The Brattleboro Daily Reformer

STATE OWNERSHIP.
His Excellency Tomasso Tittoni, president of the Italian senate, speaking before the Williams College Institute of Politics, characterized government ownership and operation of industries as "economic folly," though admitting it might sometimes be justified on grounds of public safety. He cited in support of his contention the results and effects of some Italian experiments in state and municipal ownership.
"Municipal, and especially state, ownership," said the distinguished Italian, "can never have for its object simply economic advantage. People generally expect from government-run industries the latest improvements and the best commodities, little caring whether the concern is in financial condition to pay for them, or whether it means going into debt. Thus every public concern must, in order to content the people, tend toward the free distribution of commodities."
It is hard to quarrel with Signor Tittoni's conclusions, for the recent experiences of Russia and of many another country, not to mention our own, are fresh in the public mind. Yet very few will deny that, if the question be considered in the abstract, there are at least two sides to it—not counting the sides of those who hope to profit by state ownership in financial or political ways.
The real difficulty—and we must regret that Signor Tittoni did not elaborate upon it—is that most of us are no more qualified to participate intelligently in the management of public utilities, even by our votes, than we are to pass upon