The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-11-10

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OPINION - TOLD-THE COUNTRY
STARTS TO REAA1ZE VALUE OF
RAILROADS TO NEW CIv1LlZA'
TlON, SAYS I. G. RAILROAD HEAD
BY c. H. MARKHAM.
Editors Notice.. H. Markham Is
president Of one Of the greatest rail.
road systems In the world. He speaks
with the voice of absolute authority
and knowledge. His opinions are &C.
copied and hailed by railroad execu-
tives throughout the United States and
because Of his close souch to the ex-
ecutives Of other railroads what he
says may well be considered votcine
Of the sentiment Of the American rail-
roads as entertained by their govern
ing heads.
For twenty years the American pub
lie has withheld sympathy for the
problems Of the railroad. prob ems that
were vital to the welfare of the public.
For twenty years the American rail-
rad has prven too often to be the foot
ball of peanut politics. the "horrib1e
example" for the pointing finger OF
demagogucs and the sounding board
for the-more or less--silver tongues
OF spellbinders.
Constructive legislation has been
hindered rather than helped by this
attitude for in their desire to please a
suspicious public even fair minded
legislators have leaned so far toward
repressive legislation that the con-
structive sort has been lost and en-
tangled in the maze OF restrictive red
tape of the former.
A better service 20 the nation at
large, wider scope Of production to
the city and a lessening OF cost to the
farm producer who must move his
prduct wou'd have resulted long ago if
the railroads, often as unseeirg as the
public that frownel upon them. had
been met half way IN friendly spirit
ahd problems that were real and tam
Sible been thrashed out together rath.
er than attacked from varying angles
that neither solved the problem or
tended toward the creation of rrutua |
benefit.
In thus placing blame upon the pub
lie, ! do not wish to give the impress
sion that I believe railway men always
have followed the blamel ess course: in
fact. I hold them Jointly responsible
for the mistakes of this dark period.
l believe they erred in not pursuing at
all times policy Of taking the public
into their complete confidence and tell
Ing the public frankly what their y, OBJ
lens We're and what was being done,
or should be done, to solve them. Rail-
way men have largely pursued a pol
icy of reticence whore their own ac-
tions We're involved. seemingly pro-
ceeding upon the theory that the pub
lie did not need Their counsels. Recent
railway history has proved that their
attitude was wrong.
But. regardless of where the blame
Is to be placed, the ract remains that
the impression gained popularity that
the railroads needed no protection.
That, in fact. they We're entitled to no
protection. and that he public welfare
couls hes be served by Attacking rail-
way management. embarrassing it and
putting every hindranc- IN it's way.
Every action undertaken by the rail-
roads looking toward an Improvement
In their capacity for rendering sery-
Ice was viciously attacked; every APP
plication for rates which would pro-
vide revenues sufficien. for operating
expenses. fixed charges and a return
which would be attractive to the capt.
improvements and betterments was
bitterly fought; hampering legislation
and restrictions We're adopted, increas-
ing the cost of rendering transporta-
tiOn without increasing the capa city
for 1t. Batting the railroads became
popular political sport. The public
grew to look upon the critics of the
railroads as being always worthy of
belief and the defenders of the rail =
soads as being always in the wrong.
My optimism for the future of the
railway situation IL based upon be-
lief that this 1el...rrin,s y ,r;ud is Iass
Ing. One finds it still "roEniay out In
some quarters. bat 1t is Oh tn, wape.
We as a people eem 70 save learned
the lesson the last few years have
taught us: namely. tina, the future ri
our country is tied up with tn: we'll
being OF transportation. AMI that the
two must develop together.
But. even though I entertain an OPP
ttmtstic belief in the future Of Ameri-
cas- second largest industry - second
only to agriculture - believe there
still remais . great and pressing need
for further public education on rail.
way questions. The public must be
constantly reminded Of wha tit has al
stake In solution Of railway prob.
1ems.f Our efforts must not lag.
One OF the most important steps,
believe. In creating q wholesome pub.
lie sentiment which win assure prog.
ress In transportation IL inspiring pub.
lie confidence In the men who stand
at the head Of America's great trans.
portation systems. have been IN
railway work . great many years and
know the calibre OF the men Whit
hold positions q trust In the railway
industry. I know them 20 be honest