f.'-'i
The Commoner.
IUJQUST 12,-1904.
ii
Opinions For And Agadnst
Hereinafter The Commoner repro
duces newspaper editorials relating to
Mr. Bryan's suggestion with respect
to the lines upon which the democ
racy must do battle in the future.
Some of those editonars are lavor
able, others critical, whilcr some aro
extremely bitter. All are, ' however,
presented to the readers of The Com
moner, in order that they may know
just what is going on. ' .-,
Government Railroads.
Mr. Bryan's announcement of his
program for reorganization or regen
eration of the democratic party need
cause no great surprise. He would
make, government or state ownership
of railroads the corner stone of his
political faith. It Is a suggestion not
to be lightly cast off.
State socialism is not a new and
untried thing. Mr. Bryan and his as
sociates will not be without arguments
which have force and which, if they
arc to be refuted, must be met with
arguments" and not ridicule. Owner
ship of railroads and operation of
these public conveniences for the ben
efit of the public has made wonderful
advancement in recent years, and one
needs but to go out into the great
world and find thousands of cases of
such socialism in full force to afford
examples of what might, be done -in
the United States. In fact the United
States owns some railroads and oper
ates them.
The reason which Mr. Bryan gives
is not that which has generally been
presented. "Recent events nave con
vinced me that the time is now ripe
for the presentation of this question,"
ho says. "Consolidation after consoli
dation has taken place until a few
men now control the railroad traffic of
the country and defy both the legisla
tive and the executive power or the
nation. I invite the democrats, there
fore, to consider a plan for the gov
ernment ownership and operation of
the railroads."
He might have gone on still fur
ther and have declared with ex-Senator
Pettigrew, long an advocate of gov
ernment ownership of railroads, in
an interview in St. jouis, during the
national convention, quoted in this
payer at the time, that with govern
ment ownership of railroads would
vanish every trust in existence. That
"By two or three witnesses shall a
matter be established."
FIVE
OF EXCELLENCE.
Leaving the ceater of the city
from which you start; reaching the
center of the city of your desti
nation, over smooth and level
tracks; giving rest and comfort;
beside running wator most or mo
way; through tho centers of pop
ulation to the gateways of com
merce; when you travel by tho
NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES.
A copy of tho Illustrated Catalogue of
the "Four T?ack Series" will be sent free
upon receipt ofa two-cent Btamp by
George H, D&nlcla, General Passenger
Agent, Grand Central Station, New York
is but an extension of tho same idea.
lhe program Mr. Bryan proposes in
cludes state ownership and federal su
pervision, rather than ownership di
rect b the United States. This is a
detail, however, which might be al
tered: On tho surface it appears to
weaken tho program.
It Uiay be said fairly that one of
the ultongest arguments for govern
ment ownership of railroads which
M.r Bjjan will be able to offer is tho
succ-ss of the incomplete consolida
tions effected under the general mer
ger movement. Every argument that
-an be deduced in support of the
mergers goes to state socialism In
tailrcad property. Ana to this others
may be added.
The issue is one therefore, which
will altord some opportunity of con
troversy. It is not to be put off
with a sneer and a snicker. Des
Moines, Iowa, Daily News.
Bryan An Economic Reformer.
Mr. Bryan announces that since the
responsibility of national leadership of
the party has been shifted from him
to another, he is free to undertake a
work he has heretofore avoided
namely, the organization of tho radi
cal and progressive element of the
democratic party. He will henceforth
advocate these principal reforms
state ownership of railroads, govern
ment control of telegraph systems,
abolishment of private monopoly, the
income tax and the electron of the
federal judiciary by the people.
Private ownership of land is the
first form of private monopoly. But
it is assumed that Mr. Bryan will not
make a political issue of what is now
and what is destined for many years
to be an economic question. He will
rather strike at those monopolies
based in the ownership of the natur
al sources of supply of the people's
necessities, and in public service util
ities. Mr. Bryan sees what every student
with discerning eye must see the par
amount need of breaking the ever
increasing power of the corporations.
The first monopoly to be destroyed is
the railroad monopoly, which is de
feating, the ends of representative gov
ernment by debasement of the elec
torate and bribery of the legislatures
and courts, and which wring from the
producer in excessive ireignt rates a
measure of profit that leaves him only
enough for bare subsistence. With tho
railroad corporation disrupted, the
largest factor in dishonest government
will be removed.
The income tax is imposed in almost
every country in the world, excepting
the United States and is everywhere
regarded as the most equitable tax in
that it places on the shoulders of those
best able to bear it the largest meas
ure of tho expense of the government.
The supreme court of the United
States having declared such tax un
constitutional, it will be necessary
first to secure a constitutional amend
ment authorizing its imposition.
The telegraph companies take their
existence from grant of 'government
and give nothing in return, as it is
convenient and possible for the gov
ernment to maintain a mail service, so
it is tho part of wisdom for , the gov
ernment to establish and maintain its
own telegraph service.
Jefferson once said that if the Am
erican people ever lost thejr liberty,
It would bo through arbitrary decisions
of the courts. Jefferson wks not op
posed to the judiciary but he believed
in strictly defining its power and In
making it answerable to the people,
who should have power of selection.
It is a notorious and shameful fact
that the railroads are dictating the
selections of federal judgesi Naturally
these officials will administer justice
as tho railroads want it. Tho safe
guard against a corporate judiciary
is election of tho Judiciary by tho peo
ple. Mr. Bryan will have a largo follow
ing and ho will succeed in organizing
the progressive and radical wing of
the democratic party. Ho will induce
thought on economic subjects and this
is whnt is most needed, ror whon the
American people have b.een awakened
to tho justice in tho roforms he pro
poses, they will adopt them,
It Is an augury for bettor days, it
Is the light breaking Into darkness of
privilege and corruption, that there arc
in the United States today more than
100,000 ablo men who arc, giving at
tention to economic qeustions when
twenty years ago, as John Brisbon
Walker remarked to tho editor, ho
could count on his fingers and toes
tno men who wore advocating eco
nomic reform along the linc3 of pres
ent day discussion.
