Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-28
AN IOWA SOCIALISTS IDEA.

T.
4 Chicago Chronicle We have now a
new Iowa idea. The idea itself is not
new II is new only in its relations.
1t is new as q hafmonizer Of the demo
cratic party
! II was launched In that capacity at
Ia Jeffersonian banquet ia Des
4AIoines on Thursday night William j.
Bryan and other thermometers were
present MI Bryan was the guest of
honor, but he was not the principal
speaker He thought il prudent to
delegate the task Of launching the
harmony idea 10 Judge A. Van Wage
men
4 While Mir. Bryan did not indorse the
idea in 50 many words, he did indorse
it by the plainest Implication. After
listening TO judge Van Wagenen' s
speech he uttered no word of dissent,
but discoursed impressiYely about ad.
hprence to the latest national party
declaration OF PRINCIPLES and waved
eloquent in denunciation Of those who
decline 70 accept Organism as true.
democracy and who regard halfgprice
silver dallartsIn as a lost cause
From Mr Bryanis utterances and
other utteraneea we are forced TO IN
fer that Judge Van SYagenen was es-
peciailY commissioned by the Bryan
crowd 70 advance the standard of Bry-
IN democracy, and this was the way
he did
K He devoted an extended speech 10
the advocacy Of government ownership
and operation of railroads, He propos
ed that the democratic party espouse
the cause OF government railroading
and make it the leading issue in the
presidential and congressional contests
next year.
lie introduced some statistics pur--
porting To show the progress of gov
ernmenr ownership in other countries
which remind one Of the somewhat
profane remark that there are lies,
and lies. and Statistics
He then proceeded To assert that the
American people We're not only ripe, but
hot for government rallroading as a
party issue The people VIII endorse
no halfway measure, said The judge.
They viii listen TO no proposition in
sYolVing a constitutional amendment or
other inpossibilitg said he. They
want no government ownership of
ir0adbea and operation by private com
panies
Nothing short OF government owner
ship and operation viii serve. And
this huge scheme OF government in
business with immense power and pat
fonage is graVelE put forward as some-
thing that the people are clamoring
for and that the democratic party
must premise II III wishes To win. The
Judge would have us believe that il
the democratic nafty make this the is.
sue it wonld have a wallIover
ii Qf course this absorption oil the rail-
roads is regarded by los advocates as
only a first stepin the grand soeialistic
program. There is no better reason
iiwhY the government should own and
.loperate the railroads than there is why
lit should own and operate the coal and
iron ana copper OF the oil wells, or
the clay banks from which we get ma
terial for brick and crocllery.
I. For substantially the same reasons
that it should run the railroads ii
shouId run not only all vessels carrying
freight and passengers, bat all sorts of
vehicles in the public highways.
Their Is about as much 10 be said al.
$50 for government ownership and OPP
GRAFTON of iron and steel works, cot
ton and wooden factories and all estab.
! 1ishments producing articles of neces.
Esity and comfort In short, there is
mo logical end to this government as
sumption Of control OF transportation,
mines, factories and shops short OF the
absolute annihilation OF the industrial
-lliberty of the Individual and the estab.
llishmenr Of an industrial despotism
las eOfnDaTed with which phaffpl slaV.
lery rs ~ once existed in our southern
states would be delighted The Chron-
Iicle declines to believe that the Amer
liean people are longing 70 follow Mr.
Bryan or any other party leader into
1.-THE mirage land Of socialism. II is dis
.lposed to think that they will accept
tthis Iowa deliyeranee as a pretty plain
! tdiselosare OF the hoof Of which only
1.-THE more lleen-sighted caught 8
! Eglimpse in 1896 and 1890