Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-14

support of the movement that has for
it's object the election of senators by
direct vote of the people. On the sub
ject of finance he not only favored BIZ
metallism, but he expressed his oppo-
sition to a bank currency and to the
control of the national treasury by the
financierS.
The Railroad Problem.
Gle lived before the invention of the
railroad, and before the country had
witnessed the colossal Capitalization of
wealth, but viewing as he did every
question from the standpoint of the
people, and hating. as he did, every
attempt to divert the profits of indus
try from the producers to the idle
holders of idle capital we have a
right to assume that he would today
stand with the people for the regula-
ton of railroads and the extermina-
ton of private monopoly.
mo one can imagine Jefferson as
tolerating the impudent claim of the
railroad magnates that they have
right to determine arbitrarily and
without appeal the rate to be charged
for the transportation of passengers
or freight. What an opportunity the
present contest would give him for
the arraignment 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-
ton lines is certain and he expressly
declared against national incorporation
"a thing now desired by the great
corporations. Whether his arguments
could be quoted in favor of the pub
lie ownership of railroads would de-
pend somewhat upon the extent to
which competition is possible under
private ownership, and experience
seems to show that effective compe-
tition between railroad lines is scar
cely to be expected While have been
quick to indorse the presidents efforts
to secure railroad rate regulation,
believe that regulation will ultimately
lead to public ownership. and, in ord
err to avoid the danger of contraliza-
ton, would prefer to see the trunk
lines only owned by the federal gov
eminent, and the local lines owned by
the several states.
ION the subject of private monop-
oily, Jefferson has spoken with no I'M
certain sound. So detestahle to him
was the thought of monopoly that 1t
was with reluctance that he consented
to patent, for, while he recognized
the justice of allowing a temporary
monopoly of the product as a reward
for invention, he so feared the evil
effects of the establishment of the
principle, that he insisted upon the
strictest limitations. His fears have
been justified, and we are beginning
to understand the dangers that he so
clearly foresaw.
.The teachings of Jefferson, when
studied in the light of his controlling
purpose, furnish guidance for us now,
and will furnish guidance for ages to
come He built not for a day or for
a century, but for all time, because he
built upon the solid rock. Inspired
by the love of his fellows, he turned
the training of a master mind and
the energies of still greater heart
to the service of mankind. And altho
his contemporaries showered upon him
the highest honors that man can give.
he left the world his debtor beyond
our power to calculate. No wor1s Or
figure can measure the value of the
gift that he bestowed upon the race.
Wherever men contend for human
rights his words strengthen and en-
courage: wherever patriots devote
themselves to the investigation of
problems of government, his research
es and his expositions illuminate and
direct. Every great forward move
ment bears the impress of his thought,
his words. his work. He stands before
the world as the growing figure in the
sphere of politics. Warriors have won
fame upon the battlefields and have re-
arranged with their swords the maps
Of nations, but history affirms with
Carlisle that thought stronger than
artillery parks at last rules the world
and that back of thought IS love-
"Jeffersons love for mankind was
his controlling passion. and it extend
ed to generations unborn. AS we cell
citrate his memory on the anniversary
of his birth we can say as those could
say who lived when he did, We love
him because he first loved u.s..
Mr. Williams took for his theme
Equal Rights to All, and Special
Privileges to None" The speaker was
accorded warm welcome. This was
the first time many of those present
had ever heard the Massachusetts, ora
tor, and his words were listened to
with interest.