'lhe great economists of other days
have never secured more than acade
mic discussion of the reforms needful
for tne people's progress and tho safe
guarding of their liberties. Mr. Bryan
will bring these reforms elbser to tho
people, he will seek to educate them,
he will endeavor to have a great party
take them up, and while there is dis
mal prospect that he will witness tho
accomplishment of a single reform he
advocates, the seed ho shall sow will
one day bear richest fruit. Education
linked with a high morality will event
ually bring tho people into their own
and establish this government truly
and endurlngly on a basis of equality
to all and special privileges to none.
Tho Telegraph-Herald is glad to en
list with Mr. Bryan in this contest. It
will follow him, not because he is tho
man Bryan but because ho is the con
science of the democratic party. Du
bupue, Iowa, Telegraph.
Bryan's Progress.
Wo do not suppose that Mr. Bryan's
political program, which is given to
tho world today, will soon come be
fore the people in a practical way.
But it Is Interesting as showing his
entire failure to understand democratic
principles. His enemies have always
maintained that he knew little or
nothing of the democratic philosophy.
Now we think that the fact is demon
strated that it ought to be clear even
to his best friends, that is, provided
they are really democrats. In the
first place he proposes state control
and ownership of railroads. Federal
ownership, he thinks, would be a mis
take. He says:
"To put the railroads In the hands
of the federal government would mean
an enormous centralization of power,
it would give to the federal govern
ment a largely increased influence over
tho citizen and the citizen's affairs,
and such centralization is not at all
necessary."
So he pronounces for state owner
ship. We do not now propose to dis
cuss the feasibility of tho plan, fur
ther than to say that the whole trust
question is greatly complicatea by
state control of corporations. The
same difficulties would arise if the
railroads were divided up among forty
five different owners. But the point is
that wo have in this suggestion, not
democracy In any true sense, but so
cialism and paternalism pure and sim
ple There would be centralization in
the states, and the party in power
wouid be Tastly strengthened by the
control of the railroads. The demo
cratic idea is as little government as
possible. The Bryan idea seems to
be as much government as poasible.
After the state had acquired posses
sion of the railroads, he would nave
tho various cities of tho country own
municipal franchises a proposition
which, in spite of its socialistic nature,
is worthy of consideration. But with
the railroads managed by the state
and the public servicq corporations J
Thi Stparafor Mtwt
Did you think all separator wore
miikv mai nuy kiiiu was kooo cnoilga ,
-that makers of bucket bowl separa
tors would tell you their machine aro
jxwrr Domo uairymcn nave itiougru
KA tiarn lrnfitirM ft Imnfli nt mtiw
thnt ml-hv. Hut vnnlll nnt If vaii In.
vcstlgnto read Tho Separator News
JCUIU VUHk
It paratirs art Vastly DIffer&tf
k .. -. - t A It ... t . k a
jv cuwn ick nnn mu may loon aiiKe.
llllt thnv'rn vnrv (llfTrnri fnn tawmnA
tor support tho other to owlpo your
i turn In fltr llmo.
SuHulwt aro lust as
riHTernnt 'Phn Knn.
arator News tells
now, tens it plainly,
tellB whv Tutitila.
. aro best, appeals to
your juugmenu tu
bulars recover moro
buttnr fat nklm
twlco as clean by
ofllclal tests. It'athc
only simple bowl
i separator. Tho Sep.
nratnr tJnvua tnllu
f about separators Is Issued periodical
lysubsoriptlon fro. Write for It
and catalog No. C -228
CMcics, III. WmI Chsiltr, r,
managed by tho cities, it is evident
that wo should have a very central
ized and powerful local government.
It would not bo a democratic govern
ment. Mr. Bryan says rurthcr:
"Wo Uhvo plso reached a time when
the pestonce department should em
brace a telegraph system as well as a
mail system. The telegraph lines do
not reach as many people as tho
railroads go, and, while tho abuses of
private rvnershlp have not been so
open and notorious, yet there is no
reason nly this nation should not do
what other nations are doing in this
rcspoct."
Here is more socialism, more cen
tralization, and a further limiting of
the sphere of democracy. Mr, Bryan
continues to favor the income tax,
wiiic'i we believe to be both demo
cratic, and, if properly limited, just
and right. Mr. Bryan also'would have
the federal judges elected. In this
there is nothing cither democratic or
undemocratic. The question must be
considered on other grounds. In our
oyinion we elect too many judges al
ready The federal judiciary has done
great service to the country. It should
be left where it was placed by the
constitution. But our main purpose
now is to call attention to the ex
tremviy undemocratic character of Mr
Bryan's principal suggestions. If they
can be reconciled witn trie democratic
creed we confess that we do not know
what that creed is. Indianapolis, Ind.,
News.
Objection.
In announcing bis conversion to so
much of the socialistic program an
calls for public ownership of railways,
telugraps, electric roads, lighting
plants, etc., etc., Mr. Bryan takes the
curious position that, in order to
guard against excessive centralization
the railways should become tne prop
erty of the several states rather than
of the federal government. If this is
not merely a recognition of the old
states rights doctrine it is evidence
that Mr. Bryan perceives tho real
danger to American liberty which lies
in a proposal to add nearly one and
one-half millions to the male era-
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