Manchester Democrat., 1920-09-29
Delaware County Farm Bureau

during the embargo on swine during
the season of 1918-19.
i Government operation on the othel
hand carried the right to empower th'
regulation OF shipments, to order EN-
bargoes and have priority of orders
This feature gives to the officers il
charge the power to control prices
indirectly, as President J. r. Howard
of the National Farm Bureau states
"The farmer will never stand for such
a system. He dare not take the
chances. We insist upon fair play and
open competition. While the increased
freight rates may appear to be hard
ship, yet comparison of rates with
those Of European railroads indicates
that we are yet receiving much cheaper
service. The fact too, that this bill pro-
vides for arbitration of difficulties be-
tween the employees and managers
it is hoped that strikes will be eradi-
Gated in the future and we hope that
law proves fair to both capital and
labor"
The writer made a study of govern
ment control Of railroads years ago In
which the operation of railroads in diff
ferent parts OF. the world were studied,
1t being the impression at the time
that government operation Of rail-
roads was the most efficient method.
However. a survey Of conditions show
ed that wherever government opera
ton was In progress the area con-
cerned was practically nothing as
compared with the magnitude of the
roads in the United States. This is a
railroads In the United States. This is
q large country with varying interests
and varying people in which States
rights are going to be maintained as
provided for In the Constitution OF the
United States.
There would be tendency under
government control for employees to
become Indifferent as well as the
managers and operators OF such rail-
roads owing to the fact that the item
Of competition has been extracted
from the operation OF railroads which
always means better service from both
managers and laborers. It is easy to
conceive that under government con-
troll there would be limitation to sal
aries and limit to advancement
which would cause stagnation OF de-
yelopment. However, there is one great
principle involved in the operation OF
railroads which Is socialistic in char
acter and which would be detriment-
al to the farmers of this country If
permitted to continue and that is the
public ownership Of utilities.
This country has not yet arrived
at the place where socialism will meet
the needs of our people and when one
considers the parties which have been
responsible for the Plumb bill it is
evident that the farmers of the coun-
try are not In favor of such form OF
legislation. The following organiza-
tions have given their approval OF the
Plumb plan government operations of
railroads:
The Railroad Labor Organization;
Committee Of Forty Eight which is a
tool of the socialist party; Non-Parti-
san League; the National Federation
CT Labor and so-called Farmers Or
ganization with headquarters at Wash
ington but which does not represent
the farmers. Compare this group OF
interests with those that favor the
Cummins-E -Esch Bill which is now in
operation. The National Farm Bureau
Federation; the National Grange; the
Farmers Union and other farmers or.
ganizations which represent the pure
American ideals to the best interests
Of the farming classes.
Mr.. Pierce In his publication Of the
Homestead has gone to great lengths
in anSeffort to make the farmers be-
lieve that the Plumb Bill is the cure-all
for the railroads Of this country. In
recent issue he has set forth in very
fantastic manner the effect Of the last
freight increase as affecting different
shipping points and that these increas-
ed rates will bring in revenue OF over
one billion dollars, which he says Is
an absurdity. No inference is made to
the fact that during the last year OF
government control when the railroads
should have been operating on an eff
ficient basis that the annual loss was
billion dollars. This loss occurred
In spite of the fact that the revenue
was the greatest the railroads had ever
experienced. The government officials
account for this loss in two ways,
twenty per cent increase in wages. to
the railroad employees and the balan-
ce in increased price OF materials and
supplies. There is no guarantee being
set forth under government operation
that this condition OF affairs would
not exist annually because It Is we'll
known fact that the labor organiza-
tions have become so aggressive that
the dictates Of policies of management
Of the railroads would be largely in
their hands II they are permitted to
have the operation.
The great problem involved in gov
ernment ownership Of railroads is this
That once the railroads are placed
under government control It is ma
ter OF time until mines and other pub
n q civ,n;