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Show -An Independent Paper Published Under ! :: tfie Management of J. T. Goodwin :: EDITORIALS B Y JUDGE C. C. GOOD WIN No Government Ownership TN his speech before the Bonneville club, Mr. Untermyer discussed the possibility of a final resort to public ownership as a remedy for existing exist-ing conditions. There should be public ownership of the telegraph business for two reasons at least. Telegraph charges are exhorbitant considering the original cost, the cost of maintenance and the service rendered. None of these statements need discussion they are apparent to the naked eye even when not a very brilliant brain is behind the eyes. They should belong to and be a part of the postal system. , ' But the case of the railroads is vastly differ- ent. The kind of warfare that for years has been waged against the railroads has been from the first misdirected. It Is easy for an accomplished J lawyer with the law before him to frame a suit against a great corporation, and holding that a case bears direct relation to the penalty proceed to try to exact that penalty. It Is natural before i he proceeds far to begin to believe that he is a f chosen instrument to correct a great wrong and he I is not -unconscious of the fact that one of the f infirmities of the majority of the human race, Is 8 to like to see a rich man or company punished whether guilty or innocent. Let a man be charged with crime and arraigned in court and the secret assumption of men of that class is that the accused ac-cused is guilty before one word of testimony has been spoken. I Such lawyers and such men will proceed on a general showing, knowing nothing of the difficulties diffi-culties of raising funds for the building and equipping of railroads and terminals to meet the cost of repairs and accidents and to prevent so far as human sagacity can such accidents and re-! re-! pairs. ' As one result of these prosecutions which not unfrequently become persecutions, none but the most prosperous roads can obtain the money to keep their roads up to a condition to meet the ' growing traffic of the country. But the remedy is not government ownership. That would be a concentration of power most dangerous were a few gifted but -unscrupulous men to become the real directing force of our government. !No tyrant ever stole away the liberties of a people, no tyrant ever precipitated a great war that he did not come before the world with tears in his eyes and cry out "see how clean my hands are, the God above knows I was forced into this 1t awful war." : We saw a striking example of this in a little vfr way in the campaign of 1912. All through that campaign we heard one candidate declaring that "he was in the field only because of an irresistible ' , pressure of the people pushing him forward. " ; The first essential of the go" ;rnment is to pur chase at a fair price' so large . ock of the stock in two or three trunk lines o railroad as will give Its agents places in the directory of those roads. In that way those agents would learn enough about the business of railroading to be able to advise the president and congress what new laws are needed for their perfect government. Then 1? necessary a new railroad code would be formulated formu-lated which would at once enable the railroad companies to do any needed thing and at the same time protect the public in their dealings with the roads. Then no public ownership would be needed, which at best is less effective than private ownership. The postal service has been vastly extended, but not greatly improved in a hundred years, because the men employed have been only anxious about theL salaries. In those same years in private hands the superb present railroad has been created. No republic could ever be entirely safe if a few government officials had control of 250,000 miles of railroad and of the great army needed to keep those roads in a condition to meet the land traffic of a continent. The Elections THE returns of the election show that in the great eastern states the people believe that it Is right for a man who has a rich harvest maturing ma-turing to fence his fields against the ravenous derelict stock of the outside world. The notice the election in those states served upon President Presi-dent Wilson was that tariff revision does not mean assassination, and that "Industrial Freedom" carries car-ries with it the right of self protection. The results to certain individuals are pleasant to contemplate. Col. Roosevelt invented the abuse which has been heaped upon Senator Penrose. The people of Pennsylvania have entered their protest against that abuse and at the same time given a finish to the pestiferous Pinchot who long ago demonstrated that there Was nothing In him except his capacity to fawn upon Roosevelt that thrift might follow fawning. Were Col. Roosevelt any one else, we would say he Was politically dead, but It will not be strange to see