PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 109 



of business, men are hoping and striving for some return beyond the 

 mere interest on capital involved — and if they don't manage capably its 

 water will leak from any prospective value that is tied to the capital 

 stock and it will show in the selling value. And sometimes, alas ! more 

 than the water runs away, never to return. 



The public decides finally property rights and commercial privileges. 

 They have decided to hold the railroads to a different standard— I think 

 I may say a higher business standard— than any other business institu- 

 tion. Let me illustrate what I mean. Into the bread you eat enter many 

 elements of cost, each affecting your pocketbook; the price of seed 

 wheat, cost of plowing, sowing, cultivating, harvesting, of teaming to 

 elevator, of elevator service, railroad freight charges, rolling in flour 

 mill, sacking, perhaps advertising, and jobbers' and retailers' profits. 

 All of these elements may vary according to quantity and individual 

 notion, save the one item of railroad freight charges. The teamster 

 hauling the grain to the elevator can make one rate if he hauls fifty 

 tons, and a lesser one if given five hundred; likewise the elevator; like- 

 wise the mill may purchase at varying prices, according to quantity, 

 and the cost of advertising will depend upon the space used, and the 

 selling price to the jobber or retailer very likely according to quantity 

 purchased. The only fixed element in the competition of this one sack 

 of flour with another is the freight. The railroads have accepted the 

 situation ; it is to be equal rates to all, and with that policy no one can 

 quarrel. But I would ask for the railroads of the United States, in rela- 

 tion to their rates for freights and fares, consideration and fair play — 

 you are almost as much interested in their prosperity as their owners. 



The doctrine of free hate can not win. It will be a sorry country to 

 live in when we all turn detectives and with dark lanterns lay for our 

 fellowmen. I don't think we are badly off. I do believe that common 

 honesty is as characteristic of our business life as at any time in the his- 

 tory of the world. The principal misunderstandings nowadays between 

 corporations and the people are due to the lack of contact and therefore 

 iack of understanding. It is impracticable for a shipper having need 

 of a vast railroad machine to know all the officers and employes con- 

 cerned in moving his freight, nor is it possible for these employes to 

 know the individual shippers. And the human equation enters into 

 these relations as much as in any other business. If an employe is 

 ignorant or overworked or out of temper a new and undesirable "rail- 

 road policy" is established for the time being in the minds of the 

 patrons. There are just about as many "railroad policies" as there are 

 employes; but if you could look into the hearts of men I think you 

 would find a quite general intention to head these policies in the right 

 direction. The vast majority of railroad patrons come in contact with 

 the agents and station men and conductors only; and these men have 



