The Ocala banner., 1921-10-14
DUMPING ON A CRIPPLE"

Valley Railroad has the appearance
to us of jumping on a cripple.
It recalls to mind the words Of our
Savior while talking to his disciples
near the seashore, no doubt on con-
ditions then prevailing. when he said;
For he that hath. to him shall be
given, and he that hath not. from
| him shall be taken even that which
he hath.
Thus it would appear that condi-
tions were the same in Biblical
times. when Christ thought proper to
commune with his disciples, as they
are today.
The big fish swallowed the little
noes then as they do now and the un.
fortunate cripples we're jumped on
| Just as indiscriminateIy
The same rule continues For ex-
ample:
Our big railroad systems: Our big
trans continental railways received
large federal aid and our Florida rail
roads, viz. The Seaboard Air Line,
the Atlantic Coast Line and the
Florida East Coast Railroad, received
large grants of state landsbut the
little Ocklawaha valley-was not
given. so far as we know, as much as
a single acre.
That hardly seems fair, does it?
But we are making no complaint
against the big systems. We are
Just endeavoring to point out the in
equality.
Not only were the big systems given
federal aid and the state roads large
grants of state lands, but when the
big systems, hat in hand, went before
those in power asking for help. bas-
ing their claims on the assistance
they rendered in winning the great
world war, their appeal received
favorable consideration and many
millions were placed at their disposal
in helping them to get upon their
feet.
The little Ocklawaha Valley perhaps
did not ask and at least did not re
ceive a penny of aid.
But then we are told that the little
Ocklawaha is run as "a private mo-
nopolyr
But the residents from all along the
line do not seem to think so and they
say that its dismantlement would do
them serious injury, would retard the
growth of their section for years, and
would almost be as serious as con-
fiscation of their property.
Granting for the sake of argument
that the little Ocklawaha Valley
Railroad is run as private monoly,'
is not identically the same charge
made against the larger systems?
Mr.. Henry H. Klein, first deputy
commissioner of accountants of the
city of New York, has but recently
published book entitled. "Dynastic
America and Those Who Own It."
In this book the author makes the
same charge against the big systems
as is made against the little Ockla-
waha Valley; that is to say, that they
are operated for the benefit of private
monopoly
In proof of which we make the
following extracts:
'tOf $4,000 stockholders in the
railroads, the majority is owned by
$500 or 1.3 per cent. according to
government report These control
ling shareholders own an average of
6,130 shares each. as against
an average of rs shares each held
By the other stockholders.
.'Of 27.00O stockholders in the New
York Central, twenty of them own
rs per cent of the stock The twenty
largest shareholders in Illinois Cen
trail own 41.6 per cent; in Southern
Railway, 31.7 per cent; in Southern
Pacific, % per cent; in Chicago and
Northwestern. 1913 per cent; in Erie,
1877 per cent: in Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul, 1875 per cent; in Lehigh
Valley, Isl per cent; in Baltimore
and Ohio, ia per cent; in New York,
New Haven & Hartford 15.s per
cent; in Atehison Topeka & Santa Fe.
l4.S per cent, and in Pennsylvania
Railroad. SO per cent.
The Rockefellers, Harrinans and
Huntingtons are the leading stock
holders in the Union Pacific; the
estates OF James J. Hill, II S. Ken
nedy and D. Willis James, in the
Great Northern and Northern Pa
cific. The yanderbilts. Rockefellers
and Astors are the largest security
holders in the New York Central, and
Rockefeller, Frick, Stotesbury. Hark-
ness, Widener and q few others. are