The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-06-19
SENTIMENT Of PEOPLE
FOR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
QUESTIONABLE TO EDITORS
SHOWS ATTITUDE OF
EVERY STATE,

roads to their owners, as shown by
the vote of nearly 5000 editors of daily
and weekly newspapers throughout
the country. A QUESTIONABLE sent to
every editor in the country 13,424)
brought replies from 1922, or A per
cent, and SO per cent Of the editors
reported their communities in favor
OF resumption of private manage
ment.
The QUESTIONABLE was conducted on
behalf of the Association of Railway
Executives, and was completed before
President Wilson announced in his
recent message to congress that the
government would relinquish control
of the railways at the end of the year.
Editors were asked not to give their
personal opinions, but to appraise the
sentiment in their communities. The
four chief questions were as follows:
The Questions.
/. Does public opinion in your
Judgment seem to favor the return of
railroads to private ownership and OPP
GRAFTON as soon as this can properly
be accomplished?
2. If so, is this opinion in part bas-
ed on the desire to see competition in
service and facilities restored?
8. What is the present sentiment in
your community on government own
ership and operation of railroads?
4. What has been the feeling re-
garding the proposal to extend the
period of government operation for
five years?
On the first question, Does public
opinion in your judgment seem to ia
vor the return Of railroads to private
ownership and operation as soon as
this can properly be Accomplishment
So per cent voted yes, II per cent vot-
ed 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 de-
sire to see competition in service and
facilities restored?' Is per cent voted
yes, 6 per cent voted no, with and
Ii per cent doubtful and blank. re-
spectively.
On the third question, What is the
present sentiment in your community
on government ownership and opera
ton of railroads." IS per cent estim-
ated public sentiment as against gov
eminent ownership, II per cent for,
with 7 per cent doubtful and 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,
10 per cent; doubtful. 9 per cent;
blank, Z per cent.
Not Political Question.
That public opinion on the railroad
question is not divided on party lines
Is plain from a study of the vote in the
various states. In Texas, for example,
although only 3 of the 331 editors re-
plying are republicans, the number In
favor of a return of the roads is SO per
cent, considerably higher than the per-
centage ga per cent? in the strong
republican state of Pennsylvania.
Tennessee voted 81 per cent as COM
pared with SO per cent in Maine.
OF the 1922 replies, 2052 were from
republican papers, 1889 from demo-
cratic, and 21S1 independent and scat
tering.
Standing Of States.
The states showing IS per cent or
more in favor of the return of the
roads are: Connecticut, 81; New
Hampshire, 100; Tennessee, 81. Those
showing from 80 to 95 per cent in ia
vor are: Florida, a. Iowa, 81; New
York, 80; and wyoming, "a. Those
giving from IS to 80 per cent in favor
are Delaware, SO; Georgia, 81; lndi-
ana. IS: Massachusetts,, 80; Michigan,
So; Nevada, So; New Jersey. SO; North
Carolina. SO; Ohio, IS; Oregon, 81;
South Carolina, SO; Texas, 50; Utah.
SO; Vermont, So; Virginia, IS; and
West Virginia, 81.
'I0OSe TeluIHlH5 ihoii w W W
cent are Alabama, 81; illinois, S2'
Kansas, 2; Kentucky, SO; Maine, 49,
Mississippi, SO; Missouri, 81; Mon
tana, SO; Pennsylvania, "a; South d.
kota, 81, and Washington, "a.
Those giving from 5to 80 per CEN
are Arizona, 49, California, II; Colo
rado rs; Louisiana. II; Maryland 1oi
Minnesota, 70; Nebraska, ~; Ne"
Mexico, rs; Oklahoma, 70; Rhode Is
land, 75 Wisconsin, rs.
The only states below IS per cen
are Idaho, u; Arkansas, 6S, and Norti
Dakota, 81.
New England and South.
The strongest sentiment agains
government ownership was found u
be in New England and the south
sections widely apart in political sen
timent. Only per cent of New Eng
land editors reported their people ia
voring government ownership.
On the question Of the return OF tn
roads the New England editors vote'
81 per cent in favor, per cent nc
with 8 per cent doubtful and blank.
In the north Atlantic states (NeS