The Ocala banner., 1921-12-02

f.
Rapids, dowa) Evening Times con-
tanning the following article entitled:
McAdoo
sWilliam G.. McAdoo, who made so
big failure of running the rail-
roads during the war that it was said
to be one of the most colossal ex-
amples of bad management in the
industrial history of the world, now
has the effrontery to criticise the
men who are trying to get the rail-
roads back into something like the
state of efficiency and good service
that was theirs before he took them
and almost wrecked them.
Some of the democrats wanted him
to go before the senate committee
81 help fight President Harding's
for putting the roads back on
# feet again. But the committee
would have none of him. They said
he didn't know anything. He had
demonstrated that during the period
when he was mismanaging the rail-
roads. But finally McAdoo wrote a
letter to Senator Stanley and that
was read to the senate committee
anyway.
''McAdoo paid the biggest wages
and gave the poorest service in the
history of the railroads. He built
large buildings and placed upon them
in letters that stared down the, ave.
nues for half mile the name of Will
liam G. McAdoo.
Vanity, all vanity. But he called
these buildings and other similar
foolish extravagances, additions and
betterments. And while he was build
ing them the service constantly was
growing poorer. He wrecked the
morals of the workers and the kind
of service he gave. both in the freight
and passenger departments Of the
roads, was so atrocious that the name
of McAdoo now stands as the synonym
foraall that was ludicrously bad in
railroading.
but he cut swell figure at the
Washington dances, and after the
war he separated himself from the
government payroll, and went into
the moving picture business. He has
not been heard from since until he
wrote this letter attacking the plan
by which President Harding hopes
at no cost to the government or to
the taxpayers-to get the railroads
back to faster service and lower rates
and thus give business boost that
will open the doors to millions of
men now seeking for jobs.
In the whole realms of literature
written during and since the Great
World war there was never enumer-
ated so much of misinformation in so
short space as is contained in the
above article.
1t is a mass of misinformation from
beginning to end.
Many of us remember the condi-
tion Of the railroads when taken over
by the government
There were freight congestions in
every important railway station
throughout the country.
1t required not only weeks but in
many instances months to move an
ordinary shipment from any given
point to its destination.
The roads were in such wrecked
condition that they had almost ceas-
ed functioning.
There is no gainsaying this state
ment 1t is as true as gospel
When the government had taken
hold everything had advanced in
price.
For example: The coal the gov
ernment used the first year after TAX
ing possession cost $50, 900, GOO more
than the previous year and to main
tain anything like efficiency higher
prices had to be paid for all forms
of labor, yet Notwithstanding which
betterments were made and the ply
sical condition of the roads were
greatly improved
Troops and all the paraphernaIia of
war. besides foodstuffs and merchan-
disc were transported speedily and
expeditiously.
1t was one of the great achieve
ments of the war and if Mr. Henry
Ford had been in Mr.. McAdoo's place
the accomplishments could hardly
have been surpassed
And another thing.
There was a unification of the roads
but there were very few removals.
The heads of the various depart
ments remained IN their several posi-
tions: The superintendents. the en-
gineers, the conductors and fiagmen
en- down to the common laborers re-
tanned their positions, so if all this
waste and extravaganza that the
Times says were the most colossal
in the industrial history of the world
we're every bit true the present man
agement of the roads were respOn-
sible for they were still practically
in control but fortunately the tale is
merely a fable for those Iowa Hot