New-York tribune., 1918-02-23
From The Portland Oregonion

substantially precuding the policy of gov
ornment ownership after the war. While
1t may be asserted that By repeal, addition
al enactment, and the like, VIC may enter
upon policies after the war nevcrthc-
less this bill does, in effect, tie our hands.
establishing not alone present i9ton-
t'on. but our future policy and this is
neither wise statcsmanlike."
Others may have misgivings as to add
ing 100000 men to the government pay.
roll; the Senator has none He observes
With pity:
"lhe words government ownership ap-
parenty have singularly chilling effect
y perfect paralysis Of fear is cngendered
by the YcrY suggestion; and this seems SO.
even though the logic Of events points but
one way and the action OF the government
IN taking possession OF the roads can ncan
but one thing
The boasted efficiency Of private man
ascment is TO the Senator nil, an "irides-
cent dream" He declares:
The railroad propagandist has p!astered
the whole nation with demonstrations Of
the superiority OF private efficiency The
question, though. has been decided. I. is
no longer academic TIC oitiless logic OF
II.
Nh. lEoovers sta a.ement of what govern
ment direction has failed to do came too
late Tor The Senator's use But these are
dull details. Justice has not yet been done
to the Californian's eloQuence and fervor.
Attend:
'Nl.y, Senators. why are YOU here ana
why am |? Why do we sit here in the
llgors OF winter and in all the horrors OF
the hottest part of a WASHINGTON SUMMER
Are we sitting here with ambition chilled
because we are government employees, or
are We sitting here tor the reasons thar
VIII actuate men when they enter the en-
ployment OF the government in the railroad
scrvlce-sitting here because, after all.
back in The mind of every American citizen
is the hope that he may say, when the
time comes after his limited period in this
sphere: 4 have done something OF GOOD:
have not lived in vain'"?
One regrets to find that the Senator was
hampered in his time, and that in the
absence Of a due ballast Of facts; he should
have been led into some over-tension of
statement. Thus he declares
Il gathered together to present to you
to-day the story of various railroads in this
nation. found that the material at hand
vas 50 Great that within the limits OF no
ordinary effort could I hope 30 present
even an outline of the facts. lf time ner-
mltted would like to dwell with you upon
the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific.
and the New York Central and would Ike
to point the moral from the story Of all
these privately owned roads. the moral tha :
every man to-day ought fully to under
stand. The tale OF private management is
sOrIl0
cruel tale. It is the story OF greed and
avaricc. Of plunder, ard wroag and cor
ruption."
But this. it appears. was a tytle strong,
for q moment later the Senator hasteps
to add:
81 would nor have You believe That all
private management is OF the sort which I
have here condemned and to which have
mere adFeEted. There are many railroads
privately managed fairly. hoaorably and
justly"
No condemnation Of individuals, actual
men, directors, railway presidents. Sim
ply the corporations Of which thev are =
helpless part.
One must add thc peroration, in all it,
perferFor and peremption:
q -
hip. We have paid the price OF private
@'nership in millions Of acres OF GU best
arm lands. We have paid the price in orr
forests, in cur coal deposits, cur land.
srshlng #ith oil. We nave pad the nrcc
IA building Up overnight fabulous fortunes
used N the undoir& OF the state. W. H.
paid the price IN handicappins CIR own
peop'e, II distorting our public and private
economy, IN corrupting cur political life.
and poisoning the very fountain head o.
justice. No matter what nav be the att
fude OF any of US to-day, despite barriers
and obstacles, the nation is marchina
straight to the goal tf public ownership
and the people at last will come inso
their own
lhe California rhctorcian will speedily
become national figure. He has ALREADY
taken rank in the Senate with the mos,
eloquent denouncers Of that body. yard2-
man, CT Mississippi, ard the lonely Jere-
m1ah from Wisconsin must look to their
laurels.