The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-01-09

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factories that made the munitions
and supplies, haul immense quantities
of coal and steel to the shipyards in
which it was constructing an immense
number of ships, carrying 1000, 900
soldiers about the country between
the Atlantic and Pacific, transport
material and supplies for its great
camps that must be suddenly con-
structed, and haul another army, far
greater, of civilians engaged in ma
tional work.
1t is a great pity that the figures
of this colossal and absolutely unpre-
cedented work have never been made
public. They would stagger the ma
ton
Take shells alone Often in a space
of twenty-four hours the Allies on the
western front would fire a million
shells. At the bombardment and cap
ture of the town of VauX, which was
all done with American guns and
American shells, $4,000 shells were
fired in two hours.
Trains carrying supplies to the
American forces ran over the Ameri-
can railroads in France on one minute
Roadway.
All of these supplies mad to be
gathered in America and shipped ov-
err our broken down, hamstrung and
spawned system. That the job was
accomplished in spite of these handi-
caps was one of the greatest achieve
ments of the war.
But it could be accomplished only
with the greatest difficulty and by
clearing the tracks so far as possible
from all freight and haulage not con-
nected with the war
| That was the reason why freight
and passenger rates must be in
increased-to reduce traffic and en-
able the roads to handle the colossal
war work. Persons that kicked were
kicking about the war necessity. They
did not know when they were well off.
The war rate advances in this country
were nothing compared with the adj
vances the British government
clapped upon the British rail lines.
Passenger rates in Great Britain were
doubled.
If that had been the case here the
lowest charge between New York and
Chicago would have been $42.20
without sleeper.
Nobody in Great Britain attacked
the increase or said it showed the
evils of government ownership. Uni
versally the people accepted it as
necessary consequence of the war.
But Great Britain was never furn-
ished with the press agents that here
have served the railroads so ably.
That makes much of the difference.
If the staggering task that the war
put upon the railroad administration
of this country had not been so ably
performed the war would not have
been won yet
For it would have signified nothing
that our soldiers were brave or our
commanders able or our people united
and determined. None of these things
would have been of the least value if
the railroad system had not been
able to get the soldiers and the ma
terials to seaboard.
1t never would have been able to do
this under private ownership.
Nothing but the stepping in of the
government saved the day from dis
aster in this respect, and every candid
railroad man in the United States will
admit that fact.
/ 1t was by unifying the system, in
Producing vast reforms and econom-
les, using parallel lines as a double
track, cutting out trains, abolishing
superfuous train mileage, cutting off
long detours and unnecessary hauls,
routing freight by the shortest,
quickest and easiest lines, releasing
unnecessary stats, combining efforts
and simplifying methods that the
United States got thru and extracted
service from the broken down, ham
strung and spawned concern.
In doing this is proved that the old
system of private ownership of pub
lie highways was as wasteful as it was
incompetent. Every year we paid for
the most astounding and reckless ex-
travagance while our highways were
being ruined and our accident rec
ord appalled, the rest of the world.
Some years ago Mr.. Louis Bran
dies, now a justice of the Supreme
Court, announced as the result of his
investigation that the railroad COM
panies of the country were wasting a
million dollars day.
For this statement Mr.. Brandies
was furiously attacked by the railroad
press and ridiculed by its hired buff
foons.
The experience of the government
in conducting the railroads has shown
that the only error Mr.. Brandies made
was in Understanding the loss.
Instead of a million dollars day
the waste exceeded $500,OOO,OOO a
year.
Government operation has shown
how this amount may be-saved.
Incidentally, it has also achieved a
better record for the average punctu-
atty of trains, better record of
safety, better record for the eXpedl-
tious handling of business.
And now the proposition is that
these vast economies and advantages
shall be given up, and we should re-
turn to the old waste, extravaganza
and incompetence.
What for?
In order that favored gentlemen on
the inside may resume the pleasant /