The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-07-29
RaFoRMATIoH OF DEMoCRAoY.
MIR. Bryan Tells OF the Thinss He Fa-
vors and Those He Doean,r.

/ Yt-t VOrb anu 4uObo mo DoeBn'c. D.
w. J. Bryan's plan for the reforma,
tion OF the democracy was given pub
llclty Thursday. In it Mr.. Bryan IA.
vors radical changes, but advocates
the election Of Judge Parker for pres.
ident as good beginning. He de-
clares for State ownership of railroads,
gOvernornment control of telegraphs
and aboliShment Of private monopoly
and fayors the income tax and election
OF federal judges by the people. Mr..
Bryan says In part:
have heretofore refused to take
position upon the question of gov
ernment ownership Of railroads, first,
because I had not until recently
studied the subject, and second, be-
cause the question had not been reach
ed. Recent events have con-inced me
| that the time Is now ripe for the pre-.
sentation Of this question. Conso!i-
dation after consolidation has taken
place until few men now control the
railroad traffic OF the country and
defy both the legislative and executive
| power Of the nation. invite the Dem
Ocrats, therefore, to consider plan
for the government ownership and
operation Of the railroads.
STATE OWNERSHIP OF ROADS.
"The plan usually suggested is for
the purchase OF these roads by the fed
eral government. This plan, it seems
to NE, is more Objectionable than q
plan which involves the ownership and
operation of these roads by the several
States. TO put the railroads into the
hands Of the federal government would
mean an enormous Capitalization of
power. 1t would give to the federal
government largely increased inilu-
ence over the citizen and the citizens
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
ernment and II it Is done by the
States, the objection based upon the
fear Of GENERALIZATION is entirely an
swercd. A board composed Of repre-
seutatives from the various States
could deal with the joint traffic of the
various lines.
While the Democratic party in the
nation is advocating government own
ership Of railroads, the Democratic
party iii the cities should upon the
same theory espouse the cause of mum
icipal ownerships Of municipal fran
chses.
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH
We have also reached q time when
the pOStOflice department should en-
brate d telegraph system as we'll as
a mail system.
THE telegraph lines do not reach
as many people as the railroads do and
while the abuses to private ownership
have not been 50 open and notorious,
yet there is no reason why their nation
should not do what other nations are
doing in this respect
THE Democratic party has in two
campaigns stood for all income tax.
The plank was omitted this year be-
cause the men In control of the party
thought 1T would jeopardize success in
the eastern States. This objection may
have weight when the appeal is made
to particular section and to the
wealthy men of that section, but it
cannot have weight when the party
goes forth, as it must ultimately do,
to appeal to the masses.
! THE contest above outlined must
be made whether the party wins In
November or not. If Mr.. Parker is
elected his administration will rid us
OF imperialism and Of the threat of a
race ISSUE and give us greater freedom
in the taking up Of economic ques-
tions."