The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-08-12
Mr.. BRYAN'S 1908 PLATFORM.

the nations welfare and progress
namely. the discrimination in favor Of
the large city as against the small
one, To the railroads more than any
other influence is due the fact that
the population IS being driven from the
country to the city. With fair and
Impartial rates the small town might
again hope 70 be the home of the
small factory, and those people who
are being crowded into the cities where
they live without the economic, sani-
tzry. intellectual and moral adFan-
tages which they deserve, would be
scattered more evenly throughout the
country to their own great benefit and
TO the nations good
Thfrd-The politics Of the nation
is being debauched by money. This
money Is drawn from the great cor
porations that desire special privileges
or immunity from punishment, and is
used to corrupt, not only the voters. but
legislatures. How can this corruption
be stopped so long as enormous wealth
can be made BY watered stock and by
the exploitation Of the public? The
railroad is to a certain extent q mo-
nOpOIy. AS soon as a line is built be-
tween two points the field is occupied
and il is impossible to have cOmpeti-
ton. II a second road is built for the
purpose Of securing competition, the
trahic between the two terminals must
support two roads instead Of one, and
Il is impossible for two roads to carry
the passengers and the freight at as
low a cost as the one road could This
being true. the result usually is that
the competing lines are soon cOnsoli-
dated and the attempt at competition
given I'D. LEGISLATION has been at
tempted AGAINST consolidation, but so
far such legislation has been very in
effectual. The benefits to be derived
BY the railroads from the destruction
Of competition are so enormous that
they have thus far been able to protect
themselves by the giving up Of a small
part Of the benefit to those who are in
a position to interfere with them. but
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 cOTrupting influence OF
these great railway corporations over
the young professional men OF the
country. The railroads have lawyers
in every county and general attorneys
at every state capital These men
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
tiers, but lobbyists for the road in
political matters. These men have
controlled conventions, dictated nOmi-
nations. written platforms and so
shaped appointments that the masses
have been ignored and their interests
disregarded. The United States senate
today contains so many men who are
Obliged to the railroads that 1t has
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 been
pleading for an amendment
1t is not necessary to believe that
United States senators actually draw
salaries from these railroads at the
same time that they draw salaries
from the government, although 1t is
known that salaries have been offered
to senators by railroads having bust
ness before that body, and it is known
today that there are men there who
did receive salaries from railroads Just
before their election and it is not
known that those salaries have been
relinqUished-
II the railroads we're owned by the
several states instead OF by private
corporations, the railroad officials
would be selected by the people and re-
sponsible to the people, whereas now
these attorneys are selected by the
railroads. paid BY the railroads and
subservient to the railroads.
Fifth-Another objection to the
private ownership Of railroads-and II
is an objection that all recognize
the use Of the pass in politics In some
of the states the constitution forbids
the use Of a pass by public officials,
but even in such states officials some
times use passes and when an Official
in such a state accepts pass. having
vioaIted the law, he puts himself
where the railroad can blackmail him
and force him to vote for measures
desired BY the railroads. e
So powerful is the influence OF the
pass that it was impossible to secure
at the last session Of congress cOnsid-
Grafton OF a resolution introduced by
CONGRESSMAN Baker of New York ask
ing whether the giving Of pass was a
violation OF the interstate commerce
law. The Pennsylvania railroad and
the Baltimore & Ohio road secured
large appropriations from the last con-
zress for the enlargement OF the depot
facilities at Washington, and It IS
notorious fact that representatives OF
the roads we're present in the lObbies
OF the capitol building giving passes
to the membc-s Of congress who voted
with them and refusing passes 10 the
members who voted against their de-
mands. Any one who has had any
experience in politics cannot be blind
to the fact that the use Of the pass
often controls conventions, determines
the selection Of legislators. governors
and often judges When the recipient
acts upon questions that involve the
interests Of the people, either his mind
must be Influenced by favOrs received
or he must constantly brace himself
AGAINST that influence. These are some,
not all. Of the reasons that may be
given in favor Of the government own
ership and operation Of the railroads
BY leaving the matter to the state
each state can act for itself and be
governed by the sentiment Of the PEG
Me. moving as slowly or as rapidly
as that sentiment demands But feel
assured that the time has come when
the democratic party as party should
turn its face toward the solution OF
this great question, and By the adTo-