Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-01-05


cepted and hailed by railroad execu-
tives throughout the United States
and because of his close touch to the
executives of other railroads what he
says may well be considered voicing
of the sentiment of the American
railroads as entertained by their gov
erning heads.
For twenty years the American pub
lie has withheld sympathy for the
problems of the railroad, problems
that were vital to the welfare of the
public
For twenty years the American rail
road has proven too often to be the
football of peanut politics, the 'hor-
rible example" for the pointing finger
of demagogues 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 to the nation at
large, wider scope of production to
the city and lessening of cost to the
farm producer who must move his
product would have resulted long ago
if the railroads, often as unseeing as
the public that frowned upon them,
had been met half way in friendly
spirit and problems that were real and
tangible been thrashed out together
rather than attacked from varying
angles that neither solved the prob
lem or tended toward the creation Of
mutual benefit.
Both Sides Blamed.
In thus placing blame upon the pub
lie, do not wish to give the impress
sion that l believe railway men al
ways have followed the blameless
course; in fact, | hold them jointly
responsible for the mistakes of this
dark period. | believe they erred in
not pursuing at all times a policy of
taking the public into their complete
confidence and telling the public
frankly what their problems were and
what was being done, or should be
done, to solve them. Railway men
have largely pursued a policy of re-
ticence where their own actions were
involved, seemingly proceeding upon
the theory that the public 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 fact remains that
the impression gained popularity that
the railroads needed no protection.
That, in fact, they were entitled to no
protection, and that the public well
fare could best be served by attacking
railway management, embarrassing it
and putting every hindranee in its
way Every action undertaken by the
railroads looking forward an improve
ment in their capacity for rendering
service was viciously attacked; every
application for rates which would pro-
vide revenues sufficient for operating
expenses, fixed charges and a return
which would be attractive to the cap
ital needed for financing extensions,
improvements and betterments was
bitterly fought; hampering legislation
and restrictions were adopted, increas-
ing the cost of rendering transporta-
tion without increasing the capacity
for it. Batting the railroads became
popular political sport. The public
grew to look upon the critics of tbs
railroads as being always worthy OF
belief, and the defenders of the rail
roads as being always in the wrong
Roads in Future.
Ny optimism for the future of the
railway situation is based upon a de
lief that this deleterious period il
passing. One finds it still cropping
out in some quarters, but it is on ths
wane. We as a people seem to have
learned the lesson the last few years
have taught US; namely, that the fG
ture of our country is tied up witt
the well-being of transportation, an,
that the two must develop together.
But, even though | entertain an op
tinristic belief in the future of Ameri
cas- second largest industry-secon
only to agriculture believe ther
still remains great and pressing
need for further public education O
railway questions. The public mus
be constantly reminded of what it ha
at stake in a solution of railway prob
lens. Our efforts must not lag.
One of the most important steps,
believe, in creating wholesome pull