The Delta independent., 1919-06-06
NATIONWIDE QUESTIONABLE
SHOWS to VOTE AGAINST
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

is very strongly in favor OF the return
of the railroads to their owners, as
shown by thev ote of nearly 5000 ed
itors of daily and weekly newspapers
throughout the country. A question
l aire sent to the editors of the country
G3,424) brought replies from 1922, OF
A per cent, and SO per cent of the
editors reported their communities in
factor of resumption of private man.
agement.
The questionable was conducted on
behalf of the association of railway Ex-
Iecutives, and was completed before
President Wilson announced in his re-
cent message to Congress that the
Government would relinquish control
of the railways at the end of the year.
Editors We're asked not to give their
personal opinions, but to appraise the
sentiment in their communities. the
four chief questions were as follows
l. Does public opinion in your judg-
ment seem to favor the return of rail
roads to private ownership and oper-
alton as soon as this can properly be
accomplished?
If so, is this opinion in part based
on the desire to see competition in
service and facilities restored?
3. What is the present sentiment in
your community on government owner
ship and operation of railroads?
4. What has been the feeling regard
ing the proposal to extend the period
of government operation for five
years?
On the first question, Does public
opinion in your judgment seem to
favor the return of the railroads to
private ownership and operation as
soon as this can properly be accom-
plished?" S3 per cent voted yes, II per
cent voted no, while per cent were
doubtful and per cent expressed no
opinion.
On the second question "If so, is this
opinion in part based on the desire to
see competition in service and facil-
per cent voted no, with 5 and IA
per cent doubtful and blank respec-
lively.
On the third question, What is the
present sentiment in your community
on government ownership and opera
ton of railroads." 78 per cent estim-
ated public opinion as against govern
ment ownership. II per cent for, with
7 per cent doubtful and A per cent
blank.
On the fourth question, What has
been the feeling regarding the propos.
al to extend the period of government
operation for five years?" the vote was
as follows: Against, "A per cent; for
IN dnnhffyI1 q
Z per cent.
II That public opinion on the railroad
question is not divided on party lines
is plain from the study of the vote In
the various states. In Texas, for ex-
ample, although only of the 331 ed
itors replying are Republicans, the
number in favor of return of the
roads is 88 per cent. considerably high
er than the percentage ga per cent?
in the strong republican state of Penn
sylvania
Il Tennessee voted 81 per cent as COM
pared with SO per cent in Maine.
Il OF. the 1922 replies. 2.052 were from
Republican papers, 1859 from Demo-
cratic. and 2,181 Independent and scat
tering.
more in favor Of return of the roads
are Connecticut. 81; New Hampshire,
l100; Tennessee. 81. Those showing
from 80 to 95 per cent in favor are
Florida. "a; Iowa. 80; New York, 90;
and Wyoming "a. Those giving from
85 to 80 per cent in favor are Del
aware, SO; Georgia. 81; Indiana, SO;
Massachusetts,. 80: Michigan So; Ne.
vada. IS; New Jersey, 80; North Car
olina. SO; Ohio, IS; Oregon, 81; South
Carolina, SO; Texas. sS; Utah. So;
Vermont, SO; Virginia, 's5; and West
Virginia, 81.
Those returning from 80 to s5 per
cent are Alabama. "a; Kentucky,b .ck
cent are Alabama, "a; Illinois, So;
Kansas. s2; Kentucky, SO; Maine, SO;
Mississippi, SO; South Dakota, 81 and
Washington a..
Those giving from rs to 80 per cent
are Arizona. 76; California, II; Colo
RADIO, Is; Louisiana, II; Maryland, rs,
Minnesota, 70: Nebraska, rs; New
Mexico, 76; Oklahoma. 70; Rhode rs. !
land, rs; Wisconsin. 70.
The only states below rs per cent
North Dakota, 81.
The strongest sentiment against
government ownership was found to
be in New England and the South,