Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-23
THE NEBRAskAN ANNOUNCES
HIS RADICAL VIEWS FOR
FIRST TIME.
SA VS. HE FEELSF E RE E
Though He Believed Four and Eight
Years Ago AS He Does Now He Did
Not Try to Change His Party Then
lis For a Radical Party.

Lincoln, Neb., July %. - William
Jennings Bryan has declared himself
practically free lance in politics and
in his Commoner of today he gives
his plans for the reformation of the
democratic party. These, he him
self asserts are along radical lines, and
smack of the socialistic. Mr.. Bryan
insists that the economic reforms Of
the country must come through the
democratic party and while he fears
Judge Parker is unequal to the emer-
gency in all respects still he believes
his election will be step in the right
direction as good beginning. He says
at the outset:
my selection as standard bearer Of
the democratic party in 1896 and
again in 1900 made me the nominal
leader of that party, and as such l
did not feel at liberty to engraft new
doctrines upon the party creed. con-
tented myself with the defense Of
those principles and policies which
were embodied in the platform.
Free to Begin Work.
"Now that the leadership devolves
upon another and bear only the re-
sponsibility that each citizen must
bear namely, responsibility for my
opinions, my utterances and my con-
duct = am free to undertake which
until now have avoided namely the
work of organizing the radical element
and progressive element in the demo-
cratic party"
Admitting that the money question
Is for the present in abeyance,h he takes
up what he regards as the present
greatest problem control Of the rail-
| roads-for which he advocates state
| ownership, saying in part:
Recent events have convinced me
that the time is now ripe for the pre-
sentation of this question. Consolida-
ton after consolidation has taken
place until few men now control the
railroad traffic of the country and de-
fly both the legislative and the execu-
! democrats, therefore, to consider a
plan for the government ownership
and operation of the railroads.
Favors State Ownership.
"The plan usually suggested Is for
the purchase Of these roads by the
federal government. This plan, it
seems to me, is more Objectionable
than plan which involves the owner
ship and operation Of these roads by
several states. To put the railroads
in the hands of the federal government
would mean enormous Capitalization of
power. 1t would give to the federal
government largely increased influ-
ence over the citizen and the citizens s
affairs, and such Capitalization is not
at all necessary. The several states
can own and operate the railroads
within their borders just as effectively
as it can be done by the federal gov
eminent, and if it Is done by the states
the objection based upon the fear of
Capitalization is entirly answered. A
board composed cf representatives
from the various states could deal with
interstate traffic just as freight and
passenger boards now deal with the
| Joint traffic of the various lines"
Takes Radical View.
:. In return Mr.. Bryan declares for
municipal ownership of public fran
chises. government control of tele.
graphs, destruction of private monopo
lies. The income tax and election of fed
eral judges by the people. In conclu.
sion he says:
The democratic party, if it is to be
a party for good in this country, must
be the defender of human rights. II
must devote itself to the protection OF
tablish and defend the true relation
between man and property, relation
recognized by both Jefferson and Lin