him coming to the front two years hence advocating any principles that he may think will win, and doing it of course because "driven to it by a popular pressure from the rear that makes It necessary for him to come out of his much-loved retirement to save his country." Locally the state Is to bo congratulated on the re-election of Senator Smoot, Congressman Howell, Judge McCarty, and a majority of the legislature. When we think what the combined Democratic and Progressives' vote was two years ago in Utah and the way the two were amalgamated amalga-mated this year, it Is wonderful that any Republican Repub-lican was elected. As it is, some good men and women were beaten, who deserved to fare better. The Democracy still holds both houses of congress, con-gress, but the president and his friends, If wise, will see the writing on the wall made by this year's election, and govern themselves accordingly. The Colorado Problem M HTHE dispatches inform us that the president H is seeking to find whether ho has the author- H ity to close down tho mines in Colorado around H which tho strikers have made chaos for many H months. H We have no doubt that he is seeking to do H what is right and what will be for tho best inter- H ests of all concerned. H But to close down the mines would leave un- H settled a question which will eventually have to B be settled. H An organization which was started in Mon- H tana several years ago was organized on a de- H termination to control tho mines of the west with- out regard to the rights of owners and with the purpose to obtain and continue that control if H necessary by open murder and secret assassin- H H It caused many deaths and vast losses of H property in Colorado, it culminated in Idaho with H the assassination of Governor Stunenberg. The H self-confessed assassin declared that he was H prompted to and paid for his bloody work by the H chief officers of this organization in Denver. H Of course no jury could convict anyone on H his unsupported testimony even if they believed H his statement to be true. H One of those officers has since become an H outspoken anarchist and at last accounts was go- H ing about publicly declaiming defiance of all law H and seeking to crystalize a like sentiment in the hearts of open ruffians and weak-minded dupes. M His teachings are behind the misguided men H who for months have been terrorizing Colorado. H The question presented is, "Shall these men sue- H ceed in their nefarious determination, or shall it M be definitely settled that owners of property shall M control it in peace, subject only to tho laws which M protect them?" M To close down the mines would not settle the M question at all, moreover, the federal government M is bound to give each state a republican form of M government, and when the state fails, to protect M every citizen in life and property. M When the same question was presented in Chi- M cago and the then governor refused to act, Pres- H ident Cleveland saw clearly his duty and per- jH formed it. Did he or his-party lose prestige by H the act? Does not his precedent supply PresI- H dent Wilson with the courage to do what the M laws demand of him? I The "quality of mercy" would not be strained I by it, but justice would be satisfied and, after all, justice is what Is looked for antl what Is 8 needed. The question Is very simple to those I who understand the real situation. I Sometimes out on the desert a weary traveler I falls asleep at night, only to be awakened by B what seems to him the howls of innumerable I wolves. He lies in mortal terror until the dawn H breaks, then rising he sees half a dozen coy- H otes slinking away in the distance. In this case IH President Wilson should cause a new dawn to H Colorado and insure a sun lighted quiet day, H M H, Starving Belgium THE cry of Belgium for food will appeal to every humane heart in , America. Four Hj months ago it was inhabited by 7,000,000 peace- H able, happy people. Its air was filled with the H songs of happy husbandmen, the hum of factories, H the ringing of joy bolls, and the land was dotted H by fair cities adorned by wonderful, beautiful H structures and the works of art which its gal- H leries contained were a world's delight. And its H continued safety and peace were assured by the H solemn covenants of all the 'strong nations sur- H rounding it. H No,w its harvests have been destroyed, its soil H" churnod into a desert by the tread of vast armies, H the hoof beats of horseB and the grind of artillery H wheels; its cities have been made blackened ruins JJ by the instruments of extermination which war flfl employs; it has been swept by fire and sword, H and from affluence and comfort its brave people H by millions are .starving. Their king from a de- H fenslvo battle field is crying to us to save his H people from starvation. Wo are sure the response H will be both prompt and generous, generous as H a sympathizing great people can make it. Think H