This book examines the concern of a variety of interest groups with federal policy toward railroads, concentrating on the crucial years during World War I when the federal government ran the industry, and prior to the passage of the Transportation Act of 1920. Through extensive archival research, James A. Kerr describes the political dealings among those involved in railroad-government relations: labor leaders; shippers; railroad executives; and financiers; and analyzes the motivations that influenced policymaking.

K. Austin Kerr is emeritus professor of history at the Ohio State University, and is coauthor or editor of numerous books, including: BFGoodrich: Tradition and Transformation, 1870-1995; and Business Enterprise in American History.