The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-25
A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED.

There are many indications that the
Democrats, now in control of the gov
eminent. are planning to perpetuate
federal operation of railroads. This
policy promises to be the paramount
issue In the next presidential cam
paign. Already there are evidences
that the party will not be able to pre-
sent united front on this policy. A
tendency to dissent is apparent in the
editorial columns of the Atlanta Con-
stitution, a paper which ordinarily
backs anything bearing the Democrat
label.
While the country is considering the
question of government operation of
railroads. says the Constitution, it will
be interesting to know whether or not
the attitude of the government, as ex-
pressed in its recent refusal to permit
the railroads now under federal con-
troll to continue their contributions to
the maintenance of development en-
terprises, is to become a fixed policy
of government control. If hereafter
no development enterprise is to receive
support from the railroads this par
ticular section of the country may well
inquire if the withdrawal of this ma
terial aid would not offset the advan-
tages that it's advocates claim would
accrue from goverHment ownership.
7 The paper then points out the won
derful development of the west, the
breaking of the wilderness. the re-
demption of the deserts, the establish
fnHnt of countless prosperous farm
homes. the building OF schools and
churches and cities turnout that great
section during the last half-century, as
! largely due to the enterprise and fore
sight of the railroads But for the
| railroads and railroad enterprise and
incentive. it says. the great mountain
| ranges of the west would today be
! barriers against civilization.
A concrete illustration Of the i'm
portance of the railroads part in the
! development of the south and the
southeast was laid before the south
ern land congre~- which met in b, Sa-
vannah recently, by S. Davies Warfield
head of the Seaboard Air Line rail-
road and of the Southern Settlement
and Development organization. in be-
half of which he addressed the con
greg
This organization, as Mr.. Warfield
pointed out in his address, has beer
supported for years largely by the rail,
| roads serving the southern territory
AS the country developed. railroad
| earpipoS iucraa cod iy, rronortio,,
i The railroads were anxious to con-
tinue them support of an organization
which, while helping the countr,
along it's lines, helped them. But
when the question of further railroad
contributions under government con-
troll arose lit was announced that il
would not be the policy of the railroad
to contribute to any organization moi
under federal control.
Do. under that ruling. the Southern
Settlement and Development organiza-
ton, and all of those depending ii
large MEASURE upon it, as the paren
Organization. for support-must il
future shift for themselves without
thO diu thc idhioduS aTe ANXIOUS u
give them as means of developing
industry and increasing the transpor
tation business along their lines.
II they be continued they must b,
maintained wholly by private and in
diridual contributions of money, Will,
the railroads, recognizing the fact tina
they are direct beneficiaries of thes,
organizations. are willing to help, blu
are not permitted to contribute a dol
lar to that end.