The Washington herald., 1918-01-02

| ers McChord and Clark of the in
ability of railroads to pool interests
! and to operate for the governmental
good would never have been made il
the financial kings. in charge of the
railroads. had had a few years train
ing as newspaper reporters.
The commissioners agreed that "cor-
porate greed" prevented the accom-
pIishment OF the desired end. The
financial barons were not afraid to
be unselfsh. but they were loath to
be unselfish. AS a result government
al control had to supercede all other
methods of dealing with the roads
! a step which would have been spared
! had newspaper writers been at their
head.
For the newspaper reporter forgets
ebout money. He couldn't think
about 1t if he wanted to. He partici-
pates in the affairs of the nation and
the world as the most lowiy financial
participant. perhaps, but one who has
firm grasp on every detail and. more
than the layman realizes, shapes the
| destiny of both men and governments.
The newspaper reporter has his
views nodded from the human stand
point His blood is red, and ii tingles
constantly through his veins in sym
pathy with those who should have
| the chance to live. but who, too often,
are not granted that right.
The newspaper reporter is not So
cialistic in his tendencies. He grants
the property rights Of those who put
great sums OF money into public un-
dertakings. But he insists that such
investments carry with them no IN
human privileges. The man who owns
great businesses should deal fairly
with those whose patronage makes
them profitable. The reporter un-
stands the position Of the baron
while possessing the soul of the
poor man. He can determine the
relationships between them better
than can either the representative
of the classes or the masses.
The news gatherer must be broad
minded. unprejudiced, fair, prompted
at all times by a knowledge, Of and
a sympathy with what Is the best
for the entire people.
The reporter has to be, in other
words. what the railroad baron does
not have to be. To so little far
ther-
The reporter is what the railroad
man should be.
. That is why reporters. had they
been reporters first and magnates att
erward, would have saved the sltua-
ton for the railroads. and. best OF all,
could have saved their country much
time and trouble in the present crisis.
Efforts are to be made, It Is said at
the Capitol, to elevate Senator Pom
creme to the headship of the Inter
state Commerce Committee. The ef-
forts will not have the active support
of the Ohio Senator. of course, but
they will be persisted in, at some
length, by several of his friends.
The contention is that, in view OF
the allegation that Senator Smith. OF
South Carolina, did not precede Sem
ator Pomerene in membership on the
Commerce Committee, the former is
not entitled to his position as ranking
member. The place rightfully be-
longs to the Ohioan. they say. and
four years ago when Senator Smith
was given the place it should have
gone to Senator Pomerene.
The question can only be settled by
a review of the circumstances of this
last-named action. If Senator Smith
was entitled to the place, through
service on the committee, Senatorial
courtesy demands that he be left
there, no matter il another member
of the committee may have been more
active on committee matters and no
matter if this other member may be
popularity regarded as better qualified
to hold the position. But If Senator
Smith was not entitled to the place
four years ago, and II the present
Democratic steering committee" may
so decide-which is an admittedly deli
cate question for the members of that
body to settle-then the way will be
open for the elevation of Senator
Pomerene to the place created by the
death of the late Senator Newlands.
The difficult step for the Pomerene
advocates to take is to overturn the
action of four years ago in giving the
ranking membership to Senator Smith.
It will be interesting to see what
grows out of this situation.
Greater Congressional investigation
of the Postoiice Department has been
urged from many directions during
the holidays. 1t would not be sur
prising, so some of the members de-
clare. il affairs of that department
were gone into very carefully after
Congress resumes work.
The opinion is gradually reaching