The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-07-07
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.

The sentiment In favor OF the gevorn-
ment ownership Of public utilities
to be gaining strength and the
following appeal Of the Antitrust
was presented TO the platform
committee at the Kansas City conven-
ton this week:
The executive committee Of the
American Anti Trust league is labor
ing for the insertion Of II plank in the
platform favoring the government
ownership Of railroads. 10 the further
ance OF It's plans the committee sub
mitted TO the platform committee OF
the convention the following address
Wednesday night:
To the Chairman Of the Committee
on Platform of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention.
We, the undersigned, representa-
tives Of the American Anti Trust
league, respectfully ask the favorable
consideration Of the accompanying
resolution, and that the same be adopt
ed and included in the platform Of
the democratic party to be presented
today by your committee to the convsn-
ton, now In session.
The said Antitrust league Is largely
the outgrowth Of the antitrust confer
ence held In Chicago Febuaury -, IS
and Il, 1900. A body composed OF
delegates from forty states Of the
union, which conference unanimously
adopted an address which embodied
the following resolution;
"The privileges created by railway
franchises are complex in their ramidea-
tons, and when concentrated In pri-
yate hands are intellectually potent.
So concentrated they have enabled
favored few to monopollze most Of the
resources Of this richly endowed land,
and by creating = distinct privileged
class have served to disturb the equali-
ty Of American citizenship. Through
determinations in rates and terminal
facilities they have furnished the basis
Of nearly every great commercial
trust with which the people today are
cursed. The coal trust Is Vitalized by rail-
way privileges; the oil hust could not
have acquired its power without them ;
the beef trust and the grain elevator
trust depend upon them they make
the steel trust flourisl ; aid from ex-
press combinations down to newspaper
agencies from hack rights at depots
to freight determinations, a host Of
minor trusts suck in all the vitality
they have as monopolies from railway
privileges. Those privileges must be
abolished. But they cannot be abolished
by restrictive laws. No less important
an official than Chairman Knapp OF
the interstate commerce commission,
testlfying before the industrial commls-
SION, has sworn that Notwithstanding
restrictive and penal causes Of the
interstate commerce law, railway dis
~cnnination Is universal. In the nature
Of things its must be so. Railroad
monopoly can no more be regulated by
restrictive law than railway engines
eau be held In check with cotton twine.
The only possible method Of a~bolishing
railway privileges is the abolition Of
private ownership Of railways.
The said conference also adopted q
formal platform containing this plank
on railways:
"That congress take immediate
steps, BY exercise Of the power Of
eminent domain OF otherwise, "a may be
deemed the more expedlent (but in any
event by paying the Just value, IRE
spec;ive Of Wstsred stock aud Other
fictitious values, Of any property taken
or oondemned), TO take, " and
operate, under Q merit system Of civil
service, the interstate rail highway
now owned and operated by private
persons or railroad corporations.
4 We append hereto a complete copJ
Of the said address and platform.
Believing thst the ownership ant
operation Of railways by priVat'
corporations has been demonstrated Il
be Inimlcal TO the best Interests Of th,
: people and one Of the chief fAstors II
upbuildlug Of the gigantic trust system
which has been 30 destructive Of thu
equal rights Of the people and Is im
gSrling the republic.
Resolved, That we favor the owner
/ ship and operation by tbs federal gov,
eminent Of the interstate railways o.
/ the United States.
: We, the undersigned, deem th'
Srgumsnt made and bhe conclusion
reached upon ibis natter by the greA
minds which men in said conference
so complete and sound as to max
farther argument Ia support thsrsO
a. - 80 1885,.