Milford chronicle., 1921-10-07
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM ON
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

The Republican platform of 1926
did not evade the issue of government
ownership or operation of railroads
Under the heading Railroads." the
platform made the following clearly
understandable declaration:
I'VE are opposed to government
ownership and operation or en-
ployee operation of the railroads.
In view of the conditions prevail
ing in this country, the experience
of the last two years, and the con-
clusions which may fairly be drawn
from an observation of the trans
pOrtation systems of other countries,
it is clear that adequte transportation
service both for the present and the
future can be furnished more GER
tainly, economically and efficiently
through private ownership and oper-
alton under proper regulation and
control"
This declaration was based upon
principles the soundness of which
has been demonstrated whenever gov
ernment ownership has been tried. It
will be noted that the platform not
only opposed Government operation,
but employees operation as well.
This was a direct attack upon the
Plumb Plan which would require
the government to borrow money to
buy the railroads and then turn them
over to a commission in which the
employees would have a dominating
power. Under that plan, the en-
ployees would fix their own compen-
- i,
the Plumb Plan advocates are work
ing more quietly than while the DEM
ocrats were in power, they are work
ing none the less persistently.
1t is a fair inference that the man
who has conducted small business af-
fairs in such a way as to accumulate
savings which he invests in a larger
enterprise, is best able to conduct that
larger concern. 1t is a reasonable
conclusion, for example, that Charles
H. Markham, who began his railroad
career as a section hand and worked
up to the presidency of the Illinois
Central, is more cOmpetant to manage
that road than is any committee of
100 railroad workmen who have not
risen materially above their original
scale of employment. This is no crit
icism of railroad employees who do !
not rise as rapidly or as far as MI.
Markham. 1t is altogether likely that |
Mr.. Markham had rare native talents /
and a particular genius for railroad /
ing. But, regardless of his native
ability, he could not have risen in his
chosen occupation without hard work,
loyalty, persistence and thrift. 1t
would be ridiculous to assert that all
Of his former associates in the work
1f laying rails and replacing ties
could have risen as he has done.
While their limited advancement is
no reflection upon them, it is clear
hat because of one mans demon
;trated ability it is better for the
that he be retained in con-
rol of a railroad than that control be
urned over to a committee of men
Who have not demonstrated similar
itness. The same applies to manage
nent of other roads by other men
Who have proven their managerial
.bility through long years of expert
nee. ii
Thus we have the issue presented /
" the Plumb Plan on the one hand
no lQ6 uGCldIdIlOn VI LAAC
latform on the other. The former ,
tands for operation under the con-
rol of men who have not demonstrat-
d their qualifications; the latter $
tands for operation by men who have {
cen. tried and found worthy, and well +
ualified. {
1t ought not be difficult for any |
itizen who is neither railroad en- f
loyee nor a railroad manager to de- i
ermine which kind of operation he '
REFERS Citizens thus free from per- {
Onal interest constitute the general \
ublic whose welfare is chiefly to be
Onsidered. The danger is that the t
General public will be quiescent b
hile the Plumb Plan Leaguers con- g
nue. to spread propaganda in favor d
{ employee control of the railroads. f
will be well if the average citizen e
lpresses his opinions as aggressive d
as do the advocates of government n
b