of it, brave men, beautiful women and little chil- H dren by millions on the verge of starvation and H only six day's distant from our shores! H We are certain what the response from the H people will be, and if in the absence of congress H the president assumes the responsibility and H orders such help as the occasion requires con- m gross will on reconvening ratify his act and H the people will applaud. The Itockerfeller gifts Wr are splendid, but they are not enough, the need hj is overmastering, the appeal is to the whole Am- H erican people. M The Horror Of It IN revelations the story runs that the powers of darkness are to be let loose to reign for M a thousand years. Looking at the conditions in H the old world one wonders whether the reign is H just beginning or just ending. Is civilization go- m ing into eclipse, or is what we are witnessing but H the dying throes of the monsters of Crime and M immemorial Wrongs in extremes? m When the present destruction ceases from ex- H haustion will the nations continue to descend H back to savagery, or will the manhood of the m world arouse itself and declare that there is no M such thing as a divine right to rule through the H accident of birth; that the only real divinity is M that which comes through heart and brain and fl which is founded on the rights, not of one man. fl but of the whole people who up to date M for three thousand years and more have raised M the bread that kings have eaten and have fought. H the battles for kings. H Will men and nations have suffered enough to H be able to see clearly at last that most of the H blood shed in wars has heretofore been to gratify H unholy ambitions, and, during the past nineteen M hundred years, to minister to the fanaticism and B lust of power which have caused this or that creed M to misinterpret the teachings of the blameless M One, and in His name to deluge the world with H blood? H We read that the time will come when the na- M tions will learn war no more. H Is the ferocity which is now raging in Europe M and making all the seas shudder to culminate in B such sorrows that in the revulsion which is to jHj follow a new era of peace is to be ushered in? jH . .Let us hope so, lest men in their despair will B p.-jy "there is no God," and revert back to the H degradation -and the methods of primitive man 9H and sinking lower and lower at last become such Hj an offenso to eternal justice, that a new geolog- Hj ical period shall be ordered to clear this planet H of all animal - life and leave its shivered crust jH ready for one more repeopling. Lieutenant General Acfna R. Chaffee "How sloop the brave who sing to rest With nil their country's honors blessed!" WHEN after Shiloh, through the egotism and meanness of old General Halleck, General Grant was for a time left virtually without a command, com-mand, he made no plaint. During that time a friend said to him: "General, in case your enemies ene-mies triumph and your command is permanently withheld, what will you do?" "Why," was his reply, re-ply, " there Is plenty of room in the ranks." He had enlisted for the war, if not in his rightful place, the ranks were open to him. He was educated edu-cated by his country; his country needed him, he was not thinking of himself, but of his country. General Chaffee was not educated by his country coun-try but, while yet a boy he heard the long roil sounded and responded at once. He became one of the units of that iron wall of heroes which was upreared to keep the Union from crumbling and being washed away on the waves of rebellion. Amid the host his personality at last found recognition rec-ognition and he was promoted. He held a small commission when a second war came. He soon became conspicuous and promotions swiftly followed. He held his place in advance of every promotion, pro-motion, showing that he had all the qualities and qualifications of a perfect soldier, until at last the very highest place was his and the historian tracing out the superb record, reached the conclusion conclu-sion that he had not received one honor that he had not earned. The story, condensed, is very brief. At first a resolute youth, gun in hand in the van of battle, then a steady upward, heroic path, until the age limit is reached and he is retired with a lieutenant lieuten-ant general's commission. Who says that this brief life is not long enough to win immortality immortal-ity in. Now he is to be laid in final rest .beside Sheridan Sheri-dan and Porter, and Crook and the other glorified ones. It is not hard to believe that when his tired body reached Arlington, sublimated ears heard a murmur which was made by whispered welcomes; not hard to imagine that sublimated eyes caught the vision of shining forms above the sacred burial bur-ial place and that theie was the blare of phantom phan-tom bugles and the roll of phantom drums in the ether, a welcome fitting for the coming of a blameless blame-less great soldier. The Elks' Red