The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-31
SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT.
Many Call to Congratulate David
OvermYer on His letter

Overmyer on His Letter.
One of the most popular men in To-
peka today is David Overmyer. He
I has been holding a reception at his Of
fee. There were half dozen people
waiting TO see him when he reached his
place of business. and they have con-
tinued to come They nearly all came
to talk over his latest and most start
ling letter, written to be read at the
Bryan banquet al Lincoln. but which
failed to be presented because OF the
advanced position taken by the kan
sas statesman.
He was averse to discussing the com
ments and criticisms on his letter, but
said that the expressions contained in
the letter We're not new to him, but had
almost all been used frequently be-
fore
In discussing the condition of the
poorer classes in this country which
make reforms necessary Mr.. Over
myer said:
The trouble is that the men who
champion the cause of the poor desert
them They cannot resist the blan-
dishments of wealth and the leaders
among the poor must come from their
own ranks but I say here before hea-
ven, though / am neither poor nor rich,
[ would rather give up my life itself
than barter my interest in humanity"
Mr. Overmyer rose from his chair and
brought his big, round hand down on
the desk with thunderOuS force.
Then he showed how his record had
not been inconsistent with the Lincoln
letter
When I was In the legislature.' said
he. Il defeated a bill in committee of
the whole which was twice recommend
ed by Governor Martin. providing for
the formation of corporations for all
lawful purposes That was nearly
eleven years agO. When L was a can
date for congress in 1883 refused to run
until they put in the platform a resolu-
tion in favor of limiting the area OF
corporate activity In 1892, IN an arll-
Gle published in The Democrat on the
proposition for constitutional cOnVen-
tiOn I said.
When men complain Of trusts and
combinations Why can't they see 1hat
every corporation is a combination and
that the whole theory and practice of
incorporation is to combine and con
centrate wealth and power The only
legitimate Office of q corporation IS the
performance of some service not only
public in it's nature but of such magni-
tude and permanency as to be imprac-
tica BILE of performance by private indi-
Viduals. To organize corporations Tor
carrying on ordinary commercial bust
ness Or trade, and thus crush cOmpeti-
ton should be absolutely forbidden by
the constitution And even the great
enterprises which might properly be
termed public should be permitted to
Incorporate only after finding by a pub
lie tribunal that the proposed corpora
tion would be of public utility. and the
ings of every such corporation forever.
as the price of the franchise, the state
should also have representation in the
directory of every such corporation.
The state should have revisory and su-
perVisory control of every act Of every
corporation in the interest of the peo-
Pile"
Mr.. Overn1yer said much more in the
article mentioned along the same line
which he considers quite as socialistic
as anything in the Lincoln letter
In 1894" +" he continued in accepting
the nomination for governor, 1 declared
IN favor of disincorporating commercial
enterprises. in substance the same as
my Lincoln letter.
Il have for many years been in favor
Of graduated income tax and limiting |
great wealth by taxation. The only I
thing in the Lincoln letter which has
not been said by me over and over
again, is that which favors public own |
arship of railway rights of way. This (
[ have said repeatedly before. but not /
IN the same explicit manner as stated |
ia the Lincoln article.
Il have never however. been able to |
assent to the operation of railways by /
the government, but have always be I
ieved that the title to the right of way /
ought to be in the public so as to give /
the public that full right of control /
and interference which the public can /
lot otherwise have over these corpora
tons
The Capitals Interpretation of my
article to mean public ownership of all |
private property is 50 absurd that /
suppose the Capital knew it was not /
Justified by anything in the article |
when writing the criticism.
Mr.. Overmyer said that he meant ev-
ery word in the Lincoln letter and Will /
lot take anything back. If Mr. Bry
an hopes to succeed" he must rise
o the dignity of the occasion. Now is
he time for heroic treatment. and no
palliative measure viii prevail"