Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-23
ubcan Nominee Hards Speech of Acceptance at Formal Noa

common veal, WHICH Will give d iCS-
ulated public service the fullest guar
anty of continuity. 1 am thinking of
the railroads. In modern life they are
the very base of all our activities and
interchanges. For public protectlon
we have enacted laws providing for
regulation of the charge for service,
limitation on the capital invested
and a limitation on capitals earn
ings. There remains only competition
of service, on which to base our
hopes for an efficiency and expansion
which meet our requirements. The
railway workmen ought to be the
best paid and know the best working
conditions in the world. Theirs is an
exceptional responsibility. They are
health and, all productive activities
of the people, but they are directly
responsible for the safety of travel
ing millions. The government which
has assumed so much authority for
the public good might well stamp
railway employment with the sane
tity of public service and guarantee
to the railway employees that justice
which voices the American conception
Of righteousness on the one hand,
and assure continuity of service on
the other.
The Importance Of the railway re-
Mobilization is so obvious that refer
ence seems uncalled for. We are so
confident that much of the present.
day insufficiency and inefficiency OF
transportation are due to the wither-
ing hand of government operation
that we emphasize anew our opposl-
ton to government ownership, we
want to expedite the reparation, and
make sure the mistake is not repeat
ed.
Governmental Incapaeity
It is little use to recite the story of
development, exploitation, govern
ment experiment and it's neglect,
government operation and its failure.
The inadequacy of trackage and ter
minal facilities, and insufficiency OF
equipment and the inefficiency of OPP
eration-all bear the, blighting stamp
Of governmental incapacity during
federal operation. The work of re-
Mobilization under the restoration of
private ownership deserves our best
encouragement. Billions are needed
In new equipment, not alone to meet
the growing demand for service,
but to restore the extraordinary de-
probation due to the strained SER
vice of war. With restricted earn
ings and with speculative profits re-
moved, railway activities have come
to the realm of conservative and con-
structive service, and the govern
ment which impaired must play it's
part in restoration. Manifestly the
returns must be so gagged that neces-
sary capital may be enlisted, and we
must foster as well as restrain.
We have no more pressing problem
A state of inadequate transportation
facilities. mainly chargeable to the
failure of governmental experiment,
is losing millions to agriculture, it is
hindering industry, 1t is menacing the
American people with fuel shortage
little less than peril. 1t emphasizes
the present-day problem and suggests
that spirit of encouragement and as
sistance which commits all America
to relieve such an emergency.
Federal Aid to Transportation
The one compensation amid at
tending anXieties is our new and
needed realization of the vital part
transportation plays in the complex
tiles of modern life. We are not to
think of rails alone. but highways
from farm to market, from railway
to farm, arteries of life blood to