The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-25
No Populists in the Next Legislature.

One of the most satisfactory results Of the
recent election in New York was the over
throw at the polls Of those candidates for
State and legislative Office who, Popocrats
or Populists, were committed to the sup
port of paternalism in government. This
Is fortunate, because the next Legislature
will have to do with the acceptance or
amendment Of the Greater New York char
ter, under the conditions established BY the
last Legislature; and many important mat
tiers connected with this charter will come
up before the next Legislature and before
the Governor to be inaugurated in January.
The Populist party, with it's foreign
language branch, the Socialist party, is
the natural home and asylum of those
citizens who are in favor OF ~paternalism to
an extent inconsistent with the laws of the
land, and the vested rights of private in
dividuals. They are for turning over u
all business to the Government, such
as the running of railroads, the main
tenance Of gas companies, the manage
ment of the telegraph business, the running
of the street railroads, the direction of the
ferries, and what the Commissioner in
charge of it describe as "the compre-
hensive development of rapid transit for
New York" In their national convention
at st. Louis in June last, the Populists de-
manded in their platform that &" the Govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people and on a nom
partisan basis" The Socialist party in
their original platform adopted in Chicago
declared that " the United States shall obtain
possession ofthe railroads, canals, telegraph,
telephone, and all other means of public
transportation and communication; the mu-
inequalities to obtain possession of the local
railroads, ferries, water works, gas works,
electric plants, and all industries requiring
municipal franchises"
The Farmers Alliance Populists had as
one Of their original principles the propo-
sition that the Government should go into
the pawnbroking business, l~oaning on
the pledge of cereals and provisions pub
lie money to be used upon the farm,
and at a lower rate of interest than
the same money could be borrowed
from private individuals on the same col
lateral security. The single takers are
for Government ownership of land; and
the = advance Socialists" as they are some
times called, are in favor of Government
control of all business under what they
sometimes describe as the scheme of Sin
dustrial cooperation" whereby the Govern
ment will conduct the manufacturing bust
ness of the country, run the newspapers,
the hotels, the liquor saloons, the
cigar stores, and the dry goods stores,
as we'll as manage the railroads,
supply the Populists with gas, and
regulate matters generally for the public
benefit; and all this in denial of that under
lying principle Of American institutions
which requires the largest freedom of oppor-
tunity for the individual and the smallest
measure OF Government interference.
In the recent election the candidates rep
resenting these ideas OF p%aternalism were
generally defeated. Whatever they may
have been before, Democrats, Repub-
licans, Populists, Socialists. Single-Tax-
ers, Farmers Alliance men, Prohibit
t%ionists, or promiscuous Reformers,
they, one and all. supported BRYAN and
Bryan candidates for legislative offices.
No Presidential nominee in many years has
attracted 10 his support 50 many radical