PAGE 8
APRIL 26, 1906
Nobrasktx Indcpondont
THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDEN1
ESTABLISHED 1889
J. M. DEVINE, Editor
FREDERIC O. BERGE, Business Mgr.
Published Every Thursday
1328 O Street
Lincoln, Nebraska
Entered at the postofflce at Lincoln,
Nebraska, as second-class mail matter,
under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
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THE INDEPENDENT,
Lincoln, Neb.
LA FOLLETTE'S SPEECH
! The ' speech recently delivered in
the United States senate by Senator
La Follette of Wisconsin, on the rate
bill, may truly be said to be the most
notable deliverance of any public man
of the present generation. Mr, La
Follette did not limit himself to a
discussion to the points in disputs
over the pending bill, but branched
out into the broadest consideration
of the subject with which the bill
deals, and in so doing penetrated to
the core of the railroad question.
After discussing the question of
transportation in general, he asserted
that authority is vested in the govern
ment of the United States to control
transportation, both as to the char
acter of the service, and the charge
for the service as an inherent right
of sovereignty, and that the obliga
tion rests upon the government to
exercise the .power. He asserted
that the adjudicated cases fully sus
tains his contention quoting many au
thorities to prove his position.
He called attention to the fact that
while the opponents of the pending
measure described it as the drastic
and revolutionary. It was significant
that instead of basing their opposi
tion to it on such grounds, their
chosen line of battle was to quibble
over a constitutional question. He
scouted the contention of opponents
of the bill that it was an attempt
to extend the power of the govern
ment over interstate commerce, and
asserted that the bill contained noth
ing not included in, and inseparable
from, the power to regulate interstate
commerce.
He proclaimed his faith in the su
preme court of the -United States
and declared that corporate interests
have little reason to expect aid " or
comfort from that source, affirming
that while great interests have not
hesitated to corrupt legislation and
propose their attorneys for judicial
appointments, that the supreme eonrt
was yet free from taint.
He ridiculed the subterfuge of the
opponents of the bill in setting up a
constitutional scare crow to wrangle
over, when their real purpose was
to secure legislation that would af
ford opportunities for endless delays
of litigation and the defeat of jus
tice, asserting that the railroads
should be satisfied with their consti
tutional rights.
Mr. La Follette then reviewed the
interstate commerce lawr, and the
various recommendations to congress
made by the commission to strengthen
and improve the law during the past
nineteen years, all of which fell upon
deaf ears resulting in loss to the
American people running into hun
dreds of millions. He characterized
the pending bill as merely an attempt
to patch up the blunders of the pres
ent law, and as being entirely inade
quate to meet the demands of the
people for justice, and offering no
solution of the great transportation
question. But, it being a move in
the right direction he felt it his duty
to assist in making it as perfect as
possible, and to assist in its passage
for what good it might ; be able to
accomplish. Mr. La Follette ' an
nounced that he would support the
Bailey amendment, and then proceeded
to urge the importance of further
amending the bill and to explain an
amendment offered by himself. The
La Follette amendment authorizes
the interstate commerce commission
to ascertain the value of the railroad
property of ' the United States in
order to afford them a basis from
which to determine what would con
stitute reasonable compensation for
the transportation of freight and pas
sengers. The Wisconsin senator 1 as
serted that the railroads of the coun
try are capitalized at a sum in the
aggregate exceeding $13,000,000,000
while the actual investment does not
much exceed $5,000,000,000. He takes
the ground that $7,000,000,000 and
over of water injected into railroad
securities are a fraud and a swindle,
and that the American people are
under no obligations to recognize
them, and that the railroads collect
more than $400,000,000 each year in
over-charges for the purpose of pay
ing interest and dividends upon ficti
tious' capital.
Senator La Follette's amendment
goes to the very core of the railroad
question and the speech of the senator
in defense of the people's side in the
great contest to preserve their lives
and property from being devoured by
corporate greed places him in the
front rank of American statesmen.
Senator La Follette's address
throughout was broad and compre
hensive displaying the greatest fa
miliarity 'with every detail of the
subject. He combatted each and every
objection urged against rate regula
tion with argument that was logical,
incisive and conclusive. But, the
distinguishing feature of his great ad
dress was his discussion of what con
stitutes a just and reasonable rate.
