The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-21
LABOR CONTROL
Of ROADS WOULD
IMPERL LIBERTIES
Myron T. HerriCk Warns Gov
eminent Against Radical
Experimentation With Rail-
ways.

CLEVELAND o., Aug. 2t.-Myron
T. Herrick, OF this city, member OF
the executive committee Of the Nation
al Association OF Owners of Railroad
Securities. declared in a statement to-
day that the turning over OF the vast
system Of railroad lines to the control
OK the government, and through gov
eminent TO the control Of organized
laoor would be a long step toward the
esIsonsnment In this country of an
autocratic power that would imperil
the. liberties OF the American ople, "
MIR. herriek, who was formerly gov
ernor OF Ohio and American ambas-
sador TO France, is a banker, director
OF the Erie railroad and OF the New
YORK Life Insurance ompan
MIR. Herrick asserted in his state
ment that the experience OF the last
two years with the railroads, as with
tho telegraph and telephone lines, is
ample proof that there is neither efe
ficiency nor economy in government
control lie said that such control and
operation would defeat the purpose for
which, the railroad b~rotherhoods were
established and that II would Involve
a huge edition to the public debt as
the value Of the railroads was esti-
mated at / 1000, 900, 600.
referring to the agitation by rail-
NHFkfNE ~ NAAtAAN Nil0 utklCGIS Oh
their organizations in favor OF govern
rick said;
This propaganda will not be favor
ably received by the people Of this
SSq quhtIS VINO. az always. must pay the
bih, The deficit incurred In less than
two years Of federal operation is al
ready more than $500, 000, 900 and is
mounting at the rate OF 50. 600. 900 a
Day IN spite OF sharp increases IN
freight and passenger rates. Direct
Y Or indirectly In taxes, freight
goods the burden OF that deficit falls
on the people and contributes In ire
mendous measure to the oppressiveiy
nigh cost Of living, In the face Of that
showing who could conscientlously wish
2 perPetsSts governmental control Of
II cannot believe the brotherhood
have thoroughly considered the mn
quences that would follow government
ownership or that they are prepared
70 exercise this great power. Their
present p~ropaganda Ii wholly at vari-
Eanlzations and with their long and
honorable history"
To add the cost Of the railroads Ia
the governments debt, Mr.. Herrick
said, would weak , the government
porToWlng power, depreciate further
SNNuit ttNd anu increase Inc
rate az which the government can Dor.
row. He pointed out that the war mad
added $40, 900, 900, 900 to the ptblic debl
IN two years, and that the annual in.
tsrest charge alone is now almost eulla
~ the Whole annual expense OF the
national government before the war
TO buy the railroads and doubla IN,
national debt would be exceedingly un,
wise, said Mr.. Herrick. III vyoIit
SIMPLY multiply the principal and in.
tersst which the people must pay.
ceassan es nnsn In business viii no
solved" asserted Mr.. Herrlck, Ever,
delay means, tremendous loss TO til
country. All the billions OF wealtl
owned by the people OF the Unite,
Ssases are to 60 forward or backward
Is just ahead. A mistake will threat
en- the whole financial structure"
mr. Herrick said that he believed
me pest plan yet presented for solyinI
the railroad question was that pre-
scented to congress by the National AS
ISOLATION of Owners Of Railroad Sac,,ri
ties, This plan, he said, provides Ia,
2 liked percentage return to the road
ana that where a road makes a nrofi
IN excess OF six per cent the exces
shan be divided between the govern
ment, the employees n the railroad
In his opinion this plan protects Al
interests--the public, the shippers. EN-
ployes. n owners.
The. time for experiments ha
passed., said Mr.. Herrick. The gov
eminent has followed fads and fancIe
tar enough, Now let us forget partisa
for the business-iike management Z
|, " great vehicles OF giyin
men of experience and vision a chanc
to exercise their abilities. Radical az
Pronunciation 70 ~unthinkable."