Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-08
A NEW RAILROAD POLICY.

A NEW RAILROAD POLICY.
READERS. of the Times Recorder
undoubtedly have noted from
time to time during recent months
display advertisements appearing at
considerable length over the sigma
ture of W. A. Winburn, president of
the Central of Georgia Railway com
pany, Very likely these advertise
ments have been read as widely and
as carefully as any character of adj
vertislng appearing in this paper, be-
cause they present a novelty so strik-
ing and discuss problem so vitality
affecting each of us, that they are
bound to be interesting.
The appearance of these advertise
ments, which have been simultaneous
ly placed in. practically all the news
papers in the territory in which the
Central of Georgia operates, marks
new policy in railroading and we
believe sound policy o. gradually
working out the difficulties in which
the railroads find thcmselves-and
all must admit these difficulties arc
serious The advertisements are Who'll
ly informative or educational. They
are not the common press agent
stuff, with a boost and puff for
the read CONCEALED under the cloak
OF thinly appealing semi-news item.
but a straight man-to-man talk by
the president of the road itself. the
highest authority able to speak for
the road, to the public Such talks
pave weight; they are impressive.
And presented in the straightfor-
ward, clear, easily understood man
ner that these are appearing, they
cannot help but impress themselves
upon the minds of the people, and
In the end result in an understanding
sympathy for the road and its prob
lens.
PRESIDENT Winburn is proceeding
upon the belief that the public is
essentially fair minded when ado-
quately informed; that the public
brings about injustice only when un-
informed; and he has set about to
present the information that will be
certain we believe, to result in the
pupllf having all the facts, and there
tore being adequately informed.
Mr. "mburn regards public opin-
3oh az the controlling force in the
luture OF railways. He belongs, to
the newer school of railroad exeea-
ives who have replaced generally
those older ones who once practiced
a policy of "the public be damned"
those cars Of transportation and
'polltlcs who have passed out as
result of their failures. He undor-
stands that there are az railroad
commissions in this country, a like
number of state legislatures and
en Interstate Commerce Commission
making a total of SO regulatory
bodies or agencies having power or
Eohtrol over the railroads, these bod
1es answerable only to public opin-
ION his being true, he feels that
u Is vital to the railroads that tba
public understand their side of all
problems, all controversies. all rela-
tlohshlps between employer and en-.
ploye, all rate problems between car
rler and shipper. And he is under.
taxing to present this information
relying upon the faith he has in tho
justice of the public mind when in
Acrmed to see that the railroad gets
a square deal
IN 1urtherance of this informa-
ave work, the Central of Georgia has
established a public relations denart-
ment. Jack Mccartney. for MANY
Years prominent Georgia editor is
IN cahrge of the department with tbo
Fftle of assistant to the president
Mr.. Mccartney has proved vary
sPiehuia ana valuable man in the
place, and has done much by his adj
vice and knowledge of publicity to
make the work undertaken the great
success it has already become. Re-
Gently the Union Pacific, one of the
greatest systems of the country, and
tie N. c. & St. l.. road established
similar departments, seeing the val
liable results achieved by the Central
Of Georgia and its parent organiza-
ton, the Illinois Central, which also
has such a department.
We believe the Central of Geor-
gla has hit the keynote; that it has