The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-22
coLER AND GOVERNMENT OWNER.


make it appear that Bird S. Coler. the demo
cratic nominee for governor Of New York.
has repudated the democratic plank con-
corning government ownership Of coal
mines. Here Is what Mr.. Coler said:
In respect TO the suggestion in the democratic |
platforin that Federal ownership OF the anthra- /
etc coal mines may be found necessary in the /
public interest | must be entirely frank NY |
view Of all such questions IS that before tuc |
government Is called upon 20 assume the re- |
spousibiijtes OF ownership the power Of feGula- |
don should first OF all be honestly ard thor |
oughiy tested. Furthermore believe mat atale
regulation and coutto of corporations OF us own
creation should. whenever possible, be preferred |
TO the concentration OF such power in the hands |
OF the Federal government.
There has been no such test thus lar III the
matter OF the anthracite coal mines, The laws
on the statute books have not been enforced inc
power OF congress 10 protect the people agaiuSI'
monopoly has not by any means been exhausted
and on the other hand the taxing powers OF
the National government have been grossly
abused through the republican protective tar'h
~ one Ineo' Of the 6fst remedies at hand in my
Judgment, is a revision OF the tarii when ~onia
put coal OF all kinds on the Tree list II TINS
were done, would no longer be at the COM
plete mercy OF the anthracite monopoly Com-
petition the safeguard OF the people against inc
/ cNtortions Of monopoly, would be insuTsa,
onlv vigorous enforcement OF the laws at present
( on the statute books, hut the employment OF
/ every other power latenI ~ poth thc Na'lyual
I and State legislatures. II however, when these
I stems are taken, it should appear that the evll
| st survives, there should be no hesitation ~
adopting government Ownershps as a means OF
| preventing a recurrence OF the present deplor-
| able situation IN Pennsylvania. The proposition
practically advanced by some critics OF the coal
plank in the democratic platform that the people
OF the country are helpless 10 prevent the vide.
spread suffering attendant upon deprivation Of
their winter fuel is abhorrent to common sense
and repugnant to the fundamental theory That
re re government '''''' ''' '"' ''0'"' o ' '''
When pressed. after the notification cere-
mony. for an explanation Of his qualifca-
ton Of the coal plank, Mr. Coler said:
Under no circumstances can my remark be
construed as a Reputation Of the platform plank
/ merely reiterated what have always held to
{ be a needed economic policy--the state control
, of corporations and public ownership OF public
, utilities When all other measures fail then ]
, believe the National government should step in
That is precisely what said m my speech as
! will appear when it is considered as whole.
4 That is precisely the opinion of The Post
( and we imagine, 1t is just what was In The
Z mind OF those who framed the platform
e But platform expressions are necessaril!
d brief, they can not be argumentative or Elk
planatory Mr.. Coler does not think that al
. the processes of restraint and control hav,
q been exhausted He looks to tariff reform
n added strict enforcement of present statutes
t' together with the employment OF ever
At other power latent in the State and Natona
governments. II all these fail, he would no
As hesitate to adopt government ownership a
az a dernier resort
III AS The Post has heretofore remarked
'e those who denounce the government owne
" ship proposition should suggest somethln
ut better. and they may be assured that tn
We democratic party will be only too glad
lo adopt II.
Sc The point is simply ths-and there Is I
getting away from tiff all other remedi,
fall, as they have failed so far we mu
come to government ownership. It is a
. surd to say that a sovereign people are POI
es erless to control an article of prime niece
.ry sity like coal, and are helpless against Il
nd arrogance and obstinacy OF a half dozC
as operators or the impossible demands Of
eA borers--if It should come to that, The op,
dy ators themselves represented to the pre-
MS dent that the State OF Pennsylvania cou
lui. not furnish sufficient protection, and III
ron called upon him to use Federal troops
iho enable them TO mine coal Their represent
Top ton proved to be untrue. for they could \
ent mine coal with 10000 troops, but the prin
,rk- pie Of government coercion was invoke
EN- Those who favor the interference OF t
OF National government with labor in ORD
ore that coal may be mined are estopped fr'
the Directing to government interference W
and capital to the same end, The truth Is Il
and whole lot of people want the governmC
to protect capital and TO "enjoln' labor
I'm they have spasm when it Is proposed
not the government to protect the people "
der have no direct interest in capital or lab
lch- II owners of coal properties want to 7
ing, vent government ownership they will
lon- wise to mend their ways, for they have d.
otes more than all others combined to create I
Dad new demand. And owners of other gr
the properties and capitalists generally n
rom take the lesson TO heart
ions