The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-08
AID THE GOVERNMENT

w hateVer opinions may be privately or
publicly arrived at in regard to the opera
non OF the railroads under government
control. the railroads of the country are
now in the hands OF the powers that be,
and It bchOOvcS those who have questioned
IA criticized to give the President support
this measure. and do all that is possible
&C. make a success of what is, in the very
nature OF things, venture.
The New York Times, in a recent edi
toriui uttcrancc says, catistically The
Federal Government has about 800 900 sol
d.crs in training camps. Many are
without blankets: although they are called
t, service for fighting, not all Of them have
rites. There is Il lack OF comforts, OF the
necessary equipment. How is it possible
e. argue that the Government, with these
ircfficicncieS proved against it, would be
able to manage efficiently the great rail
way system Of the United States, employ
ing more than 800, 900 men, carrying an
annual total of 100 900 900 tons of freight,
operating more than 100000 miles of line,
transporting more than one million pas
songers year. and having operating eX
rcnscs OF 50 800 600 900 a year? The bust
ness OF the railways is greater than that of
tie government, except in wartime 1t is
much more complex and difficult, as ap-
Iears from the fact that while the railways
can be successfully operated only by
trained men, VIC are accustomed to entruSt
the business Of the government to whom
soevcr persons the people may elect, with
little regard for their previous training"
BY it's very contention the Times proves
itself iii the wrong.
The people in spite of some laundering,
have placed some very able men in control
II fol off
/; one of these. He has managed to steer
the ship OF state over some very troublous
waters with much credit to himself and the
PEOPLE who placed him where he is. Hoover
is another one who has managed pretty
we'll; in spite OF much criticism, cenSure
md comment he hes reduced the consump-
ton of food in this country and lowered
prices of commodities to a remarkable eX-
tent. Nanderlip is doing pretty we'll with
the Thrift Campaign, NcAdOo has done
pretty we'll with the Liberty Loan, and if
he does half as we'll with the railroads. will
have the undying gratitude of the country.
He certainly can not be called inexpert,
nor can the men who are associated with
him In building the Hudson tunnels.
McAdoO accomplished what was consid-
cred and is still considered. an engineer
ing miracle. The other men in control of
Of the word.
One might gather from the tone OF the
editorial. III The Times. that the million
and half men employed by the railroads
we're all to be discharged, and raw recruits
rut in their places.
All OF this is ridiculous and besides the
question, ard does no more good than
does the bowling going up as to incom-
potency in the army and navy The fact
of the matter is that such efficiency has
never been shown before in any country
in the assembling OF an equal number OF
men, on such short notice The war and
navy departments have made mistakes. are
making mistakes and will continue to
make mistakes as long as the war lasts
lust as the President has and will make
mistakes and the railroads have and will
make mistakes. and The Times has and