The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1939-07-06
Through
Hazel
Eyes
BY
Hazel Brannon

III there's anytnlnB HloIe PicoSoi'
than riding an air-conditioned train
in the hot summer time this writer
hasn't experienced 1t.
We are of the opinion that If the
railroads would put air-conditioned
trains and give some kind OF service
on these lines that aren't paying now
they would stand a good chance oil
coming back.
1t seems from this distance that
the railroads have definitely taken
a defeatist attitude or a don't-care
attitude. 1t would be hard to say
which.
its cinch, however, that IL the
railroads aren't going to fight for
existence themselves and try to recoup
their reported losses they can't ex-
pect the public to feel sorry for them
and try to save their necks.
Every train taken off any line Grip
pies the remaining lines enough for
the latter to lose business because OF
It. After a very short while, at the
there won't be very many trains
running.
AS 1t is now people rarely think OF
taking train. They've just gotten
out of the habit. Schedules are in
frequent. Trains are sooty and dir
ty, hot in summer and cold in win
ter.
People have become busconscious
thanks to their constant advertising
In other words when the railroad
really has something to offer in the
way Of competition, the public doesn't
use it as much as it would If the
railroads would advertise their SUI
perior accomodations when they do
have them.
The railroads played an important
part in building up this country.
But so did our grandfathers. And
they're dead now.
The railroads are going to be dead
too, If they don't wake up and try
to do something for themselves.
"A big organization like the railroad
SHOuiuh give up cO edSiiy.
J. L. Beven, president of the Illi-
nois Central railroad, native mis-
sissippian who rose from the ranks
to become president of this system
told a joint civic clIb-chamber OF
commerce luncheon at Hattiesburg
last week that the southern fight
against discriminatory freight rates
Is harming the railroads and giving |
the south a black eye by rousing |
feeling against the whole south in
other sections.
Mr. Beven further made the remark
that the logical and businesslike
thing to do Is to leave the adjust
ment of rates for the service of south
ern industries in the hands of the
railroads, the shippers and the In
terstate Commerce Commission"
Governor white is quoted as saying
that the above remarks Of Mr.. Bevcn
are the most asinine" he has ever
heard
We say that Mr.. Bowen sounds
more like the mouthpiece of big east
ern industrialists who individually
and collectively have bled the south
white for the past hundred years
or SO. These industrialists who are
now the leaders in trying to keep
the south from realizing a parity in
freight rates are responsible for hold
ing the south back, retarding its
natural progress industrially and ag-
riculturally for over hundred years.
They are enemies of the south to the
fullest extent of the word. They have
no love for us, as section of the
the country we live in or as human
beings They are interested only in
holding this section back to save
their own fortunes heavily invested
in eastern manufacturing interests.
No man or organization that OPP
poses the south having the same
freight rates as the east can make
any claim to fairness.
1t is unspeakably malicious that
southern industry and southern peo-
pie have been held back by another
ScStiOl Va liC Sodhtiy. 10 SUP
posed to be the land of the free where
everybody has an equal chance.
How can we bring our children up
to love and revere a country that
permits such gross unfairness, yes,
even encourages it?
Mr. Beven says: "The great devel-
opment that has occurred in the
south, of which we of the south are
so very proud, was not legislated into
being. Rather it is the accomplish
ment of intensive and long continued
action by the producers and traders
and transportation interests and for
ces of government all moving in con-
cert, animated by common love OF
the south and desire to see IL take
its place in the sun TO which it is
rightfuily entitled"
1t is true, Mr.. Bowen, that what
progress we have made has not been
legislated into being. II has been