Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-05-14
WHO SHALL OWN IT9
PLEA FOR RAILROAD PLANK
OF THE OMAHA PLATFORM,
1--WE Believe That the Time Has Como
When the Railroad Corporations Will
Either Own the People Or the People
Must Own the Railroads."

Either Own the People Or the People
Must Own the Railroads."
No backward step is advisable or ex-
cusable unles you have previously
taken a position that is wrong, in which
case it is right to retrace your steps
until you occupy right position. The
peoples party is a party of principle.
1t has been It's proud boast that 1t was
the one party that had the honesty ana
courage to give the people the only
clear cut declaration of party principles
that has been given since the war. In
the Omaha platform were no straddles,
ambiguous language or meaningless
phrases. 1t was so plain that "he who
ran could read"
In it's preamble 1t announced that
1.-THE time had come when the railroad
corporations will either own the people
or the people must own the railroads"
In its platform it declared that
Transportation being a means OF eX-
change and a public necessity, the
government should own and operate
the railroads in the interest of the peo-
ple." And that, 1.-The telegraph and tel
4 ephone, like the postofice system, be-
ing a necessity for the transmission Of
news, should be owned and operated
by the government in the interest Of
the people"
When the peoples party made that
declaration at Omaha it was either
right or it was wrong. If it was wrong
1T should recant and assume right po-
sition. If it was right then, it is right
now, and it would be inconsistent, and
committing ourselves to the charge Of
cowardice to recede from it.
The main principle involved in this
issue is transportation at cost, just the
same as the principle of having money
at cost. The position that the populists
take is that government should have
charge of both, and that the people
should have the use Of both at cost To
this end the peoples interests would be
served instead of private individuals
or corporations having the privilege to
tax the people for the use of both, TO
the end that they might be able to build
up large fortunes, and corrupt our
courts and legislatures 1t is no new
question. Fifty-fve governments in
the world own portion or all OF their
roads. And it is question of no little
Importance. 1t is an issue which we
cannot afford to ignore. Our demo-
cratic and republican friends want gov
eminent and state Control" instead OF
ownership. We have tried that in
every state in the union and in the
United States. 1t has proven to he a
failure. Four years ago we declared
that "the time had come when the rail
road corporations would own the people
or the people must own the railroads
Has anything occurred that would
justify us in changing that declaration
Il Since then we have had one of the
y greatest railroad strikes on record.
Since then the government has been
run on the injunction plan, backed by
the United States troops, in the inter-
est of the railroads.
Since then Eugene " Debs and his
associates, Americans, have been
thrown into prison, without trial, with
out violating any statute laws, and
without precedent less barbarous than
the Spanish inquisition.
Since then railroads have been
wrecked, creditors Including the wild
ows and orphans) have been swindled
debts repudiated in reorganization, and
millions of dollars lost by honest in
vestors.
Since then the great Santa Fe has
gone into the hands of government
receiver, and finally, property said tc
be worth $35O,OOO,0OO, sold under the
hammer for $6O,OOO,OOO, and the credi.
tors left to hold the bag, while the
wreckers bought the road.
All these things have been controlled
for years.
Controlled by statute laws in every
state in the union.
Controlled by the Interstate Com
merce law in the United States
Controlled in many states by rail
road commission.
But the fact stands out boldly yet, In
spite of every effort on the part of the
people to hedge in these corporations
with laws, that the railroad companies
rule the roost in every state; and the
words of the preamble adopted al
Omaha ring out with more force thar
ever, that
THE TINE HAS COME WHEN
THE RAILROAD CORPORATIONS
WILL EITHER OWN THE PEOPLE
OR THE PEOPLE MUST OWN THE
RAILROADS" w. S. MORGAN.