New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12

committees and the plans, policies and
instructions to local committees % nv
wire. Their privacy has never vet been
violated under private management.
In the heat of political campaign un-
der government management the partv
IN control would have the power and
opportunity to censor the kilograms
Of the committees of the opposing
party. DO you wish to make such a
thing possible?
No Listening In" Now
There is no listening in on the tele
graph wires under private manage
ment, and | do not know of a single
instance in our service when there has
been what is called leak We have
had to resist demands by valued Gus
toners and by public officials, but we
have steadfastly refused to produce
telegram except under due process. of
law.
"a free press is dependent, however.
upon free telegraph, because the tele-
graph is the medium for the collection
and distribution of news. IF the tele-
graph is not kept free from political
domination the freedom now enjoyed bv
the press will be lost I do not be-
lieve can speak too strongly about
the danger Of a controlled press if the
telegrsphs are placed under the con-
troll of the government, for no matter
which party is in power, it will be i'm
possible to eliminate the question OF
politics from their control.
Ridiculous, He Says
Mr.. Reynolds asked whether the tenn
porary control of wires granted bv
Congress to meet an emergency was to
be made permanent to "gratify the
personal ambition" of Postmaster Gen
eral Burleson. The Postmaster Gener-
ais statement that private wires could
be purchased and paid for in about
twenty years out of the profits was
ridiculous" said Mr. Reynolds.
There is nothing new about govern
ment ownership of the telegraphs and
there is nothing good about it," said
Mr.. Reynolds. "It has been urged by
both Republican and Democratic ad-
mlnlstratlons and is not a party ques-
ton, except 80 far as it gives advan-
ttage- to the party that happens to be
IN power. The motive back Of every
attempt to bring about government
ownership is selfish one, and that is
the reason it's advocates have failed.
The real problem facing us to-day
is. not so much whether government
ownership is a good thing or not, but,
rather, whether the government can
seize privately owned telegraph and
cable lines without properly paying
for them. If that can be done in the
OF the property have no redress except
through the Court of Claims, no bust
ness is safe.
No Emergency Existed
THE American people will not stand
for strong-arm methods.
THE telegraph differs from every
other public utility in that it is not
used by the great majority of the peo-
pie, and it is the great majority that
should decide this question, and not
self-seeking politicians of any political
faith.
Cover 10 per cent Of the telegraph
business VI tue OnlCeu states OrlEl-
mates in about forty of the principal
commercial cities, and the best infor-
nation we have on the subject shows
that about 80 per cent of the popula-
ton do not use the telegraphs. 1t is
not, therefore, essential to the happl-
ness and wellbeing of all the people,
as the postoffice, public schools and
water supply are, and if operated by
the government at loss-as it surely
would be-the loss would have to be
paid through taxes and fall upon 80
per cent of the population which do
not use the telegraph and could very
we'll get along without it.
THE splendid service given the peo-
pie of this country by the telegraph
and it is only through competition that
the highest standard of service will be
achieved and maintained.
"The advocates of government own
ership hold out the bait of a cheaper
service and make all sorts of wild
claims as to the economies that can be
effected under the government No
thoughtful man believes that the tele-
graph systems of this country can be
operated under government ownership
as economically as under private own
ership and control Observation of
government management in other de-
partments has proved that the con-
trary is to be expected.
cit is very serious matter to con-