The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-22
Mt Byans Plan for RefOfma-
 tOn of Democracy
WANTS PARKER ELECTED
Advocates Government Control of TeIe. graphs, Abolishment of Private Monopoly an- Favors an
 Income Tax.

Lincoln, Neb July 2l.-w. J. Bryan's plan for the reformation of the democracy was given publicity today. In it MT. Bryan favors radical changes, but 1t ad- vocates the election of Judge Parker for president as a good beginning. He de- elares for state ownership of railroads. government control of telegraphs. abolish ment of the private monopoly, favors tho income tax, and election of federal judges by the people.
 | MT. Bryan spoke in part as follows.
 My selection as standard bearer of tho democratic party in 1896 and again in 1900 made me the nominal leader of that party, and as such I did not feel at liberty to engraft new doctrines upon the party creed. I contented myself with the de- fense of those principles and policies which were embodied in the platform.
 Now, that the leadership devolves up- on another, bear only the responsibility that each citizen must bear, namely, the responsibility for my own opinions. my ut terances, and my conduct 1 am free to undertake work which until now have avoided, namely the work of organizing the radical and progressive element in tho democratic party.
 "The money question Is for the present In abeyance. The production of gold has 1essened the strain upon the dollar, and while bimetallism Is as sound in theory as 1t ever was. the necessity for 1t is not so apparent.
 Government Ownership of Railroads.
 But while the people cannot be brought at this time to consider the various phases of the money question they can be brought to consider certain other ques- tlons with which the democratic party must deal I have, heretofore, refused to take position upon the question of government ownership of railroads. First. l because I had not until recently studied 1 the subject and because the question had not been reached. Recent events have convinced me that the time Is now ripe for the presentation of this question. Consolidation after consolidation has talk en place until few men now control the railroad traffic of the country and defy both the legislative and executive power of the nation 1 invite the democrats. therefore, to consider a plan for the gov ernment ownership and operation of tho railroads.
 "The plan usually suggested Is for tho purchase of these roads by the federal government This plan, 1t seems to me, Is more objectionable than plan which involves the ownership and operation of these roads by the several states To put the railroads in the hands of the federal government would mean an enormous standardization of power. It would give to the federal government q largely increas- ed influence over the citizen and the cit- izen's affairs, and such centralzation is not at all necessary.
 ] "The several states can own and oper- ate the railroads within their borders just as effectively as it can be done by tho federal government. and if 1t is done by the state the objection based upon fear of centrslization Is entirely answered. A board composed of representatives from the various states could deal with the joint traffic of the various lines. If the federal government had the railroads to build there would be a constant warning between different sections to secure a fair share of fhe new building and develop ment but where this is left to the state, the people in each state can decide what railroads they desire to build or buy.
 While the democratic party in the na- ton is advocating the government owner- ship of railroads, the democrflc party in the cities should. upon the sauie theory. espouse the cause of municipal ownershfpas of municipal franchises.
 Should Contro. Telegraph Lines.
 We have also reached q time when ths postofhce department should embrace a telegraph system as well as a mail sys- tenn. The telegraph lines do not reach as many people as the railroads do and while the abuses incident to private own ership have not been open and mo- torious, yet there is no reason why this nation should not do what other nations are doing in this respect.
 ''rhe private monopoly must be destroy ed The democratic platform adopted at Kansas City and declared the private monopoly to be indefensibe and intolera- ble.
 "The democratic party has in two cam paigns stool for an income tax. Ina plank was omitted this year because the men in eontros of the party thought is would teopardize success in the eastern states This objection may have weight when the appeal is made to a particular section and 10 the wealthy men of that section. but 1t cannat have weight when the party goes forth as il must ultimately do to appeal to the masses
 "'The contest above outlined must ba made whether the party wins In Novem- Der or not A singlt election is but an incident In the life of party. For more than a century the democratic party has stood forth as the representative of cer- tain great ideas. Jefferson founded 1t. Jackson defended it and even Cleveland cannot destroy 1t. If Mir. Parker is elect- ed his administration will rid us of im- perialism and of the threat of a race issue. and give us greater freedom in the taking up of economic questions"
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 FaIconio Sails for New York.