Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/270

Rh obey promptly those who have the right to give orders.

There is a very proper concern because of railroad accidents, and no one is more concerned about them than the railway owner and manager: they have the greatest incentives to avoid them,—pride in their profession, the natural desire of all men to prevent sorrow and suffering and the loss of money and reputation. And yet most accidents are due to three fundamental causes: disobedience by some one of a rule that if followed would have prevented the accident; negligence of some individual somewhere in doing his particular work, making the car-wheel, or rail, laying the track, inspecting the track, throwing the signal, etc.; recklessness among passengers and employees. This disobedience, negligence, and recklessness cannot be eliminated by law, but public opinion can have a marked effect upon it.

The lack of public opinion of sufficient weight to compel the enforcement of many of the laws passed in the United States is one of Rh