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NOVEMBER 9, 1906
The Commoner.
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GENERAL RESULTS OF NOVEMBER ELECTION
At tlio hour The Commoner goes to Dress
the election returns are incomplete and some of
the indications may ho changed by later returns.
New York Charles E. Hughes, republican
candidate for governor, was elected over William
R. Hearst by a plurality of 60,000. Two years
ago the republican candidate for governor in New
York was elected by 80,560. Early on the morn
ing following the election, Mr. Hearst issued this
statement: "In view of the result I have only
to repeat what I have said in my speeches. I
am enlisted in this fight against the control of the
government by the trusts and corrupt corpora
tions, and I will fight it to the end. But I will
serve in the lead or in the ranks just as the
people desire and as earnestly and loyally in one
place as in tho other. The people have decided
to retain the republican party in power. I will
make my fight in the ranks, therefore, and as a
private citizen do my best to promote the interests
of my fellow citizens." Democrats claim balance
of state ticket.
Pennsylvania- The regular republican ticket,
headed by Edwin S. Stuart, was elected in Penn
sylvania. Lewis Emery, Jr., who was the nominee
of the democratic and Lincoln party, made a
hard fight but was defeated by a plurality which
is estimated at 100,000. This was a clear cut
victory for the old Quay and Penrose machine.
Samuel Rotan, the republican candidate for dis
trict attorney in Philadelphia, was elected by a
large plurality.
Kansas A hard fight was carried on between
Governor Hoch, republican, and Colonel W. A.
Harris, democrat. Both sides claim victory.
Ohio Republicans elected the state ticket
in Ohio, the head of the ticket being secretary
of state.
Illinois The republican candidate for state
treasurer in Illinois was elected that being the
head of the state ticket this year by a plurality
estimated at 100,000.
Missouri The .democratic state ticket in Mis
souri ,was elected. The democrats made pro
nounced gains.
AlabamaThe democratic state ticket and t
democratic nominees' for congress were elected "
by overwhelming majorities. The vote was light.
Massachusetts Governor Guild, republican,
was re-elected over District Attorney John B.
Moran, the republicans electing their entire state
ticket. The next legislature will lin rnnnhifnnn
thus assuring the re-election of Senator Crane.
Minnesota Governor Johnson, democrat, was
re-elected by a plurality of about 30,000.
Colorado Large democratic losses were sus
tained in tho city of Denver. Tho election of tho
republican slate tickot, headed by Buchtel, can
didate for governor, is claimed by majorities
ranging from 15,000 to 30,000. It is claimed tho
legislature will be republican, thus insuring tho
election of a republican to succeed Senator Pat
terson. Idaho It is claimed that the democrats of
Idaho have elected Stockslager, their candidate
for governor, also their candidate for secretary
of state and the majority of the legislature. This
would insure Senator Dubois' re-election.
Wisconsin The republican slate ticket, head
ed by Governor Davidson, was elected by plurali
ties of about 40,000.
Oklahoma The democrats elected a majority
of the constitutional convention, thus insuring
that tho democrats will write tho constitution for
tho new state.
Nebraska Tho election of the republican
state ticket, headed by Sheldon, candidate for
governor, is assured by substantial majorities.
The legislature is republican.
California Gillett, republican candidate for
governor elected. The legislature will be repub
lican. Rhode Island The democrats claim the elec
tion of Higgins for governor.
Indiana Entire republican state ticket
elected.
Texas Entire democratic state ticket elected.
Michigan Entire republican state ticket
elected.
Connecticut Republican state ticket elected.
Mississippi Democratic candidates elected by
the usual off year majorities.
Washington Republican ticket elected.
Utah Republican ticket elected.
Georgia Democratic ticket elected.
Nevada Indications point to the election of
Sparks, democratic candidate for governor.
Wyoming Republican ticket elected.
Montana Republican ticket elected.
Florida Defocratic ticket elected.
New Hampshire Republican ticket elected.
Arkansas Democrats for congress were elect-
od in every district in Arkansas.
North Carolina Democratic by about 30,000.
Tennesso Patterson for governor, and tho
democratic state tickot olectod by usual oft yonr
majorities.
Delaware Republicans elected stnto Uokot
and Burton for congress. They will control tho
legislature and will elect a succosaor to Senator
Alee. A voto was also taken on the initiative and
referendum and it will bo adopted.
Iowa Wednesday morning Iowa was roportod
in doubt on tho governorship, both sldos claiming
It. Tho Associated Pross said that If Cummins'
losses were maintained throughout tho state ho
would be defeated.
Joint Statehood Carried in New Mexico, but
was defeated in Arizona. Goneral apathy was man
ifest in both territories. Arizona is democratic.
North Dakota Scarles, republican, was elect
ed governor. FIsko, democrat, was elected justice
of the supremo court.
CONGRESS
Wednesday morning the Associated Pross re
ports say that in tho noxt congress thero will
be 212 republicans, 158 democrats with sixteen
districts yet to be heard from, most of which are
reported as republicans. This shows a demo
cratic gain in tho membership for congress of
twenty-one.
Congressman James Wadsworth, who made
such a vigirous light on the meat Inspection bill
and exchanged with President Roosevelt Inter
esting letters on tho subject, was defeated In the
Thirty-fourth New York district.
Representative Babcock of Wisconsin, famous
for his tariff revision utterances, Is defeated.
Douglas, republican, who defeated Grosvenor
for the nomination for congress in Ohio, is also
defeated.
