Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-08-03
BRYAN'S new POSITION 10

Extracts from a Recent Article in
Bryan's Commoner, Published
at Lincoln, Neb.
My selection as d-bearer Of
the democratic party In 1895 and again
in 1900 made me the nominal leader Of
that party, and as such did not feel
at liberty to engraft new doctrines up
on the party creed. contented myself
with the defense of those principles
and policies which we're embodied in
the platform. Now, that the leadership
devolves upon another and l bear
only the responsibility that each citi-
zen must bear, namely, responsibility
for my opinions, my utterances and
my conduct, am free to undertake a
work which until now have avoided,
namely, the work OF organizing the
radical and progressive element in the
democratic party.
have heretofore refused to take q
position upon the question of the gov
eminent ownership Of railroads, first,
because had not until recently stud
led the subject, and, second, because
the question had not been reached.
Recent events have convinced me that
the time is now ripe for the presenta.
ton ofthis question. Consolidation at
ter consolidation has taken place un-
til a few men now control the railroad
traffic of the country and defy both
the legislative and the executive power
OF the nation.
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 impos
sible 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.
Observation-Disclosures would be-
prevented. At present the railroad
authorities can kill one town and build
up another, destroy one locality and
enrich another. And these discrimin-
atoms are not always made out of
consideration for the interests of the
railroad, but are sometimes made be-
cause of the investments of officials in
the town or locality to be favored.
Great injustice has been done by these
DETERMINATIONS, and no way has been
found to prevent them.
Third-The politics of the nation 10
being debauched by money. This
money is drawn from the great COR
porations that desire special privi
leges or immunity from punishment,
and is used to corrupt not only the
voters, but legislatures. The rail
road is to q certain extent q monOpo-
". AS soon as line is built between
two points the field is occupied and it
Is impossible to have competition. If
q second road is built for the purpose
of securing competition, the traffic be.
tween the two terminals must support
two roads instead of one, and it ia i'm
possible for two roads to carry the
passengers and the freight at as low q
cost as the one road could. This be-
ing true, the result usually Is that the
competing lines are soon consolidate
and the attempt at competition given
up. Legislation has been mpted
against consolidation, but 80 far such
legislation has been very Intellectual
The benefits to be derived by the rail
roads from the destruction of compe.
tition are so enormous that they have
thus far been able to protect them.
selves by the giving up of q small
part OF the benefit to those who are in
whose views can be modified by an ar.
gument addressed to the pocketbook.
Fourth-Another objection to the
private ownership OF railroads has
been forced upon me with increasing
emphasis during the last few years,
namely, the corrupting influence Of
1uuo
the young professional men of the
country. The railroads have lawyers
in every county and general attorneys
At every state capital. These mer
stand high in their profession and are
usually men Of character. Their con
nection with the railroad has in many
instances made them not merely the
attorneys for the road in legal mat
ters, but lobbyists for the road in pc
litical matters. These men have con
trolled conventions, dictated nomina
lions, written platforms and so shaped
appointments that the masses have
been ignored and their interests dis
regarded. The United States senat<
today contains 80 many men who ART
Obliged to the railroads that it hal
been impossible to secure an amend
ment of the interstate commerce law
although for years the interstate com
merce commission, composed of both
republicans and democrats, has beer
pleading for an amendment.
Eifth=ApQther objection TO the nri.