The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-12-30
HAIL. FUTURE IN 1.IGHT OF PUBLIC
Ol,lOlON - TOLD - Ol"rAMlsIaO
VIEWPOINT FOR BEI'TEH
VALUE OF RAILROADS. To NEW
CIVILIZATION.
fr,v c. Fl. MARKHAM)


(Ry c. Fl. MARKHAM.)
rd,tcr's Note.--C. II. Markham IL
president Of one of the greatest rail-
rad systems in the world. He speaks
with tho voice of absolute authority
and knowledge. His opinions are &C.
cepted and hailed by railroad execu-
tiyes throughout the United states an"
because Of his close touch TO the exec
utives Of other railroads what ne says
may we'll be considered a volcihE Oh
the sentiment Of the American rail-
roads as entertained by their govern
ing heads.
Fer twenty years the American pup
liz has withheld sympathy for the
nroh,ems of the rail road, problems that
we're vital to the welfare of the puohc
For twenty years the American rail-
road has proven too often to- be the
football of peanut politics, the nor
rib,e example" for the pointing hnger
>f demagcgues and the sounding ooaro
for the more or less--sA"er tongues
Of spellbinders.
constructive legislation has bcen
hindered rather than helped by TINS
attitude for in their desire to please
susnic;ous public even fair minded leg
,s,.tors have leaned so far toward re-
pressiye legislation that tn" construc-
five sort has been lost and entangled
IN the maze of restrictive led tape OIL
the former.
better service to the nation at
large. a wider scope of production to
+he CITY and a lessening Of cost to the
farm producer who must move his pro-
d,ct would have resulted long ago II
the railroads, cf.en as unseeins as the
nublic that frowned upon them, had
heen met half way in friendly spirit
and prob ems that were real ana TAN
rtble than attacked from varying
ANGLES that neither solved the prom.
lem or tended toward the creation OF
mutual beneht.
n thus placing blame upon the pup
lie. | do net wish to give the impress
sion that | believe railway men al
WAYS have followed the blameless
course: in fact. I hold them JOINTLY re-
snonsible for the mistakes OF TINS
dark period. I believe they erreu III
not pursuing at all times policy CT
taking the public into their complete
confidence and telling the public frank
lv what their problems We're ana what
was being done, or should be DONE 10
solve them. Hallway men nave large
" pursued policy CT retieence where
their own actious were involved, SEEM
invly proceeding upon the theory tnat
III. nublic did not need Their counseis.
Recent railway history has proved tnat
their attitude wss wrong.
put. regardless of where the blame
is tc. be placed. the fact remains tha'
the impression gained popularity thai
the railroads needed no protection
That. in fact. they We're entitled 10 nc
prot ection, and that the public welfare
could best be served by attacking rail-
way management. embarrassing IL aht
puttkng every hindrance lii It's way
Every action undertaken Hy the ran
roads looking toward an improvement
in their capacity for rendering sefV
ice was vicious,y attacked; every ap
plication for rates which would proNio
revenues sufficient for operating ex
penses. fixed charges AMI return
which would be attractive to the cap
;tal needed for financing extensions
improvements and betterments was bit
terlv fought; hampering legislatio
and restrictions were adopted. increas
ing the cost of rendering transporta
ton without increasing the capacit
for it. Batting the railroads becam
popular political sport. The puoi'
grew to look upon the critics or tn
railroads as being always worthy
belief. and the defenders of the raj
roads as being always i'll the wrong.
NV cptimism for the future OF u
railway situation Is based upon %
lief that this deleterious period
passing, One finds it still croppln
out in some quarters. but I is on II
wane. We as a people seem to ha'
learned the lesson the last few yea
have taught US; namely. that the u
ture of our country Ia tied up with ii
well-being of transportation. and tn
the two must develop together.
But, even though l entertain an o
timfstic belief in the future OF Amer
cas- second largest industry-secol
only to Agricultural believe the
still remains a great and pressing ne
for further public education on ra
way questions. The public must
constantly reminded Of what 1t has
stake in a solution Of railway pro
lens. Our efforts must not lag.
One Of the mcst important steps
believe, in creating a wholesome pu
lie sentiment which will assure pro
ress in transportation IL inspiring pu
lc confidence in the men who stand
the head of Americas great transp'
tation systems. I have been In ra
way work great many yetrs and
know the calibre Ct the men who h
positions OF trust in the railway
tlustry. ! know them to be hone
conscientious men, trained In tn
calling, and / know their ambition
that American railroads shall ma
tain their high rank among the ira
pcrtation agencies Of the world.
1ieve them worthy Of the public tr'
The growth Of public regulation
placed the railroads literally at