The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-11-25
Editorial and Magazine Page of

- ROM all states. all sections of the nation has
r come an almost instantaneous response to the
recent action of The administration in taking
over operation of the Atlantic cables. The response
is in the form of a demand for Information The
whole country wants 10 know why, with military
necessity NJ an end. with the events of the peace
conference AT hand in which all the people have an
interest aud a right to be Informed. II should be
necessary to take over cables which have been func-
tioning efficiently throughout the whole course OF
the war, under private management.
So far rs - known there has been no complaint
as to the operation of the cables since April, l9li.
No military information has leaked there has
been no failure of service while the great strain Of
actual warfare was upon them. Why, then, II Is
necessary 10 add 10 the operating burdens OF an
already overburdencd department and to suppiant
an experimental management for one OF known and
tested efficiency
There is incidental objection to the assumption
that George Crccl will bc the censor AT the Euro
pcau end of the cable; but that is only incidental.
The whole nation. # one may Judge from the cX.
prcSSionS of the newspapers of the nation, demands
To know the fundamental reason for a step which
seems SO utterly unnecessary. The III PaSO Times,
democratic in politics. voices a view that is preva-
lent everywhere in this summary of the cable
matter:
The action of the government in taking over
the Atlantic cables il a step that is extremely ml-
likely 10 meet the approval of the American people.
Criticism already voiced IN the senate doubtless re-
fleets public opinion generally throughout the cOun-
Try. Federal control of the railroads may have been
justified as a war measure. The taking over ct the
lend lines of the telegraph and telephone companies
might be explained on similar grounds hut the
war is over. and any further extension of federal
control of utilities may justly be viewed with
suspicion.
This is especially true in the ease of the At
luntic cables, whict are 81" soon 10 carry the most
important news IN ia" history of the world-the
proceedings of the forthcoming peace congress ut
Versailles. 1t cannot b, that the president desires
government control over the transmission of the
reports Of this conference.-the he has any other
desire than that It's deliberations be given the fullest
and frccst publicity, -mtrammclcd by government
control 90 censorship.
Secret diplomacy and secret understandings
between nations have hc"n denounced as the chief
sources of International misunderstanding IN the
past. II has even been said they were responsible
for conditions which made the world war possible.
II is impossible to believe President Wilson has lost
confidence in the American pcoplc-that he is I'M
willing they shall be kept IN close touch with the
progress of the negotiations so tremendously inn
portant in their effect ou the future peace and hap
piueSS OF the whole world.
But. aside from any consideration of the
peace conference. there seems 10 he no good reason
for the taking over of the Atlantic cables. I'm the
hands of their owners these lines functiOncd prop
crly and rendered satisfactory and even invaluable
service during the progress of the war. Surely the
companies can he depended upon Ia operate them
now that peace has been restored and the necessity
for guarded and secret communicationS definitely
ended.
since the declaration of war the American
people nave had considerable experience with gov
crnmcnt operations of utilities, and, while abnormal
conditions doubtless made a far test impossible,
the experience, ON the whole, has not been a pleas
ant one. lnder government operation of the rail
roads, deterioration of the service has kept pace
with the increase in the rates, both freight and pas
Scngcr. Government control of the telephone com