The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-06-06
AGAINST GOVERN
MENT RAILROADS
Editors Say Communi-
ties Favor Private
Ownership
CHIEF QUESTIONS

Public opinion is very strongly In
favor Of an early return Of the rail
roads to their owners, as shown by
the vote of nearly 5000 editors of
daily and weekly newspapers turnout
the country A QUESTIONABLE sent
to every editor in the country (13,-
424) brought replies from 1922, or
A per cent, and SO per cent of the
editors reported their communities
in favor of a resumption Of private
management.
The QUESTIONABLE was conducted
on behalf Of the Association of Rail-
way Executives, and was completed
before President Wilson announced
in his recent message to congress
that the government would relin-
Quish control Of the railways at the
end Of the year.
Editors were asked not to give
their personal opinions, but to ap-
praise the sentiment Of their COM
munities. The four chief questions
were as follows:
/. Does public opinion in your
judgment seem to favor the return
of railroads to private ownership and
operation as soon as this can prop
erly be accomplished?
2. II so, is this opinion in part
based on the desire to see competi-
ton in service and facilities re-
stored?
3. What is the present sentiment
in your community on government
ownership and operation of rail-
roads?
4. What has been the feeling re-
garding the proposal to extend the
period of government operation for
five years?
On the first question, docs public
opinion in your judgment seem to
favor the return Of railroads to pri-
vate ownership and operation as soon
as this can properly be accomp-
lished?" SO per cent voted yes, II
per cent voted no, while per cent
were doubtful and 2 per cent ex-
pressed no opinion.
On the second question, IF so, is
this opinion in part based on the
desire to see competition in service
and facilities restored?" rs per cent
voted yes, per cent voted no, with
5 and IA per cent doubtful and blank
respectively.
On the third question, What is
the present sentiment in your COM
munity on government ownership
and operation of railroads." 70 per
cent estimated public sentiment as
against government ownership, IL
per cent for, with per cent doubt
full and 4 per cent blank.
On the fourth question, What has
been the feeling regarding the pro-
posal to extend the period of gov
eminent, operation for five years."
the vote was as follows: Against,
"A per cent; for, 10 per cent; doubt
full per cent; blank, per cent.
That public opinion on the rail-
road question is not divided on party
lines is plain from study of the
vote in the various states. In Texas,
for example, altho only 3 of 331
editors replying are Republicans, the
number in favor of return Of the
roads is IS per cent, considerably
.gher than the percentage (S4 per
cent? in the strong Republican state
of Pennsylvania.
Tennessee voted 81 per cent as COM
pared, with SO per cent in Maine.
; the 5922 replies, 1852 were
from Republican papers, 1889 from
Democratic, and 21S1 Independent
and scattering:
The states showing 95 per cent or
more in favor of the return of the
roads are Connecticut, 81; New
Hampshire, 100; Tennessee, 81.
Those showing from 80 to IS per
cent in favor are Florida, "a Iowa,
90; New York, 80, and Wyoming,
"a. Those giving from IS to 80 per
cent in favor are Delaware, SO;
Georgia, 81; Indiana, 8S; Massa-
chusetts, 80; Michigan, SS; Nevada,
IS; New Jersey, SO; North Carolina,
Sc; Ohio, IS; Oregon, 81; South
Carolina, SO; Texas, SO; Utah, So;
Vermont, So; Virginia, IS, and West
Virginia 81