Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-11-29
FROM WASHINGTON.

The results of the recent elections
show the growing disposition to-
ward State socialism. 1t in the
swing of the pendulum of popular
opinion to the extreme, as re-
bound from the despOtism of the
money power which has grown
despotic under the control and
fostering care Of the Republican
party. Such a menace to the
liberties of the people and to the
perpetuity of the Republic has this
seemed, that the people have forci-
bly, registered their protest at the
polls. 1t would seem on the sur
face as if this was an uprising to
keep the power to deal with the
evils in the hands of the people
where it belongs. But it is not
socialism as socialists know it. be
cause socialists demand that the
Federal government shall take
control of all wealth and of the
entire business of production. and
give the population a new deal in
everything.
In Ohio, for instance. where the
triumph of Democracy was com
plete and unexpected. peculiar
phase of the election Is that SEEM
ingly it Is at the same time an
endorsement of President Roose-
velt's scheme for the regulation of
railroad rates. That color has been
given to it because Foraker oppos-
ed 1t, and therefore, the agitators
for rate regulation have claimed
that this election was rebuke 10
to Senator Foraker. But on the
other hand Secretary Taft who
endorsed the Presidents position
in this matter led the attack on
Boss Cox, and unquestionably did
more than any one, or possibly
more than any hundred men. to
bring about his defeat. This makes
queer miX-up from a political
standpoint and leaves the groper
for straws very much in the dark.
Does the Democratic victory in
Ohio mean a declaration in favor
of State socialism such as was the
election of Mayor Dunno in Chi
cago; and the casting of an enor-
nous vote for Hearst in New York?
That's tough problem to figure
out and make it hitch with the rail-
road rate regulation idea. Unless
the people are ready to take over
the railroads bodily and have the
Government run them. they will
get a bureaucracy of the worst
kind instead of socialism, if Roose-
velt's scheme is carried through by
the aid of Democratic votes.
If the Democratic party follows
the leadership of Senator Morgan
1t will dodge radicalism that leads
to State socialism. If it follows
the lead of President Roosevelt it
Will help to establish in Washing
ton bureau whose political power
Will be absolutely unlimited; a tri-
bunal that will not only fix railroad
rates but will fix them in such a
way that it will make or break any
community whose political help it
may need to the carrying out of
any OF its political schemes. The
bossism that was downed the past
week all over the country, ire
spective of party, will be as moth
ing compared to the bossism that
Roosevelt proposes from this polit-
lcal rate-making commission that
he is so insistent upon.
The evils that they can correct
are at the worst but trivial. for the
country has prospered with their
existence. Those evils that we
may fly to in such an untried
scheme as the establishment of this
bureau, with its thousands of en-
ployes and It's inconceivable powers
for good or evil to State or COM
munity, would be worse than any
political bosslsm of any stripe from
which this country has suffered.
This rate making question is 90
ing to be the big issue before Con-
gress this winter and conservative
Democrats here believe that they
should go slow before voting for
something that looms large as a
possibility of danger to the Demo
cratic party. Should such bureau
as Roosevelt wants, be established
under partisan Republican control,
il would seem certain to mean the
Heath knelI of the Democratic
party. Ii is not at all wild to say
hat with it in working order the