Oxford eagle., 1918-01-31
L. S. Ownership
of Utilities Soon
By John Temple Graves.

If Mr.. William Randolph Hearst
will possess his public soul with pa
tience he will live to see his twenty
years faith and advocacy of govern
ment ownership of public utilities
| and commodities redeemed and fully
vindicated.
What the apathy and sluggish pro-
cesses of peace have not developed,
the vital activities and necessities of
war are rapidly bringing to pass.
One BY one, step by step, the. great
public utilities are coming under the
operation of the federal government,
carrying with them temporary own
ership which is certain to be made
permanent.
The railroads, mightiest of all the
corporations, have been the first to
follow the trend and logic of the
times. Operated now by the ad-
ministration, there is none to doubt
that they will speedily be owned by
the government
Fighting hardest, protesting long
est and scoffing most loudly, they
have at last, with their full consent
and practically under their own peti-
tion, crossed the line between private
and public control. Almost upon the
instant of the passage their stocks
have doomed, their stockholders have
rejoiced, their prospects have bright
ened and their representatives in
Congress have been moved to make
the transfer enduring.
As go the railroads, so 60 the
rest. There is an old rustic saying,
when one sheep jumps over the gap
all the rest will follow" And when
the bell-weather of the whole economic
flock has vaulted the bars the others
will surely come after. Congress,
day by day, is letting down te bars
to invite or drive them in.
Congressman Aswell, of Louisiana
has adopted bill to authorize the
government to take possession of the
telegraph and telephone lines. the
marine cables and the radio stations.
THE economic trend is astound-
ing in its strength" SAID Mr.. Aswell.
by the unifcation of these lines
the government can release most of
the employees of the telegraph COM
panles BY sending kilograms over
the telephone wires, as it is done in
leading foreign nations At least
10000 telegraph operators will be re-
leased at once for the government
se-viee; so when the government
controls the wires and cables and
radio lines, traitors cannot use them
TO our hurt"
Mr.. Sabbath. of Illinois has a bill of
similar import taking over the rail
roads and express companies along
with the telegraph and telephone
companies Mr.. SABBATH has been one
of the staunchest supporters of gov
ernmen, ownership, having played a
strong part in the night for municipal
ownership in his home city Of Chi
cago.
&r. pill. of Washington also has a
bill (the TIN; D. for government own
ership Of railroads, telegraph and
telephone lines.
Miss Jennette Rankin has a bill
which will be strongly supported for
taking over control of the copper
mines during the war.
| The taking over of coal mines, oil
heids and electric agencies of CON-
munieaaon is 10 be presented to
Congress
Senator Pomerene, of Ohio has in
trodueed bill which has met with
the Presidents approval for taking
over iron and steel.
And TO these IS added, at the sup-
geStlon of the Federal Trade Com
mission. sitting in Philadelphia, the
control by the government of meat
packing and allied industries. II is
regarded as sure that general leeis-
laton TO control all public utilities
may be combined and shaped into a
single bill All these vast and varied
commodities. now of public necessity.
are TO be given a test and trial of
government operation
The railroads. telegraph and ,ele-
phones, the most vital in their near
ness to the public mind. are never
likely to be committed again 10 the
fluctuations and doubtful management
Of private ownership.
The economic revolution has come
to stay and these Hearst newspapers
which for twenty years of unfailing
advocacy have pioneered this eco.
nomic policy, confidently believe that
tne war trial, inspired and backed bv
! the powerful Representatives Of =