Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1920 — THE PRESIDENT AND THE RAILROADS [ARTICLE]

THE PRESIDENT AND THE RAILROADS

None of President Wilson’s critics even among his political opponents can truthfully charge that in his action with respect to the railroads he has moved hastily or without giving the Republican 'majority in congress a fair opportunity to formulate and enact a permanent measure to safeguard the interests of stockholders and the public’s rights. Although it was concededly a big problem, this return of the roads to private ownership under whatever form of federal supervision the people desired to have exercised, certainly congress bad ample time in which to supply a solution. That some definite and final disposition of the roads was necessary both to their stockholders and users was manifest to every men> ber of congress. When the Republican leaders of the sixty-sixth congress dallied with this vital question and wasted six months of the special session without approaching a serious consideration of it. President Wilson could have turned the situation to the disadvantage of the party in control of legislation. But he preferred to regard the country’s welfare first and last, rather than seek political gain by an official act in so important a matter. It is certain that many Republicans in congress would have hesitated not at all —had they been in his place—to capitalize such a conspicuous opportunity to their own

aggrandizement and the confusion of their opponents. Some persons may regret that President Wilson did not repay in kind the treatment which he has received at the hands of Republicans in the senate and the house of representatives, but the vast 'majority of American citizens will approve his course and see in his action a patriotic effort to put the country’s good before his own party’s interest.