Evening journal., 1919-06-02
83 PER CENT. FAVOR
RAILROADS. RETURN
Canvass OF Nation Shows
Majority Of Communities
Against Control
1892 EDITORS
MAKE REPLY

NEW YORK, June 2.--How strongly
public opinion has swung toward de-
mand for the return OF the railroads TO
private ownership and operation Is re-
vealed by the result OF QUESTIONABLE
sent by the Association OF Railway En-
ecutiyes to every newspaper editor In
the United States.
Eight out Of every ten that were
asked TO ascertain the sentiment Of
their communities reported a positive
sentiment for the restoration OF the
roads 10 private ownership and former
efficient conditions OF operation. About
one out OF ten reported sentiment
against restoration. A few were doubt
ful. A few others did not attempt TO
answer the question.
Before the President announced his
recent message TO Congress that the
government would relinquish control Of
the railroads at the end OF the year the
Association OF Railway Executives
mailed to the 1924 editors OF the coun-
try, four direct questions covering the
future OF the railroads. Replies were
received from 1902 editors. or "a per
cent. OF the total. OF these SO per cent.
stated that their communities wanted
the railroads handed back to private
management.
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:
4. Does public opinion In your iudg
ment seem 10 favor the return OF rail-
roads to private ownership and opera
tion as soon as this can properly be ac-
compllshed?
@ II so, is this opinion In part based
on the desire TO see competition in ser
vice and facilities restored7
3. What is the present sentiment In
your community on government own
ership and operation OF railroads.
4. What has been the feeling regard
ing the proposal 10 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 railroads to private own
ership and operation as soon as this
can properly be accomplished" SO per
cent. voted yes, II per cent. voted no,
while per cent. were doubtful and 2
per cent. expressed no opinion.
on the second question. "lf so, is this
opinion in part based on the desire TO
see competition In service and facilities
restored?" rs per cent. voted yes. 6 per
cent voted no, with and "a per cent.
doubtful and blank respectively.
On the third question, what is the
present sentiment in your community
on government ownership and operation
OF railroads?' rs per cent estimated |
public sentiment as against government |
ownership, IL per cent. for, with Z
per cent. doubtful and { per cent. blank. |
on the fourth question, What, has |
been the feeling regarding the proposal
10 extend the period OF government
operation for f1ve years?" tho vote was
as follows: Against "a per cent; for. !
10 per cent; doubtful, per cent.
blank. per cent
That public opinion on the railroad
question Is not divided on party lines Is
plain from a study OF the vote in tho
various States. In Texas. for example.
although only three OF the 33i editors
replying are Republicans, the number
in favor OF return OF the roads Is SO
per cent, considerably higher than the
percentage (Si per cent? in the strong
Republican State OF Pennsylvania.
Tennessee voted e7 per cent. as com
pared with SO per cent. in Maine.
or the 5,922 replies, 1862 were from
Republican papers, 1889 from Demo-
cratic and 2,isi Independent and scat I
tering.
The States showing % per cent or c
more In favor Of the return OF the roads {
are Connecticut, Of; New Hampshire, 5
100; Tennessee, 97. Those showing j
rom 20 to 95 per cent in favor are
Florida. 9i; Iowa, 90: New York, 90,
md Wyoming. 81. Those giving from S
. 10 30 per cent. in favor are Delaware,
20: Georgia, 81; Indiana, IS; Massachu- u
setts, SO; Michigan. IS; Nevada, s5: D
New Jersey, SO; North Carolina, Sc m
Ohio. IS; Oregon, 81; South Carolina, p
s9; Texas, IS; Utah, Sc; Vermont. Sc o
Nirginia, IS; and West Virginia, 81. lr
Those returning from so to So per u
cent. are; Alabama 81; Illinois, SO; "
Kansas, 81; Kentucky, SO; Maine, SO; W
mississippi, SO; Missouri 81: Montana, gl
% PennsylNania, 81; South Dakota, 81,
and Washington, 81.
Ihose giving from IS 70 so per cent
srei arizona, 7e; California, n; Colo =,
rsoo, 'oi Louisiana, n; Maryland. rs; n
Nlhnesota, "; Nebraska, IS; New Mex :
70: Wisconsin, IS. Y
Inc only States below IS per cent v
are; Idaho, 70; Arkansas. 6s and North p
Dakota, 81 Z
The strongest sentiment AGAINST eo,,- :
ernment ownership was found 10 he IN !
New England and the south. sections
widely apart In political sentiment. onlv
per cent. OF New England editors and
Z per cent. Of southern editors reported
their people fayoring government own
ership.
on the question Of the return OF the
roads the New England editors voted Of /
per cent. in favor. 6 per cent no, with 3 /
per cent. doubtful and blank.
in tho North Atlantic States f,Jo.,