The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-15
RAILWAY REGULATION.
The Government Attitude Toward
the Three Parties In Interest,

To THE Editor OF THE suN-Sir: On
June 20 THE Sun had few para graphs
under the caption Private Rail Rule
Ended, Says Hines" Mr.. Hines was
made to say in these that the difference
between Government operation and pri-
vate management Is largely difference
In form rather than In substance, be-
cause in one way or another the Gov
eminent must regulate the railways to
protect the interests of all the parties
concerned, not merely the owners but
the general public and labor.
This is all very true. but Government
operation so far seems to have resulted
in protecting only one OF the parties In
interest. namely. labor. Under private
management competition has protected
the public and labor has protected itself
through conferences with the manage
ment and its power to strike. Labor
has exhibited Its power but the man.
agements have shown Its limitations, and
the Government through Its official arbi-
traitors has adjusted the differences of
opinion between the two parties, bring
ing to bear In these adjustments the
interests Of the third party, namely, the
general public.
At present II seems that labor has
IN fact though not In form overthrow
the arbitrators and Is pursuing what
1t believes TO be its own interests with
out any regard for the public or the
owners. That is the existing difference
between present Government operation
anc former private management repre-
scnting ownership. 1t is very radical
difference that is not likely to be mar
rowed by permitting the growth in labor
Of sentiment that II owns the railroads
thu ough practical control of the Gov
ernment-the seed that has been planted
and has received vigorous cultivation
through direct Government operation.
Labor may not realize II and evidently
does not, since II vigorously denounces
It, but It has launched itself >on the path
to Bolshevism and will continue on that
path until 1t declares openly where 1t pro-
poses to set the limit to Its demands.
The one possibility of success for Boil
shevlspn lies in the widest International
ism. Plainly this has been seen by the
Russian Bolshevists. and that Is what
explains their vigorous efforts for inter-
naturalization. II this fails there will
be differences in economic scales between
one country and another. making It pos
sible for the one to undersell the other
in foreign markets. The main factor
In these differences will be the lengths
to which the labor demands have gone.
But II all go the same length we shall
work through to the simple ways of
barter pursued by our arian fore
fathers. and that will be the end OF CIV
ilizatlon. Those will be happiest who
live in the mildest climate, and those
who live In rigorous climates will sur
vive as best they can. clad in the
skins OF animals and eating such natural
roots of the earth as they can discover.
This is no fanciful picture. There are
parts OF Russia which closely assimiate
1t to-day.
Mr.. Illness statement Is OF value
to the extent that It reminds labor OF
the existence OF interests other than its
own. and may possibly have the further
value of forcing from labor declara
tlor OF what recognition it proposes TO
yield the other interests, but in so far
as 1t may be interpreted as advocacy
Ct permanent direct operation by the
Government It is pernicious. because such
operation has certainly not shown so far
that it is capable OF giving equitable
consideration to all interests, and be-
cause, even II 1t gave some present evil
dence of power to that end, II is plant
ing seeds of slow but certain growth
that will blossom as terrible inefticlency
in railroad service and bureaucracy
too cumbersome and too uniformed 10
remedy the ineficiency, a most disas-
trous condition for the far most impor-
tant interest OF the three involved, that
is. the general public, to face.
ULTIMA RATIO
BALTIMORE. July IA.