While Senator Tillman and others
have alluded to the evils of over
capitalization no member of either
house of congress ever before pre
sented the case of the people against
the railroads in so complete and com
prehensive a way or with such frank
ness and power as it was presented
by the Wisconsin senator.
Senator La Follette's speech states
the case of the American people
against the railroads as It now exists.
It is unfortunate that the attention
of the American people was taken
up by the San Francisco horror
at the time of its delivery so
as to prevent its being more
fully reported to the country and re
ceiving a larger measure of attention
from the press. . Under the circum
stances the only means left to give
this great speech, the publicity that
it deserves is for individuals who are
interested, to send to the senator for
a copy of the speech enclosing a sum
sufficient to at least cover the cost
thereof.
We hope that every patriotic citi
zen will send at least 25 cents to
the Wisconsin senator for a few
copies of the ablest defense of the
people of America against corporate
aggression that has yet been made
by anyone, inside or outside of con
gress. '
THE CANDIDACY OF MR. BERGE
Two years ago George W. Berge
was the candidate pf the fusion forces
for governor of the state of Nebraska.
In the campaign of that year Mr.
Berge proved himself to be a candi
date of rare qualities, a man with
whom the people had only to come in
contact, to imbibe from him the ardor
and inspiration he threw into the fight
for the overthrow of railroad govern
ment in the state. All who attended
his meetings were persuaded that
every utterance that fell from his lips
was true and that he was sincere and
could be depended upon, if elected,
to defend the interests of the tax
payers of the. state , -
During thirty years of practical ex
perience in political . campaigns the
writer has never before observed such
general apathy on the part of the
voters as existed in the state of Ne
braska in 1904. The people had theiri
minds made up. All who were not
positively for Roosevelt were either
indifferent or disheartened. The con
ditions in Nebraska were nv, excep
tions to the general rule throughout
the country. The press reports
showed that W. J. Bryan was the
only speaker that could draw . large
audiences in any state of the union
that year.
The peculiar conditions that existed
in 1904, are here, recalled for the pur
pose of showing that Mr. Berge in
spired enthusiasm and revived the
drooping hopes of the voters in a
manner and to a degree that was most
remarkable.
The secret of Mr. Berge's power
lies in two things, the first of which
is, being right, and the next in being
terribly in earnest. The indignation
that burns in every fiber of his be
ing against the insufferable conditons
of railroad . extortion and corruption
in our state becomes contagious
among his hearers when he makes a
public address, so much o, that he
is regarded by all who have heard
him as the embodiment of the people's
cause against corporation government
and railroad extortion in the state.
Letters have been pouring in to
The Independent office in large num
bers daily for more than two months,
coming from every section of the
state, in which the writers express
their preference for Mr. Berge as the
candidate for governor this fall, and
giving estimates of his superior
strength over any other candidate
that can be named for the office. v
Having noticed Mr. Berge's name
mentioned in connection with another
state office, that of Attorney General,
by two or three democratic newspa
pers recently, and having intimate
knowledge of Mr. Berge's views on the
subject of his future candidacy, the
writer sought to obtain a statement
of Mr. Berge himself, to prevent the
public from being misled upon the
subject, which would necessarily fol
low if the suggestions of the papers
referred to were passed over unheed
ed. But finding that Mr. Berge and
his family are absent from the city
for a brief sojourn at Excelsior
Springs, Missouri, thus making it im
possible to receive a communication
from him in time for publication this
week, we have decided, in order that
the public may not be further misled
on the subject of his candidacy to
state what we know to be the facts.
We violate no confidence and betray
no secret in saying that we know it
to be Mr. Berge's determination to
enter the race for the m gubernatorial
nomination this year, and that under
no circumstances will he accept a
nomination for any ; other position.
Mr. Berge will return home early next
week, when, under the circumstances
the public may expect from him a full
statement of his position.
Mr. Berge feels a just pride in the
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ularly for $1.00 will be sent with either
of the above combinations, postpaid
for the additional sum of 60 cents."
THE INDEPENDENT,
.JlMBsu. .. Lincoln, Neb.