The Cairo bulletin., 1905-04-14
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN SOUNDS SLOGAN
FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AT CHICAGO


his election TO the presidency he de-
clared his love OF peace and his an
xiety that the United States should
give the world still another useful les
son by showing to them other modes
of pun sning injuries than by war,
war, he said, was as much a pun
shment TO the punisher as 10 the suf-
ferer. Fourteen years after he re-
tired from the presidency and near
the close of his life in letter 10 John
Adams, he said, I hope we shall prove
how much happier for man the Quak
sr policy is. and that the life of the
feeder Is better than that Of the fight
err His advocacy of peace does not
prove a lack of physical bravery bur
whatever may have been his physical
courage there is no doubt that he pos
sessed that higher quality, known as
moral courage, to an extraordinary
degree.
his faith in popular government
was sublime and his willing ness to
rely upon the people was one of his
most distinguishing characteristics.
How Jefferson differed in this respect
from his great political antagonist
Alexander Hamilton. Ham lton fought
a duel in spite of his conscient-
ious objection to duels because he be-
lieyed as he declared before going 10
the fatal field, that It was necessary,
to fight the duel in order that he
might be useful in a crisis for which
he was looking, and that or SIS was
the break ng down of free institutions.
Jefferson, not only promulgated the
principles of free government, but in
his writings he consistently applied
hose principles TO every problem with
which the government had to deal
Md the principles which he applied
were so fundamental that we find |
them useful today in the discussion OF
1uestons which have arisen since his
leath.
Some Things He Favored.
"Ie is on record as favorng the ar
bitraton of disputes between nations,
and no one who is famil ar with his
writings can doubt that he would fa-
vor arbitration today of disputes be
tween labor and capital, and his views
upon the encroachmenis of The judi
ciary and the value of trial by jury
make it certain that he would, If liy-
'ng oppose what we know as govern
ment by Injunction.
"All h $ arguments in favor of max |
ing The government responsive to the
will of the people can be adduccd In
support of the movement that has for
its object the election of senators by
4 rect vote Of the people. On the sub
lee: of finance he not only favored BIZ
nctalism, bur expressed his opposition
10 bank currency and to the control
Of jhe national treasury by the linan-
ciers.
"He lived before the invention of
he ra lroad. and before the country
had witnessed the colossal central2a-
[ on of wealth. but viewing as h. did
every question from the standpoint of
he people and mating, as he did, ev-
cry attempt to divert the profits of
industry from the producers TO the
Idle holders of idle capital We have
I right TO assume that he would to-
lay stand with the people for the reg
llation of railroads and the eXtermin-
alton of private monopoly.
Opportunities of the Present.
mo one can imagine Jefferson as
oleratlng the impudent claim of the
-aiIroad magnates that they have
r ght to determine arbitrarily and
Without appeal The rate to be charged
or the transportation of passengers
IT freight What an opportunity the
present contest would give him for
The ARA gnment of human greed and
for the defense of human rights.
That Jefferson's utterances support
legislation necessary for the complete
regulation and control of transporta-
lion lines is certain, and he expressly
declared against national incorpora-
tion-a thing now desired by the great
Whether his arguments
could be quc.e in favor of the public
ownership of ra lrOads would depend
somewhat upon he extent TO which
is possible under private
wnership. and. experience seems to
show that effective competition he
tween railroad Ines is scarcely to be
expected.
Favors Government Ownership.
while | have been quick to en-
iorse the Presidents effort TO secure
"a lroad rate regulation, | believe that
regulation will ultimately lead to pub
lie ownership. and. in order to avoid
he danger Of Capitalization. | would /
prefer TO see the trunk lines only
owned by the federal government. and
he local lines owned by the several
s ates.
"On the subject of pr va'e monopoly.
Jefferson has spoken with no uncer-
ain sound. So detestable to him was
he Thought of monopoly that II was
with reluctance that he consented To +
! na-ent. for. while he recognized the
INJUSTICE Of allowing a temporary mon
1poly of the product as reward for
invention. he 50 feared the evil et-
rects of the establishment If the prin-
.iple. that he insisted upon the strict
EST Tmitat ions. His fears have been /