The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-12-26
(keep Your Pledge
RESTORE THE RAILROADS

aAnlhGtons Dec. " ne hepubil'
ean Publicity Association. through III
president, Hon. Jonathan Bourne. Jr.
today gave out the following state
ment from its Washington headquar-
ters.
"Mr McAdoo's plea for a five-y
extension of the period of government,
operation of the railroads, or. as an
alternative, immediate restoration to
private operation, is construed by
many as presenting an issue upon
which Congress must act at once
There is no such necessity. The law
provides for return 10 private opera
ton within q months following the
signing of treaty of peace. There is
no occasion for either precipitate
action or extended government oper-
alton. After careful elaboration
Congress should take such action as
seems best for return Of the railroads,
but under no circumstances should
there be an extension of the period of
government control.
"Mr. McAdoo has himself provided
sufficient argument against extension.
Extended control will mean increased
government appropriations. Judging
by the innovations he has already in
stituted, it will mean diminished SER
vice and increased rates. II will mean
continued use of the railroads and
their pay rolls as factor in politics.
Let us get the railroads out of poll
tics, restore former efficiency, and
provide a reasonable system of gov
eminent regulation which will help
but not hamper development.
ut may be admitted that our sys-
TEN of government regulation was inn
perfect, but it was by no means a
failure. If it had been failure, gov
eminent ownership or operation would
also be failures, for government oper-
ators cannot have more knowledge and
ability than the combined knowledge
and ability of private owners and gov
eminent regulators. Government OPP
orators would lack the initiative and
energy displayed by private managers
whose rewards depended solely upon
success. 1t may also be admitted that
government operation has not been
without its benefits, but these have
been improvements which could and
should have been attained under pri-
vate operation and would have been
attained if not prevented by hamper
ing regulations.
mo language can be too severe in
of the wrongful acts of
managers who have pill
aged their stockholders or wrecked the
institutions over which they had con-
troll. Deeds of such character should
be made criminal by law, if not al
ready so defined, and prison doors
should swing open to receive and CON
fine the culprit who is unfaithful to
his trust.
"But eradication of evils of this kind
does not require government owner
ship. There is no need to stihe indi
vidual enterprise, ambition and energy
in order to prevent repetition Of
acts. Advocates of govern
nent ownership propose a remedy
worse than the disease. In the mis-
guided effort to cure evils in railroad
finance, they would fasten upon the
nation evils far more serious, far more
more deeply affecting the
welfare Of present and future genera
lions, striking at the very vitals of
truly representative government.
"Once established public ownership
will continue until its destruction has
oeen wrought. Once overthrown, indi-
gidual enterprise will not be restored
until public ownership has brought it's
,wn ruin. Legislation can easily de
;troy but it cannot build up. The most |
t can do is to give opportunity and
incentive for individual activity.
"Mr McAdoo's advocacy of five
GEAR extension Of government opera
ion means five years more Of scramble |
ng the railroads with resultant ne
.essitated government ownership be-
.ause of absolute impossibility of re
,toring the property. In substance,
le is asking for government owner
hip, and it should be refused"
(Keep Your Pledge -
BONNEVILLE
Many about town are sick with
olds.