The ability of railroads to construct these improvements, which are so essential to the future prosperity of the South, depends upon the willingness of capital to furnish the necessary funds for the purpose. While legislation may control and regulate the returns upon invested capital, there is no process by which it can compel that investment originally. While investment is easily retarded it is difficult to attract. There is probably no form of capital investment more open to attack or more liable to depreciation through unfair or unwise legislation than the railway investments of today. While the speaker is a firm believer in the principles of governmental control and supervision over the corporate entities which have been created by the people and for the people, it must not be forgotten that every shield has its reverse, and that the exercise of such control and supervision must necessarily be along the lines of right and justice, which no mere legislative enactment can change. Any variance brings its own reward, which frequently spells disaster. The power to control, regulate and supervise necessarily carries with it responsibilities from which there can be no escape. Every tax, every restriction, every requirement which costs money or reduces revenue to our southern railroads is a tax which must ultimately be paid by the communities which they serve. The prosperity of the southern railroads and the prosperity of the South are irrevocably bound together, and the _needs of the South are identical with the needs of the railroads_. The basis of securing capital must necessarily be the ability of the borrower to inspire confidence in the lender that his capital will ultimately be returned to him intact, and that he will receive regularly and promptly adequate hire therefor. No section of our great country has such reputation for united action as the South. In political matters this unity of action for years has led to the designation "The Solid South." What the railroads in this section need today is _a solid South behind and beneath them_; a solid South taking a calm and rational view of the immense factor the railways have been and always will be in the development of its future greatness. The recent reversion of sentiment in the State of Georgia, brought about by a calm and deliberate analysis of the present situation by the business men of that State, should be the keynote of the future action of the solid South. _The adoption of a policy of fairness and liberality towards the railroad interests on behalf of all the Southern States, and the ability to convince the financial world that this action is sincere and genuine and will be permanent, is the great paramount need of the railroads of the South today._