The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-08-12

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secured b. purchase or condemnation
IS q matter that each state can decide
for itself It may be wiser TO begin
b. building new lines where they are
now needed and thus determine the
value Of the old lines by the operation
Of the new ones. But the means to be
employed for the securing Of the lines
and the rules to be EdOpted for the
operation Of them, viii be found easy
after the public has determined that
the people, acting through their gov
eminent, should take upon themselves
the work Of controlling this great
branch Of the business Of the people
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 mu-
nicipaI ownership Of municipal fran
chises. Private contracts for water,
lighting and street car facilities have
been the fruitful source OF municipal
corruption, and there is no solution
Of these municipal problems that does
not involve municipal ownership. The
progress made in this direction in Eu-
ropean cities shows what can be done,
and IL IS only q question Of time when
people acting through their municipal
government viii do for themselves,
without the Intervention OF corpora
tons, that which is now done at great
er expense BY private corporations.
The municipal operation OF the street
car lines viii result in such e reduc-
ton in fares that people can live far
Their from the center Of the city and
thus secure healthier locations. There
are many questions Of sociology that
affect the municipal population and the
democratic party must meet all OF
these with an eye single to the public
welfare.
We have also reached a time when
the pOstofice department should en-
brace a telegraph system as well as
mail systRm. While the telegraph
lines does not reach as many people
as the railroads do, and while the
abuses to private ownership have not
been so open and notorious, yet there
is no reason why this nation should
not do what other nations are doing
in this respect. In the small towns
the postmaster could act as telegraph
operator and thus a great economy
could be effected. In the larger cities
the telegraph system could be under
the control Of the postmaster and such
employees. added to the postal service
as might be necessary. 1t is safe to
say that the cost Of messages could
be reduced one-half. and yet have the
system self-supporting. There is no
good reason that can be urged against
the government ownership and opera
ton Of the telegraph system in con-
nectiOn with the postal department
The matter has already been investi-
gated by congress and favorable action
taken. but the influence Of the tele-
graph companies eXerted through their
corporate interests and through the
ranking privileges has been sufficient
thus far to prevent any action being
taken. The democratic party ought to
take up this reform and make it part
Of its creed
The private monopoly must be de-
stroyed. The democratic platform
adopted at Kansas City declared the
private monopoly to be indefensible
and intolerable. This declaration was
reproduced in the st. Louis platform
adopted a few days ago. To what ex-
tent this will be overcome by the in
huences that surround Judge Parker
no one can yet declare, but 1t is evil
dent that the conservative democrats
as they call Themselves. will never
give the country any relief from the
trusts. The government ownership
Of railroads will exert a tremendous
influence toward the destruction Of
private mOnopOlies. for most Of the
great trusts have been built up by rail-
way determinations and rebates, but
the democratic party cannot content
itself with any partial remedy for the
trusts. 1t must declare war upon every
private monopoly and il must prose
cute that war re1entlessly until the
principle Of private monopoly has been
eradicated and industrial independence
again secured.
The door Of opportunity must not be
closed against the young men Of this
country. Inc right of the citizen to
build up an independent business and
to enjoy the fruits Of his toll must
be guaranteed to him. 1t is the basis
Of our industrial development and 1t
Is the guaranty Of our political liberty.
The state should be encouraged to en-
pToy every power that il has to prevent
the, incorpOration OF a private mOnop-
DIV, and the power Of congress over in
terstate commerce should be invoked
to resist any and every effort TO use a
state charter for the exploitation OF
drawn between the inalienabIe rights
OF the natural man and the laW-con-
ferred rights Of a corporation. A cor
poration has no ina1ienable rights; it
has no rights except those given II by
law. and the people cannot be pre-
sumed to desire the creation Of man
made giant, having both the power
and the disposition to trample upon
the rights OF the GOd-made man The
private monopoly must be destroyed,
root and branch.
The democratic party has in two
eampaigns stood for an income tax
The plank was omitted this. year be-
cause the men in control Of the party
thought it would jeopardize success IN
the eastern states. This objection may
have weight when the appeal is made
to a particular section and TO the
wealthy men of that section, but il
cannot have weight when the party
goes forth. as it must ultimately, to
appeaI to the masses. It is unneces-
ssry to say that a progressive demo-
cratic party must favor tarin for
revenue only. It cannot favor the
taxation Of the many for the benefit Of
the few.
An income tax IS just and without It
It viii be difhcult TO secure any e1ee-
tuaI tariff reform. When the people
understand the income tax the popular