Cross Unit ON the 28th of last month the Elks of this city organized a movement which they hope will secure to the Elks of the nation, two or four distinct Elks' lied Cross Units. They assessed themselves 25 cents each, sent the money to the managers of the Red Cross societies at Washington with a note that this was their first assessment and asking how much a distinct dis-tinct Elks' Red Cross Unit would cost for a year. They also sent to their sovereign commander at San Francisco an account of what they had done and asked for endorsement, and also that all other Elks' lodges be informed and asked to join in the plan. From Washington they have received word that a unit would cost for a year 24,288, which would be used in payment for three surgeons and twelve nurses, transportation, etc. iThe hope of the Salt Lake lodge is that all Elks lodges, with their 450,000 members, will respond, that two or more units may be assured; the distribution to go impartially to the warring warr-ing powers. It is a very splendid idea and has especial significance, sig-nificance, inasmuch as the Elks are distinctly an American order, having no connections with any foreign societies. There is no need of expatiating on the need of all the charity that can be extended. A continent conti-nent is filled with broken hearts; all its' hospitals aro filled with the wounded and the sick and there is no respite in the destruction that is going go-ing on. Moreover, millions of all classes and ages are l. on the brink of starvation and the winter is close " upon them. Whatever Americans can give, they should give with thankfulness that our own land is at peace and a great harvest promises plenty for our own I people, and in addition enough to minister to those who are confronting such sorrows and losses as were never before sprung upon outraged civilization. civi-lization. Dr. Joseph Richards TITE death of Dr. Joseph Richards is a very great loss to this city and state. He was an eminent surgeon and physician, a sterling citizen,. ,,j a high-souled, loveable man. v The good he did cannot be measured, nor can his worth as a citizen. He will be missed in a thousand b" r in his own home the sorrow is overwhelmir IMay it little comfort to the stricken ones to know that they were blessed by a husband and father who was likewise a blessing to his fellow man and an honor to the profession he loved and to the city where he lived and that the peace . . that has come to him was earned by a long life-work life-work devoted to duty arid to relieving the sufferings suffer-ings of his fellow men. Our Opportunity PRESIDENT Wilson and his party are pledged not to extend either by bounties or subsidies to help an American merchant marine. But the need is so great and the opportunity so superb that there will be a great pressure brought to establish es-tablish a few lines at least, when congress meets in regular session in December. Wo can see no way that the president can meet that except by urgently recommending that the government itself shall undertake the oversea over-sea carrying trade. No private company will buy or build merchant mer-chant ships, with the possibility that in a few months the war may be over and Great Britain and Germany will resume their ocean trade, the one under subsidies, the other under bounties, because in that event to try to compete with them would be speedy ruin. But the government could run merchant ships even if they did not pay expenses. That would but add one more item to the defficit. Of course to make up that deficit by taxation would be but a bounty or subsidy under a different differ-ent name, but "no rich ship owners would be growing richer." Should the president urge this in his message we hope every senator and representative will" & j support the measure, 'only stipulating that the ships shall be built in the United States. That would give thousands of men steady employment, em-ployment, and it would not be long until American Ameri-can merchant ships would be as of old the very finest ever sent to sea. The importance of our doing our own carrying carry-ing trade is not appreciated by half our people. They can see the confusion caused by the sudden sud-den stopping of ocean commerce, but all of them do not see how closely that is connected with all our interests or what it would be were our work on land directly conected with our work at sea. $ The great Humboldt wrote. "Those states which take no part in the general industrial move-' ment, in the choice and preparation of natural substances, or in the application of mechanics and ohemistry, and in whom this activity is not appreciated by all clasqeB of society; will lnfali-ably lnfali-ably see their prosperity diminish in proportion as neighboring countries become strengthened and invigorated under the genial influence of arts and sciences." Acting on those words Germany perfected her & mechanics and on practical lines applied chem- ' - istry