The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-07-29
FOR REFORMATION
OF DEMOCRACY
Bryan Gives Out Plans in Which
HE Favors Radical
Changes.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
States Should Own Railroads and Gov
eminent Control the Telegraph
Says the Money Question Is
Dead Thing.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP

Lincoln, Ncb.. July 23.--W. j. Bryan's
plan for the reformation of democracy
WAS given publicity today. In it Mr.
Bryan favors radical changes and q
departure from conservative lines, but
advocates the election of Judge Parker
Tor president as Il good beginning. He
declares for state ownership of rail-
roads, government control of teie
graphs, adjustment of the private
monopoly. favors the income tax and
election of federal judges by the peo-
pile.
Mr.. Bryan says in part:
My selection as standard bearer of
ahe democratic party in 1896 and again
IN 1900 made me the nominal leader Of
that party, and as such | did not feel
at liberty to engraft new doctrines
upon the party creed. ] contented my
self with the defense of those princi-
pies and policies which We're embodied
in the platform. Now that the leader
snip devolves upon another and | bear
only the responsibility that each citi-
zen must bear. namely, responsibility
TOR my opinions, my utterances and
my conduct. | am fee to undertake a
work which until now ] have avoided,
namely, the work of organizing the rad
ical and progressive element in the
democratic party.
Bmetalism Not Needed
The money question is for the pres
ent in allegiance. The increased produc-
ton of gold has essened the strain
upon the dollar and While bimetaliSm
is as sound as it ever was. the necessity
Cor it is not so apparent.
But while the people cannot be
brought mt this time to consider the
various phases of the money question.
they can be brought to consider certain
other questions with which the demo-
cratic party must deal. l heretofore
refused to take II position upon tn"
question of the government ownership
of railroads, first. because ! had not
until recently studied the subject. and
second, because the question has not
been reached. Recent events have con
WINGED me that the time is now ripe
Consolidation after consolidation has
taken place until a few men now coll-
troll the railroad traffic of the country
and defy both the legislative and "X-
ecutive power of the nation. l invite
the democrats, therefore, to consider q
plan for the government ownership and
operation of the railroads.
The plan usually suggested is for
the purchase of these roads by the fed
cral government. This rlan. it seems
to me, is more Objectionable than Il
Il plan which involves the ownership
and operation of these roads by the
several states TO nut the railroads in
the hands of the federal government
would mean an enormous centralizo-
ton of power. 1t would give to the
federal government a largely increased
Influence over the citizen and the citi-
gems affairs, and such Il Capitalization
is not at all necessary. The several
states can own and operate the rail-
,oads within their borders Just as eff
fectiNely as it can be done by the fed
cral government ana II 1t Is done by
fear of Capitalization is entirely am
swered. board composed OF repre-
sentatives from the various states
could deal with interstate traffic just
| as freight and passenger boards now
deal with the JOINT tra1hc or the NaEl-
| GUS lines. If the federal government
.had the railroads to bulld there Wouio
be constant warning among differ
eht sections TO secure fair share OF
the new buildih" ana development, Du'
where thlS IS lelt 10 me STATE the PEG
PIE IN each slate can decide What raii-
ROADS me! ocsire 10 oulid or 10 puy.
municipal ownership.
While the democratic party in the
nation is advocating the government
| ownership OF railroads the democratic
party IN the cities should, upon the
same theory, espouse the cause OF
| municipal ownership OF municipal
franchises
! I'VE have also reached time when
The postofticc department should EN-
brace Il telegraph system as well as q
mail system While the telegraph lines
| 10 not reach as many people as the rail
foads do, and while the abuses of pri
| Eate ownership have not been so oper
| tnd notorious. yet there is no reason