTS
OUR Development
Southern Land Congress Plans For
Continuance OF Work Stopped BY
Federal cOntrol--Presidert War;
field Points Out Danger In
Present Tendencies

! ~EWSGUb NGUuGu@tVS
| Savannah, Cain the Southern
Land Congress just held here, with
fourteen Southern states represented,
It was clearly demonstrated that tho
great land associations which are seek
ing Southern development, and, now, a
place to locate many Of the returning
American soldiers, must have adequate
support, il they are to 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
| tlen1ent and Development Organize!
ton. represented membership of
more than 5000, including leading
farmers in every Southern state. and
over 25.000.OG0 acres Of land,
Formerly, this organization. Of
which 8. Davies Wsrfeld of Baltimore,
Nd. 10 president, aud. which has done
much toward Southern agricultural de-
VeiOpment, was supported largely by
railroads operating in the South.
I Declined to Help
Since government control IOf the
railroads these contributions have
been withheld; and, in a striking state
ment to the land congress. President
WarReld said that notwithstanding the
appeal made in a petition by q South
ern senators from is states, that the
national railroad administration con-
tinue these contributions to the or
saniaatIdn. the director general de-
clined on the ground that contribu-
lions should not be made to ''pri-
vate organization not under govern
mefKt 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 MIR. War
field said, when an agency like this,
organized not for gain but for the
geHeFai g0otlS and which is admitted
by the administration to be "a highly
MerftCrious One,' must be discontinued
on a mere pretense in order that auto
cratic methods may be firmly entrench-
ed. f these organizations are to ac-
fcomplish their constructive aims in the
development of the South and its mil
lions Of acres Of productive land, the
restoration OF sanely regulated private
management OF the railroads is essen
tial."
Mr.. Warfeld said support had thus
been withdrawn by the railroad adj
ministratiOn 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.
Shalt AGtoeracy Continued?
at may be natural" he said, chat
those in power should wish to perpet-
uate 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, un-
der conditions of war, to temporarily
set I'D, 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
destroy IN other countries!"
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 will seek to get all they
can for their holdings, and without
regard to whether such ownership is
20 the advantage Of the people; and,
second, restored and properly regulated
private management which will assure
80 them better service and the benefits
OF individual initiative.
my own judgment Is" Mr.. War
eeid said, that only through. corlpro'
heasive piaAs % control and regl'a.
ton uAAaY private management aaA
initiative, caA the best results be Oh
tanned from any Of the great fAaus-
ty4es Of the country"
shippers And Land Owners
Concerning the vital interests of the
shippers and the land owners. in these
problems. Mr.. Warneld said:
1.-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 OWL
ership and operation---as any interest
involved. The securities Of their own
companies. II they are corporations,
are affected: and II they are not
corporations, their business is affected
by the 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"
"If there is a people to whom the
very idea OF such a system of pater-
nalism-Sovernment ownership and all
that 1t tnvolves-must be repugnant, 1t
. a.. S1.n1a - nc u1ho live n tia South -