Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-10
President Of Santa Fe Corpor-
alton Says There Is no De-
sire for Private Control
Under Old Conditions
TRAFFIC LINES NOT
ROLLING IN WEALTH
On the Contrary They Were
Bankrupt, or Facing Bank
ruptcy When the War Broke
Out Abroad, He Claims

president z. p. Ripley of the Santa
re corporation. in the city last even
ing en- route to his winter home at
santa Barbara, in company with Gem
erai Manager A. = N'a'ls Of the Coast
Lines said to the journal that the
owners or railroads do not wish to
nave the property returned to them
ny the government unless the laws
are SO changed that the roads can be
operated without the ruinous restric-
tions which had either bankrunted or
had nlaced on the verge OF bank
ruptcy, nearly every railroad in the
united States before the war began.
Mr., Ridley is hale and hearty and
smoke with his usual emphasis when
discussing the problems confroatine
the government and the railroads OF
tne country. He said that hn believed
tne publlo had clearer understandings
OF railroad conditions than hefor, the
war. Then ii was believed ~ most
people that the roads were robb,ng
the public and We're rolling in wealth
and paving large Dividends on water
ed stock.
But when the test came it was act
ualiy found that no railroad in The
country had either cash or credit bv
which it could pay for the improve.
Jnents necessary to adequately carr.
on the increased traffic that came be-
iore the United States entarel Tie
war.
Mr.. Ripley was asked what he
thought of the chances Of improve
ments being made and branch lines
being built by which soldiers and re
turned war workers would be given
employment. He replied SthSt sTch
work, unless undertaken hy the gov
ernment on its own responsibility,
could not be thought of at this time.
because the roads under the present
regulations, If free from government
control could not raise The money
to do the construction work necpey
sary for carving on the traffic even
in ordinary times.
He spoke with particular positive
ness IN regard to the great increase
IN wages which could not b. lowered
oy the company, and the Uncertainty
as to whether any part or the increase
in passenger and freight tariffs would
be permitted by the Interstate Ccnl-
merce commission, should the rail
roads be returned to their owners.
Mr.. Ripley stated that u tnr largo
centers there was great tea, that nm
less employment was 81 to labor
Immediately there would bc a rapid
spread of I3olshevism IN the nited
States, but that he had no such fear
unless men who actually wanted 10
work were not given the opportunity
and they and their families were per-
mitted to feel the pinch of hunger.
THE man who is permitted to become
hungry without his fault Is Mt once
a potential anarchist" said Mr.. Rip-
ley "as all Of us would become in
that condition"
The president of the Santa Fe road
looks with no apprehension on the
return of the soldiers from Europe.
In his opinion they will come back
better physically and mentally and
with larger vision of world affairs.
and that nearly all of them will be the
strongest supporters of law and or
der, If they are promptly given en-
ployment there will be no danger of
the l. w. w. being recruited from
their ranks.
Mr. Ripley and Mr. Wells left at Q
o'clock last night for California.