The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-07-22

mess. so that we may proceed
deliberately 10 the REIMBURSEMENT
which concerns all the people. 0uf
party platform fairly expresses the
conscience Of Republicans on in.
dustr;al relations. No party is indii,
terent to The welfare OF the wage
! Garner. To us bis good fortune is
| Of deepest concern, and We seek 10
make that good fortune permanent
We do not oppose but approve COZ
!ec.ive bargaining, because that Is
On outstanding right, but We are
unaiterably insisteat that its e1er-
else must not destroy the equally
sacred right Of the individual. IN his
necessary pursai! 0! livelihood. Any
American las the right to quit
his employment SO has every
American the right to seek en-.
ployment. The group must not eli.
Danger the individual, and we must
discourage groups preyins upon one
another, and none shall De allowed.
to forget thai governments otl!ga-
tons are alike 10 all the people.
hope we may do more than
merely discourage the losses all
suffarings attending industrial Col.
flict The strike against the gov
eminent is properly denied, tof
government service involves none
Of the. elements OF profit Which re,
late to competitive enterprise.
There is progress in the establish
ment OF officia! reTealment OF Is
sues and conditions which lead 10
conflict, so that unerriGg piblic
sentiment may speed the ADJUST
ment, but | hope ior that concord
Of purpose, not forced but inspired
BY the common veal, which Tll.
give a regulated public service the
fullest guaranty Of continuity. L
am thinking OF the railroads. IN
modern life they are the very base
OF all our activities and inter
changes. For public protection We
have enacted laws providing for .
regulation Of the charge for ser.
vice, Q limitation on the capital in.
vested and a limitation on capitals
earnings. There remains only CON,
petition Of service, on which 10
base our hopes for an efficiency
and expansion which meet opl
modern requirements. The rail-
way workinen ought 10 be the best
paid and know The best working
conditions in the world. Theirs IS
an exceptional responsibility. They
are not only essential 10 the lie
and health and all productive activ,
tiles OF the people, but they are d..
| rectly responsible Tor the safety o.
travelling millions. The govern.
nent which has assumed so much
authority for the public good
might well stamp railway employ.
ment with the sanctity of public
service and guarantee to the rail-.
way 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
rehabilitation Is 50 obvious that ref.
erence seems uncalled for. We are
so confident that much OF the pres
entday insuffiiiency and ineff.
cheney OF transportation are due
to the whitening hand Of govern.
nent operation that we empha.
size anew our opposition TO govern.
ment ownership, we want to e1pe-
Gite the repasation, and mako sure
the mistake is not repeated.
It Is little use to yecite the story
Of development, exploitation, GOV.
eminent experiment and Its ne.
elect, government operation and It's
failures. The inadequacy Of track.
age and terminal facilities, the In.
suiticiency Of equipment and the
inetficiency Of operat;onZall bear
the biighting stamp Of government.
al lncapacity during federal opera.
ton. The work Of rehabilitation
Under. the restoration OF private
ownership deserves our best en-.
enlargement. Billions are needed
IN new equipment, not alone to
meet the growing demand for ser
vice, but to restore the eltraordt
nary depreciation due 10 the strain.
ed service Of war. With restricted
earnings and with speculative prof.
Its removed, railway activities
have come to the realm Of conses:
vatlye and constructive servics,
and the government which impair
ed must play Its part In lestofa.
ton. Manifestly the returns must
be so gauged that necessary capt.
tai may be enlisted, and we must
7. foster as well as restrain.
We have no more pressing prob,
lem. a state d mad eQuste trans
portation tac.lis les mainly chsrge