Representative Nicholas Longworth, son-in-law
of the president, was re-elected.
In the St. Joseph (Mo.) district Charles
Booher, democrat, defeated Representative Luke
Fulkerson.
In Nebraska the republicans elect five repre
sentatives. In the Omaha district G. M. Hitch
cock, democrat, defeated Representative John
Kennedy.
Rcprescntatlvo Henry T. Ralney In Illinois
is re-elected by 5,000, an increase of 3,500 over two
years ago.
Mr. Roosevelt And Government Ownership
In nfs message in December, 1904, President
Roosevelt said:
"The government must, in increasing degree,
supervise and regulate the workings of the rail
ways engaged in interstate commerce, and such
increased supervision is the only alternative to
an Increase of the present evils on the one hand
or a still more radical policy on the other."
President Rooseyelt, in the annual message
which he sent to congress at the beginning of
the session recently ended, said.
"The question Qf transportation lies at the
root of all industrial success, and the revolution
in transportation which has taken place during
the last half century has been the most Impor
tant factor in the growth of the new industrial
conditions. Most emphatically we do not wish
to see the man of great talents refused the re
ward for his talents. Still less do we wish to
see him penalized; but we do desire to see the
system of railroad transportation so handled that
the strong man shall be given no advantage over
the weak man. We "wish to insure as fair treat
ment for the small town as for the big city; fdr
the small shipper as for the big shipper. In the
old days the highway of commerce, whether by
water or by a road on land, was open to all;
it belonged to the public and the traffic along it
was free. At present the railway is this highway,
and we must do our best to see that it is kept
opein to all on equal terms. Unlike the old high
way it is a very difficult and complex thing to
manage, and it is far better that it should be
managed by private individuals than by the gov
ernment. But it can only be so managed on con
dition that justice is done the public. It is be
cause, in my judgment, public ownership of rail
roads is highly undesirable and would probably
in this country entail far-reaching disaster, that
I wish to see such supervision and regulation of
them in the interest of the public as will make
it evident that there is no need for public owner
uhip. The opponents of government regulation
dwell upon the difficulties to be encountered and
the intricate and involved nature of the problem.
Their contention is true. It is a complicated and
delicate problem, and all kinds of difficulties arc
sure to arise in connection with any plan of solu
tion, while no plan will bring all the benefits
hoped for by its more optimistic adherents. More
over, under any healiiy plan, the benefits will
develope gradually and not- rapidly. Finally, we
must clearly understand that the public servants
who are to do this peculiarly responsible and
delicate work must themselves bo of the highest
type both as regards integrity and efficiency.
They must be well paid, for otherwise able men
can not in the long run be secured ; and they must
possess a lofty probity which will revolt as quickly
at the thought of pandering to any gust of popu
lar prejudice against rich men ris at the thought
of anything even -remotely resembling subserv
iency to rich men. But while I fully admit the
difficulties in the way, I do not for a moment ad
mit that these difficulties warrant us In stopping
in our effort to secure a wise and just system.
They should have no other effect than to spur
us on to the exercise of the resolution, the even
handed justice, and the fertility qt resource, which
we like to think as typically American, and which
will in the end achieve good results in this as in
other fields of activity. The task is a great-one
and underlies the task of dealing with the whole
industrial problem. But the fact that it is a
great problem does not warrant us in shrinking
from the attempt to solve it. At present we face
such utter lack of supervision, such freedom from
tho restraints of law, that excellent men have
often been literally forced into doing what they
deplored because otherwise they were left at the
mercy of unscrupulius competitors. To rail at
and assail the msh who have done as they best
could under such conditions accomplishes little.
What we need to do is to develop an orderly sys
tem; and such a system can only come through
the gradually increased exercise of the right of
efficient government control."
President Roosevelt, in a message delivered
to congress on May 4, said:
"But in addition to these secret rates the
Standard Oil profits immensely by open rates,
which are so arranged as to give It an overwhelm
ing advantage over its independent competitors.
The refusal of the railroads in certain cases to
proroto produces analogous effects. Thus In New
England the refusal of certafn railway systems
to proroto has resulted in keeping the Standard
Oil in absolute monopolistic control of the field,
enabling it to charge from three to four hundred
thousand dollars a year more to consumers of
oil in New England than they would have hod to
pay had the price paid been that obtaining in tho
competitive fields. This is a characteristic ex
ample of the numerous evils which are inevitable
under a system in which the big shipper and the
railroad are left free to crush out all Individual
Initiative and all power of Independent action
because of the absence of adequate and thorough
going governmental control. Exactly similar con
ditions obtain In a large part of the west and
southwest.
"The argument Is sometimes advanced against
conferring upon some governmental body the
power of supervision and control over interstate
commerce, that to do so tends to weaken indi
vidual initiative. Investigations such as this con
clusively disprove any such allegation. On tho
contrary, the proper play for individual Initiative
can only be secured by such governmental super
vision as will curb those monopolies which crush
out all individual initiative. The railroad itself
can not without such government aid protect the
interests of its own stockholders as against one
of these great corporations loosely known as
'trusts '
"The time has come when no oil or coal lands
held by the government, either upon the public
domain proper or in territory owned by the Indian
tribes should be alienated. The fee of such lands
should be kept in the United States government
whether or not the profits arising from It are to be
given to any Indian tribe, and the lands should be
leased only on such terms and for such periods as
will enable the government to keep entire control
thereof."
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