Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-28
BRYAN, the Rainbow Chaser.

lie VIM ASAN e'-N--
party at the time of Mr.. Bryan's first
nomination, and who are still acting
with the Republican party. are showing
no disposition to change their political
allegiance. They are, however, finding
considerable satisfaction in the PROOF
the Nebraska leader is furnishing that
all they claimed regarding him eight
years ago is true. They asserted then
that BRYAN was, at heart, Socialist
and in the latest declaration of faith
which he has enunciated-and which
doubtless voices the views OF very
large and influential section of the
Democratic party, they are finding
ample confirmation of all theS
have said concerning him. Aside
from his re-assertiOn of his Old
time financial vagaries, to which ne
still clings with devotion worthy
of better cause, the most
striking feature of Mr.. Bryans new
platform is his proposition for state
ownership of railroads. There have
been a number of more or less proml-
nent men who have urged the govern
ment ownership and control OF the
nations systems of the communication;
but Bryan, is the first one to seriously
advocate dividing up our 10000 miles
of railroad among the forty-five states
and five territories of the Union! Just
how this result could be brought about
Mr.. BRYAN does not enlighten us. The
Omaha Pee in this connection asks
some very pertinent questions. How"
il injuries. would such a colossal in
dustrial revolution be accomplished
Who could force all the states to buy
and operate all the railroads? Where
would the states get the money if they
were disposed to buy them, and how
would the public fare if some of tn.
states should reject and others adopt
Mr. Eryan's plan? Suppose the little
state Of Delaware should set it's face
against buying the link of the Penn
sylvania railroad between New York
and Washington that crosses that
state? Suppose little Rhode Island
should kick up its heels and refuse to
fan in line. Would travellers between
New York and Washington and New
York and Boston cheerfully change
cars? Would shippers cheerfully pay
tolls for reloading their merchandise at
the state line of Rhode Island? Are
not the railroads in the very essence
of things public highways. and national
public highways at that?
Granted that the ownership Of the
railroads We're desirable and advan-
tageous, would not the American peo-
pie insist upon at least as much uni
formity in rates and facilities as the!
now enjoy? Would not national own
ership, which Mr.. Bryan breads, be-
come inevitable? The plan of state
ownership of the railroads is scarcely
discussable. any more than would be
the state ownership of the American
navy"
These are questions that Mr. Bryan
will have to answer fully and salts
factorily before he can expect thought
full citizens to endorse the radical
changes he advocates. The only valu-
able feature of Mr.. Bryan's manifesto
is the evidence it presents of his belief
| in Parker's overwhelming defeat at the
polls. In this view of the political
situation he comedies with Senator
German and other Democratic leaders
who have refused to serve as chairman
of the Democratic National committee
Mr.. Bryan has had some valuable ex-
perience and he very clearly recognizes
the fact that this is emphatcally not a
Democratic year. He also recognizes
the drift of Democratic tendencies and
the vagarics of the Democratic mind
For this reason he has gone into the
field with an announcement of the plat
form upon which he expects to reunite
his forces in 1908.