The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-11-02

anu oSSause VI MS CtoSe toucn TO the
executives of other railroads what he
says may we'll be considered a 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 s~pellbinders.
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 ION
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, a wider scope of production to
the city and a l~essening 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 to-
gether rather than attacked from
varying angles that neither solved the
problem or tended toward the crea-
ton of mutual benefit.
Both Sides Blamed
In thus placing blame upon the pub
lie, l do not wish to give the impress
sion that | believe railway men al
ways have followed the blameless
course; in fact, l hold them jointly
responsible for the mistakes of this
dark period. 1 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 atti-
tude was wrong.
But, regardless of where the blame
is to be placed, the fact remains
that the impression gained popular
ity that the railroads needed no
protection. That, in fact, they were
entitled to no protection, and that
the public welfare could best be
served by attacking railway manage
ment, embarrassing it and putting
every hindrance in its way. Every
action undertaken by the railroads
looking toward an improvement in
their capacity for rendering service
was viciously attacked; every ap-
plication for rates which would pro-
vide revenues sufficient for opperat-
ing expenses, fixed charges and a
return which would be attractive to
the capital needed for financing ex-
tensions, improvements and better
ments was bitterly fought; hamper
ing legislation and restrictions were
adopted, increasing the cost of rend-
ering transportation without in
creasing the capacity for it. Bait
ing 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 railroads
as being always in the wrong.
Roads in Future.
My optimism for the future of the
railway situation is based upon a be-
lief that this deleterious period is
passing. One finds it still cropping
out in some quarters, but it is on the
wane. We as a people seem to have
learned the lesson the last few years
have taught US; namely, that the fu-
ture of our country is tied up with
the well-being Of transportation, and
that the two must develop together.
But, even though | entertain an
optimistic belief in the future of
Americas second largest industry
second only to agricultural be-
lieve there still remains a great
and pressing need for further pub
lie education on railway questions.
The public must be constantly re-
minded Of what it has at stake in a
solution Of railway problems. Our
efforts must not lag.
One of the most important steps, |
believe, in creating a wholesome
public sentiment which will assure
progress in transportation is inspir-
ing public confidence in the men who
stand at the head of Americas
great transportation systems. ! have
been in railway work a great many
years and | know the calibre of the
men who hold positions of trust in
the railway industry. l know them
to be honest, conscientious men,
trained in their calling, and / know
their ambition is that American
railroads shall maintain their high
rank among the transportation agen-
cies of the world. l believe them
worthy of the public trust.
At Public's Mercy.
The growth of public regulation :
has placed the railroads literally at :
the mercy of the public. The rail-
roads are controlled through gov |
ernmental agencies in the service :
they shall charge, the wages they :
shall pay and the conditions under :
which their employees shall work;
while to- management is given the
power of directing operations with
in these limitations. But hold for
management q greater task, that of
impressing upon public opinion the
need Of constructive policies, and
of outlining what those policies
should be. Railway management is
the trustee of vast properties valued
at nearly S19, 900 600, 900, and it