The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-08-12
DEMOCRACY MUST MovE FOR
WARD


In 1900 maze me the nominal leader o.
that party, and as such did not fee
ct liberty to engTaft new doctrines
upon the party creed contented
myself with the defense Of those prin-
ciples and policies which were en-
bodied in the platform Now, that the
leadership deFOlyes upon another and
bear only the responsibility thai
each citizen must bear, namely. re
sponsibility for my opinions, my ut
terances and my conduct. am free %
undertake a work which until now
have avoided, namely. the work Of
organizing the radical and progress
sive element in the democratic party.
The money question is for the pres
ent in allegiance. The increased pro-
ductiOn Of gold has lessened the strain
upon the dollar and while bimetallism
Is as sound in theory as il ever was,
the necessity for II is not so apparent
I believe that the time viii come when
the people will again turn to bimetal-
ism and reject the gold standard, but
this period will not come while times
are good and while the advocates Of
the gold standard can point TO Tea-
sOnably sufficient supply Of money
OF course, II is absurd for those Who
said that we had money enough in
1886 to point with pride 10 large in
crease since 1896, but inconsistent as
II Is. they do so, and as the present
enlarged volume Of money brings. IN
part at least the advantages hoped for
from bimetalIism. 1t is useless to press
the subject OF bimetallism for the
present While the advocates OF the
gold standard intend crusade against
1T -
not openly proclaim IL. and We must
walt until they attempt to carry out
their purpose before the people can be
awakened to a realization OF that pur-
pose. The advocates Of the gold stand
ard intend TO withdraw the greenback
from circulation and to substitute
bank notes, but as they do not pro-
claim their purpose we must await
an object lesson before the people viii
understand it The advocates OF the
gold standard intend to substitute an
asset currency for the present national
bank currency, but they do not pro-
claim their purpose and until they
attempt il the people cannot be made
to understand it The advocates OF
the gold standard intend to establish
a branch bank system such as Jack
son overthrow, but as they do not an
nounce their purpose the people do
not see It and will not see it until
some open and overt attempt is made
Time will open the eyes of the peo-
pie and events will reveal the purposes
Of the financial group that has its
home in Wall street and makes fOrays
against the country as often and as
rapidly as care for their own safety
will permit.
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 GER
tain other questions with which the
democratic party must deal I have
heretofore refused to take a position
upon the question Of the government
ownership Of railroads. first. because
I had not until recently studied the
subject. and second, because the Ques-
ton 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 taken place IN
til few men now control
the railroad traffic Of the cOun-
try and defy both the legislative
and the executive power Of the nation
I invite the democrats. therefore. to
consider a plan for the government
ownership and operation Of the rail-
roads.
The plan usually suggested Is for
the purchase Of these roads by the fed
eraI government This plan. it seems
to me. is more Objectionable than a
Llan 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 Centraliza-
ton Of power It would give to the
federal government a largely increased
inufence over the citizen and the citi-
zen's affairs. and such Capitalization
is not at all necessary The several
states can own and operate the rail-
roads within their borders Just as eff
fectiveIy as il can be done by the fed
eraI government and If it is done by
the states the objection based upon
the fear OF Capitalization is entirely
answered. A board composed Of rep
Tesentatives from the various states
could deal with interstate traffic just
as freight and passenger boards now
deal with the joint traffic Of the vari-
Gus lines. If the federal government
be a constant warning between diner
ent sections to secure a fair share Of
the new building and development.
but where this is left to the state the
people in each state can decide what
railroads they desire TO EVild OF TO
buy. The maintenance C. the track.
the care Of the stati~-=. the handling
OF incoming and outgoing freight and
passenger these things require
the employment Of men. and If the
employment is left TO state authorities
instead of to national authorities. most
OF the objections that have been raised
to government ownership will be an
sWered.
The arguments in favor Of the as
sumption Of the ownership and opera
ton OF railroads by the government
are numerous:
-First-ExtortiOnate rates would be
prevented. So far it has been i'm
possible to secure any real regulation
Of railroad rates. The railroads regu-
late the government instead Of the
government the railroads. When the
government owns the railroads and
operates them. there can be no ques-
ton about the fixing Of reasonable
tolls.
d-DiscriminatiOn would be
prevented. At present the railroad au-
thorities can XIII one town and build
up another. destroy one locality and
enrich another And these discrimina-
tions are not always made out Of con-