The Western news., 1904-07-27
MAPS OUT PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
FOR THE FUTURE.
STATE OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS
Says Money Question Is In Allowance
Private MonopoIies Must Be
Election of Parker
VIII Hasten Reforms.

Lincoln, Neb., July 2l.-Willian
Jennings Bryan's plan tor the reform
alton of democracy was published il
the Comrnoner today. In it MIR. Brya,
favors radical changes and a depart
ure from conserS ative lines, but ad
vocates the election of Judge Parke,
tor president as a good beginning
de declares for state ownership o.
| rallrC ads, government control Of tele
graphs, abolshment OF private mon
opoly, the income tax and the election
OF federal Judges By the people. Mr.
Bryan says in part:
Bryan's Statement.
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 did not feel
at liberty to engraft new doctrines up
on the party creed. l contented my
self with the defense of those princi-
pies and policies which were embodied
in the platform.
"Now that the leadership devolves
upon another, and bear only the re-
sponsibillty that each citizen must
bear, namely, responsibility for my
conduct, am free to undertake work
which until now have avoided name
ly, the work of organizing the radical
and progressive element in the demo-
cratic party.
Money Question in Abeyance.
1.-The money question is for the pres
ent in abeyance. The increased pro-
duction of gold has lessened the strain
upon the dollar and while bimetallisn
is as sound in theory as it ever
was, the necessity for it is not so ap-
parent.
But while the people cannot be
brought at this time to consider the
various phases of the money question
they can be brought to consider GER
tain other questions with which the
democratic party must deal. l have
heretofore refused to take a position
upon the question of government own
nersh,p of railroads; first because l
had not until recently studied the SUBJ
joct, and, second, because the question
had not reached primary Importance.
The Railroads.
Recent events have convinced me
that the time is now ripe for the pres
entation of the question. Consolida-
ton 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. l invite the DEM
ocrats, therefore to consider a plan for
the government ownership and opera
tion of the railroads. The plan usual
ly suggested is for the purchase of
these roads by the federal government.
This plan, it seems to me, is more OBJ
jectionable than plan which involves
the ownership and operation of these
roads by the several states: To put
the railroads IN the hands of the fed
eral government would mean an enor-
nous Capitalization of. power. 1t
would give to the federal government
a largely increased influence over the
citizens and the citizens affairs and
such Capitalization is not at all neces-
sary.
State Ownership.
The states can own and operate rail-
roads within their borders just as ef-
fectively as it can be done by the
federal government, and if it is done
by the state the objection based upon
the fear of Capitalization is entirely
A board composed of
from various states
could deal with interstate traffic of the
various lines. If the federal govern
ment had the railroads to build there
would be constant warning between
different sectiops to secure fair
share of the new building and develop
rnent, but if this left to the state the
people can decide whether they desire
to build or buy.
'While the democratic party in the
nation is adverting to the government
ownership of railroads, the democratic
party in the cities, should, upon the
same theory, espouse the cause of muni-
cipal ownership of municipal fran
chises.
TELEGRAPH and Nails.
We have also reac cled time when