The evening times., 1900-07-10

Il is the understanding at the head
quarters Of the Democratic Congressional
Committee that the Populists. in their cam
palgn in the States in which they are in
fuenrlal. will keep the question OF the
public ownership of public utilities con-
spicUously before their voters. Populists in
Washington maintain that their contention
that the powers OF Government should be
extended in the direction indicated, is
making converts 10 their party. In the
matter Of the development OF that conten-
tion in applied politics it is held by Popu-
lists that this idea was tnat which insplr-
ed the second resolution N the platform
adopted by the Convention OF Young Ma
tional Republicans which wes held at
Washington May II. 1892. and which fol-
lows: Resolved that a uniform system of
tnternsl improvements sustained and sup
ported by the General Government is cal
culated TO secure in the highest degree,
the harmony. the strength. and the per-
manency OF the Republic"
There was no cleS platform reference to
the Government control Of public utilities
until the Labor Reform Convention met at
Columbus. Ohio. February 2l and %. 1872.
and nominated David Davis. OF Illinois. for
President. and Joel Parker. OF New Jersey.
for Vice President. The nominees declined
and O'Connor and Adams, straghtout Dem
Ocrsts, were endorsed.
TIE tenth paragraph of the declaration
Of principles adopted at that Convention
was that IL is the duty OF the Govern
ment TO exercise It's power over railroads
and telegraph corporations. that they shall
not in any case be privileged 20 exact such
rates Of freight. transportation or Charg-
es. by whatever name. as may bear In
duly or unequaliy upon the producer or
consumer
The Prohibition Convention, which nomi-
mated James Black, of Pennsylvania. and
the Rev John Russell, of Michigan, was
In session at Columbus at the same time
and the platform adopted contains this:
THAT the rates OF inland and ocean
postage. and railroads. telegraph lines.
and water transportation, should be made
as low as possible by law"
The Greenbsck platform upon which
James B. Weaver, of Iowa, and B. J.
Chambers. OF Texas, stood IN 1880. con-
tanned the following: The Eight-hour law
of Congress should be enforced. the sanl-
tsry condition OF industriSi establishments
placed under rigid control, the compeu-
tion OF contract convict labor abolished. d
bureau OF labor statistics established.
factories. mines, and workshops inspected.
the employment Of children under fourteen
years Of age prohibited. and wages paid
In cash. It Is the duty of Congress 20
regulate interstate commerce. All lines
of communication and transportation
should be brought under such legislative
control as shall secure moderate. fair.
and uniform rates for passenger and
freight traffic"
The Democratic platform upon which
Cleveland and Hendricks were nominated
contained the following: Resolved, That
all corporate bodies, created either in the
States or nation for the purpose OF per-
forming public duties, ere public servants,
End to be regulated in all their actions by
1he same power that created them at its
will and that IL is within the power. and
Il is the duty. OF the creator TO so gov
ern its creature that by its acts Il shall
become neither a burden nor a monopoly
upon the people but be their servant and
convenience. which Is the true test Of its
usefulness. Therefore, we call upon Con-
gress to exercise its great constitutional
power for regulating Interstate commerce,
10 provide that by no eontrivance what
ever. under forms OF law or otherwise.
shall discriminating rates and charges for
the transportation of freight or travel be
made in favor of the few against the many
or enhance the rates Of transportation be-
tween the producer and the consumer
The platform upon which Blaine and LO-
gan were nominated reciIed: The princi-
pie Of public regulation Of railway corpora
lions is a wise and salutary one for the
protection Of all classes Of the people; and
we favor legislation that shall prevent un-
just discrimination and excessive charges
for transportation, and that shall secure
10 the people and the railways alike the
fair and equal protection Of the laws"
The Greenback platform OF 1884 on which
Benjamin F. Butler and A NJ West went
before the people demanded Congressional
regulation or interstate commerce. and
continued: We denounce pooling. stock
watering. and discrimination in rates and
charges and demand that Congress shall
correct these abuses. even if necessary by
the construction of a national railroad We
also demand the establishment OF a Gov
ernment postal telegraph system
The platform adopted at the Union Labor
Convention at Cincinnati. May 16. 1888.
and that kpon which Andrew ]. Streator, OF
Illinois. and Charles E. Cunningham, OF
Arkansas. were nominated, contained the
following declaration touching transports-
tion facilities: The means OF communica-
ton and transportation shall be owned by
the people, as is the United States postal
service"
The United Labor Convention which net
In Cincinnati on the same day as did the
Union Labor Convention. and which nomi-
mated Robert II. Cowdrey. OF Illinois, and
w n. T. Wakefield OF Kansas. adopted a
platform from which the following is
Guoted: I'VE wish to abolish the present
Unjust and wasteful system Of ownership of
railroads and telegraph by private corpo-
ratious. u system which. while failing to
adequately supply public needs. improyer-
fshes the farmer. oppresseS tho manufac-
furer hampers the merchant. impedes trav-
el and communication. and builds up enor-
nous fortunes and corrupting monopolies.
that are becoming more powerful than the
Government itself. For this system we
would substitute Government ownership
and control for the benefit OF the whole
people instead OF private profit
The Prohibition platform, on which Bid
well and Cranill stood in 1892. recited in
The hfth paragraph: Railroad, telegraph.
and other public corporations should be
controlled b. the Government in the inter
ests OF the people and no higher charges
allowed than necessary to give fair interest
on the capital actually invested"