West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-04-13
Chicago Democratic by $4,000 Major.
lily Is An Endorsement Of
The Democratic Claim for
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
The Senate Committee On Interstate
Commerce Going To Make Bluff
at Railway Legislation.
From Our Regular Correspondent

ioNi D'S'g apr. 10, 1905.
The election of Judge f. Dunno
as Mayor OF Chicago by plurality
of nearly $4,000 votes is hailed by
Democrats IN Washington as the
turning Of the tide which they de-
clare will now sweep the country
and result in electing Democratic
majority to the next House OF Rep
resentatives and eventually, a Dem
ocratic successor to President
Roosevelt. The significance of
Judge Dunne's victory is emphasized
by the fact that his opponent, John
Maynard Harland, was an excep-
tionally clean man and the further
fact that Chicago gave Republi-
can majority to President Roose-
welt in the election OF last fall.
Judge Dunne's election constitutes,
moreover, an economic as we'll as
political victory fer the Democrats
as it insures the municipal owner
ship of the Chicago street railway
system, a policy that has long been
contested by the Republicans and
which the Democrats hope to push
on into far wider fields.
"Public ownership of public util-
tiles" was the slogan of Democratic
campaign in Chicago, has long been
advocated by William j. Bryan and
other prominent Democrats and is
now and always will be strenuously
opposed by the Republicans who
believe in the policy of farming cut
all public utilities to private indi-
viduals a n d corporations which
charge tn e public extOrtionate
prices, make inordinate profits and
create vast fortunes which the Re-
publicans point to with pride as
evidence of "unparelleled pros
perity." So vast a city as Chicago
will, in the estimation OF the Demo
cratic politicians and economists,
furnish magnificent object lesson
to the enilre country and will quick
y demonstrate h advantages
which will accure to the public and
to the municipality from administer
ing those things which by their nature
are essentially natural monopolies.
If municipalities can proftably and
equiIably conduct their ironed high
ways, argue the Democratic eco
nomis then States can with equal
profit and equity administer their
ironed highways. commonly called
the railroads, and one of the most
gigantic monopolies in the country
must inevitably be destroyed as the
result of an educated public opinion.
1t is generally held in Washing
ton that President Roosevelt, with
an unusaIly keen insight, has PER-
ceiYed the evils Of privately owned
railways but that he seeks to remedy
the evils which result therefrom by
homeopathic methods, so to speak,
by legislation which will render the
railway owners powerless to prac-
tice extOrtion but which will not in
terfere with private ownership.
The Democrats in Congress, appre
ciating that half loaf IS infinitely
better than no bread arc prepared
TO support the Presidents recon.
mendalions with regard to railway
legislation in every detail but they
have little faith that the President
canlprevail on theSenators andRepre
sentatives Of his own party to heed
his recommendations at the expense
Of their friends who now enjoy the
privileges Of railway monopoly.
With the pretended purpose Of
devlsing equitable railway legisla-
ton along the lines urged by the
President the Senate committee on
Interstate Commerce will begin
holding sessions on the 18th, Of this
month end hearings will be granted
to every one who claims to be in.
terested in the subject until a mass
OF testimony far too great for any
one 20 digest, or even read, will be
accumulated. That any satisfac.
tory results will be attained Is grave
ly doubted by Democrat members
Of The the Senate. 10 is pointed
out that there arc eight Republicans
to FIVE Democrats on the Committee
and even II Senator Cullom the one
Republican who is likely to vote
for the interests Of the people, were
TO cast his ballot with the Demo-
Gratis. the committee oouid be ffoa