The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-07-22
BRYAN'S SCHEME TO
 REFORM DEMOCRACY
TO ORGANIzE THE RADICAL AND
 PROGRESSIVE ELEMENT

FayOrs 2 my Changes but Advocates
 the . .ction of Parker as Agreed in
 II Beginning = starts Upon the
 1ork as Private eitIzen-Declareu fer Government Ownership of Rail-
 roads and Control of Telegraphs.
 Lincoln, Neb.. July 2l.-w. J. Bryan's plan for the reformation of the democ- racy was given publicity to-day. In 1t
 MT. Bryan favors radical changes. but advocates the election of Judge Parker for president as agreed in the begin ming. He declares for state ownership of railroads. government control of tel egraphs and abolishment of private monopoly. end savors the income tax and election Of federal judges by the people. Mir. Bryan says in part:
 My selection as standard bearer of the democratic party in 1886 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 defence of those principles and policies which were embodied in the platform, Now that the leadership de- wolves upon another and bear-oniy the responsibility that each citizen must bear. namely. the responsibility for my own opinions. my uttsrancss and my conduct. am free to undertake a work which until now have avoided. name ly. the work of organizing the rad- ical and progressive element in the democratic party.
 "The money question is for the pres ent is in abeyance. The production less- ened the strain on the dollar and while binetallism Is as sound a theory as 1t ever was. the necessity for 1t is not so apparent.
 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 certain other questions with which the demo- cratic party must deal. have hereto fore refused to take position upon the question of government ownership Of railroads first, because had not until recently studied the subject, and, sec- ond, because the question had not been reached. Recent events have conviffc- ed me that the time is now ripe for the presentation of this question. Consoii- dation after consolidation has taken Irailroad traffic of the country and defy both the legislative and executive power of the nation. invite the democrats, therefore, to consider a plan for the government ownership and operation of the railroads.
 ''Tlie plan usually suggested is for the purchase of these roads by the feneral government. This plan, 1t seems to me, is more objectionable than g, plan which involves the ownership and operation of these roads by the several states To put the roads in the hands of the fed eral government would mean an enoF~ nous centralization of power. It would give to the federal government larger increased influence over the citizens and citizens affairs, and such centralization | is not at all necessary. The several states can own and operate the rail- roads within their borders just as ef- fectively as it can be done by the fed eral government, and if it is done by the states the objection based upon the fear Of centralization is entirely an
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