to her manufacturles along all lines where It could be of use, but while her achievements were great, her progress was slow and she remained re-mained poor until the inspiration came to her to X,. directly put German brains against the primitive muscles of the outside world. Out of 100 pounds of raw material she made something and carried car-ried to those who needed that thing, and in lieu of It received back ten or twenty times its weight in that same raw material. In that way she , exchanged the product of her brains for the prod uct of the hands and In thirty years from being a poor nation became second in wealth in the old world.. Not only that her people followed fJ her flag and seeing the opportunities presented in foreign new countries siezed upon them until she found work for all her swifty increasing people. peo-ple. What might we not do on our vast territory if the same spirit could be awakened and put in force by our government and people? Heinze T"1 HE turbulent soul of F. Augustus Ileinze has - passed on. A strong man was he, aggressive and sagacious; he loved to gamble with big stakes and preferred to win a dollar in a fight to obtaining obtain-ing $10 in a quiet way. Among financiers he played to be foremost, and was backed by a strength and energy that seemed exhaustless and an intellect that was dominant over weaker men. He was yet a young man in years when he died, but he had played the full gamut of a long life and "played it game" to the last hour. A Measure of Safety rOU ROOSEVELT'S statement that lie has seen the plans of other nations to place both New York City and San Francisco under tribute, may be taken for what it is worth. It has a doubtful look because nations indulging in such schemes would not be liable to be showing their plans, hut the conclusion that our country should be prepared for any emergency is altogether sound. Our young men should be better prepared to defend de-fend native land. Two years or even one year in a military camp would prepare them for more effective work both in peace and in war. fThey could obtain places to work easier because be-cause of that discipline and training, they would have more confidence in themselves, a better bearing; they would be better prepared to en- j gage in any kind of honorable employment, and i would have a feeling that were war to come they could serve their country with more efficiency. ' fa That course pursued for five years would remove from us half the danger of our being involved in-volved in war, for nothing is half as effective in preventing wars as for quarrelsome nations to understand that the power they may have a disposition dis-position to attack is perfectly able to defend Itself. It-self. Every consideration of prudence urges this course; there is not one sound argument against it. Is It Not Time? OF course Washington through our ambassadors ambassa-dors is in closer touch with European af-tft af-tft fairs than the public can be, but it seems to us ' . it would be a good idea to appeal to the nations who are not in war to send representatives to the Hague, to try to induce the warring powers to consider terms of peace. The winter is near, were peace to be declared tomorrow, there would Btlll bo suffering enough in the track of the armies to tax ail the nations to relieve it Belgium Bel-gium alone has millions of people on the verge of starvation; northern France is well-nigh wrecked while on the eastern boundaries of Austria Aus-tria and Prussia there must be a situation the very thought of which is enough to break generous hearts. Then half the homes in all those countries: coun-tries: France, Germany, Great Britain and Russia Rus-sia are already in mourning over the loss of the loved ones who have already gone down to death in this appalling war. None of the fighting powers will listen to single appeals for peace, but were half a dozen nations to meet and through their representatives make the appeal, It might be effective. Ours is the most appropriate country to make the call for we have as our citizens tens of thousands thou-sands of men of all those nationalities and to make the appeal would be but giving voice to the earnest desire in millions of hearts. .Death Of Miss Hyams THE death of MIbs Carolyn Selma Hyams, the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hyams is a crushing blow to her relatives and whole hosts of friends. She was born and grew up In this city and from babyhood was a benediction to her home, a joy to all who knew her. That she in her youth and beauty and the loveliness of her character should be taken Is almost irreconcilable irreconcil-able to her relatives and friends. The sympathies of all who knew her go out to those relatives. May their comfort be that the arms that formerly were stretched up to them are now bending down to make their way easier until they, too, shall have finished the brief journey which ends in night here, but opens in the eternal dawn. |