The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-06-01

Ing. but il Is not all. The federal auth
critics now. Ms was don" IN the past
TO n lesser degree, arc making rhleS OF
rarriaEs based upon desires Tor the oiS-
coura cement If certain Industries and
activities Tho intention is 10 build
up onn and :ra- down another, not 70
furnish equal facilities for MI at az low
rates as may hr compatible with COST.
Similar considerations have lntIucnceo
state railroad commissions from lhHlr
inception. while under the earlier condl-
tons ri purely company activity man
ayers 0f railroads welded AT their
personal within. the power 10 favor or 10
opprcss. md not infrc0uently TO their
personal enrichment.
Private departure frnm the "ld lair
and FREE highway principle inherited
from tho past was always sinister even
IL not corrupt. Similar departures ny
governmental agencies must hc publicly
credited with fair and honorahI" 1htrI-
lions. But has any branch of thr gov
crnncnt wisdom or knowledge 10 reg
lister tho will or necessities nf 100, oo0.-
600 people" Can II hold level the scales
Ms between indlvidunlS. occupations,
localities and sections?
A great inquiry is now IN progress.
All business is 10 nc hppfhlSFH a. ~
nuhlic value and Importance and limits
put forth upon the number Of various
articles which shall be allowed TO he
produced.
Through domination over the trans
portation Of supplies and products, ana
In various ways. the Director General
Of Railways and other authorities re-
Gently created at Washington will limit
in any degree which they may choose
the things which you and can buy
and use.
But why such cumbersome methods
Of indfrrction: When the United States
government took over the railroads and
even before that. We pointed out that
governmental operation. always has
meant, and always must mean. loss
Of efficiency and increase IN cost, whcr-
over business enterprises or activities
arc concerned The state commissions
may rs we'll stay 1T homo and save the
public the amount OF their fares and
expenses for trips 10 washington. Their
avovvcd interest In centres like New
York Is not sincere. and the rea! chJoct
Of no ono can he attained without oppo-
sition from others. excepting the I'M
pulse common to all. that they aPpeHr
to be doing something and so keep their
jobs.
But there IL ono constituency to which
appeal may he made for fair decision
of tho things which the people need and
want and which must be made and
transported to meet their demands. and
that constituency is made UP OF the
people themselves You and l know
what we wish 70 buy. We know what
We want and how much VIC want 1t and
We know how much We are willing to
nay for the making and transportation
Of II. II no ono is willing 10 supply us
NJ our price then tho makers can keep
their goods and the railroads need not
haul them. We win buy something else.
Such is the great referendum To which
government should leave private af-
fairs. for no man or continuation Of men
Is good enough. or wise enough. or just
enough to central. regulate or dominate
the personal needs. requirements or
wishes Of people. OF only jehovah
should II be- written "He puttcth down
one and settcth up another" All. the
wicked will he destroy.