New Britain herald., 1918-01-12
Henry Cleus
 Weekly Letfer
Especial to the HeraId)

son S statement of our peace aims may not bring an immediate end of the 1 war. Nevertheless, it will both stimu- late and facilitate negotiations to that
 end, when the mind of Germany real izes the inevitable and better under stands the real objects of the Allies. This message is an historic document of the highest importance. It is the clearest and strongest statement of any hitherto put out by the Allied Governments. It is based on simple justice throughout; is remarka ble for the unselfish tone that permeates the message from beginning to end, and will accomplish much toward clarify-
 ing the issues, crystallizing Allied opinions and heartening the Allied cause and operations. While the inn mediate outlook for peace is poor, there is no doubt that this clear-cut enunciation of the Allied terms, and their determination to attain them, will ultimately hasten peace; the main obstacle to that end being the ignor- ance of a large part of Germany to the real purposes of the Allies, as we'll as belief that they seek the dissolu- tion of Germany and dictation of her internal affairs, which is absolutely false.
 The excellent impression of tho
 Presidents latest recomm endatlons concerning Government control of the railroads was somewhat offset by an outbreak in Congress of agitation for Government ownership, ana the intrO- duction of bills for that purpose. It
 is exceedingly unfortunate that such a
 question should be thrust upon the Legislature at this time. President
 Wilson's suggestions were strictly
 war measure; and when public opin-
 ion is preoccupied and confused by other more important measures, it is
 highly unpropitious to force nasty dis cussion upon so mp1icated and vast a subject. Government ownership is question that demands not quick &C., tion, but thorough discussion and in- vestigation in advance. To jump first and think afterwards is fool-play.
 The question of Government own ership concerns owners, shippers and employees; all of which are part of the public, and equally entitled to fair treatment. The owners are not con- fined to stockholders on the books, but also to the millions of people of mod
 crate means whose savings are heavily invested in railroad securities through savings banks insurance companies and
 other fiduciary organization. The own
 CTS also include the great banking
 and investment fabric of the country,
 which cannot escape the injury to
 credit and the upheaval of business that would follow any lasting damage to the railroad industry. Owners of the railroads or their representative
 have a just claim for a fair return on the use of their property. Shippers have a claim for efficient service, which starvation through harsh Gov- ernment regulation has for years pre- vented. Labor desires freedom of choice and movement; something which it is more likely to preserve un- der private ownership than under Government ownership; for the reason that, if owners and shippers are to
 come under absolute Government con- trol, labor will of necessity also have to submit to Government regulation
 of hours and wages. The big advances in wages of the last two years would
 never have been possible under Gov-
 ernment ownership: because no Gov-
 ern1nent would have dared make such
 drastic concessions to a class, as have
 been made within the last few years to railroad employees. Moreover, there
 is no real public demand for Govern
 ment ownership at this time; the fail
 ure of Government regulation under
 the Interstate Commerce Commission
 having visibly shaken confidence in
 the ability of the Government to per
 form such a service. In spite of sev-
 eral years of enforced starvation, American railroads have been render
 ing under private management the
 most efficient and cheapest transporta-
 tion service of the world; and their de-
 velopment has been directed in the
 line of public necessity more effiectual-
 ly than could have been done by any
 government. There is also one other
 very potent reason why this question
 of Government ownership should be
 sidetracked and that is, the gigantic
 load which the Government is already
 carrying. Our Administration is al-
 ready badly overloaded with unprece- dented responsibilities; and to pile on
 unnecessary burdens at this time would be to break it's back at a criti-
 cal period. Patriotism and good man.
 agement alike demand that such a
 mistake should be studiously avoided.
 The function of governmen is to gov
 ern. Just now our Government is in addition carrying on the greatest busi-
 ness in history, that of making war. This is not a time, therefore. to null
 tiply confusion by pushing the ques- ton of Government ownership.
 The strength of the industria1s in tho security markets is frequently striking, and much confidence is ex- pressed in the future of those based on metal products. This confidence is founded upon the expectation of large demands for steel and copper; war or no war. If war continues, so will the demand for munitions, which is taxing output to the limit. If peace comes, then Europe will be a heavy buyer for reconstruction purposes for years to come, and the home demand will be divided between the railroads