The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-01-24
BY W. G. M'Aooo.

The railroad problem is To-Day oho
of the most, If not the most, impor-
tant and vital domestic questions racing
the American, people. Our wei1are
and prosperity depend on its proper
solution. Therefore 1t Is peculiarly
necessary that the facts regarding IL
be understood clearly; that 1t De set
tiled not along partisan politicai INES
nor in Difference to. the pre1udices OIL
amy class; that the American peopie
face the issue boldly and dispose OF IL
as courageously as they have Always
done with every basic problem they
have had to meet.
Let me say Immediately that have
no pet theory to advance in discussing
the settlement of the railroad ques-
ton. AT the present time am neither
. an advocate nor an opponent of gov
ernment ownership. But while my
tendency is against government own
ership and In favor of wisely regu-
lated private ownership under strong
1 am not afraid of government owner
ship should experience, gained by an
adequate test, prove that it is the best
solution of the problem. We are liv-
Ing in a new day In America; the
world is throwing off old shackles; we
must do what seems best in view of
ascertained facts regardless Of pre-
conceptions. / favor five-year test
period because 1 believe its results Will
tell us convincingly which is better
government ownership or private own
ership wisely and adequately regulated
under the superior authority of the
federal government.
Calls Attention to Problem.
The recent suggestion made to the
congress for such test under peace
conditions has at least served to con-
centrate attention on the problem.
Many of the attacks on the plan plain
ly have been dictated by selfish In
terests; others just as plainly are due
to misunderstanding.
The suggestion most generally adj
yanced by the opposition is that the
roads be continued under government
operation for the twenty-one months
period after the war, as provided by
the present federal control act, and
that during that time remedial legis-
latiOn, (there Is an utter lack of agree
ment on the details of such legisla-
tion) be enacted to return the roads
to their private owners.
There are two reasons why such
course seems to me impossible; first,
the roads cannot be operated success
fully under the present act for twenty
one months with the prospect Of their
return to their owners at the end of
that time approaching nearer every
day; and second, no adequate and fair
remedial legislation can be obtained
within that time in view of the polit-
ical situation, and the lack of crystal
lization of the thought of the nation
as to what is the best permanent So
luton. In discussing these two points,
4 must be frank, for the American peo-
pie are entitled to frankness This is
their problem, and they are going to
settle 1t sooner or later whether GER
tain interests want them to or not
The most serious obstacle to going
on with the. present system Of federal
control under existing limitations
while the congress tries to work out
remedial legislation is that of morale
Some purposely blind people appear
to think this an idle argument, put for
ward to bolster up plan. They do
r,at fho CT r.o
serve two masters"
Face Stubborn Fact
The railroad officials and employees
of the United States are only human
If they see the end of federal control
rapidly approaching, with their posi-
lions and their future the constant
subject Of partisan political contro-
versy, and with an entirely different
system of control, which will vitality
affect each individual employee, about
to go in effect they naturally cannot
work with undivided thought and at
the highest point of efficiency; they
will be thinking inevitably of the in
terests of the private owners whose
employees they will soon become, and
they will pay less and less attention
to the government officials operating
the roads. Where the interests of the
private owners and of the government
clash, as they unavoidably will in
many cases, employees will hesitate
which interest to serve. Confusion and
lack of efficiency are bound to result.
This is not theory; this is stubborn
fact that must be faced. Already
signs of the difficulty are beginning to
appear. With other forms of industry
this might not be so serious, but the
prosperity and even the lives of mil.
lions of Americans depend upon the
discipline and efficiency of the Ameri-
can railroad machine
Then, too, were the. effort made to
continue the present control under ex
listing legislation, the railroads, from
n physical standpoint, might stand still
or even deteriorate during the twenty
one months period. Without the CO.
operation of the railroad corporations,
it is difficult under the present law to
carry forward improvements or to obs
tain needed equipment. Already many
of the railroads are resisting pur-
chases of necessary equipment for
their account. Many of the necessary
improvements, such as joint terminals.
HONORS FOR WAR HER0lNES