Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1905-02-10
WHO Is THE BORROWERS

'''** WHO Is THE BORROWERS ~
" New York Sun: Some observers
are amused 3nd more surprised BY the
sight Of Nj. Bryan and the demo-
Gratis in the act, of holding up Mr..
Roosevelt's hands as he labors for the |
enlargement Of the powers of the in
terstate commerce commission and for
government super vision Of railroad
rates The Hon. John Sharp Williams
and the democratic brethren in the
house of representatives rally around
the presiden: with we'll stimulated
enthusiasm. They will be his shield
against monopolistic republicans, if
such there be in congress.
In his lightning change comedy of
politics has Mr.. Bryan 'aoopped"
Mr. ocsevelt or has Mr.. Roosevelt to
''6oopped'' to Mr.. Bryan? Have the
republicans become democrats or the
democrats become republicans.
The best way of answering these
questions is to consult the republican
national platform and the democratic
national platforms beginning with
1885, the first year of organization.
What did the republican platform of
( 1895 say upon this now all otsessing
and supreme subject of government
regulation of railroad rates?
Nothing.
What did the republican platforms
of 1900 and. 1904 say about It.
Nothing.
Turn now to the democratic books
Fret to the democratic platform of
1896:
The absorption of wealth by the
few, the copsolidat! on of our leading
railroad systems and the formation of
trusts and pools require stricter con-
troll by the federal government of
those arteries of commerce. We de-
mand the enlargement of the powers
OF the interstate commerce commits.
sion and such restrictions and guaran.
tees in the control of railroads as will
protect the people from robbery and
oppression.
In 1900 the democrats called for
laws providing for publicity as to
affairs Of corporations engaged in
Interstate commerce., and requiring
these 20 show before doing business
outside of the state of their origin, :"
that their stock is not watered and
that they are not trying to monopo-
lie. More specifically as to railroads
! I'VE favor such an enlargement of
the scope Of the interstate commerce
law as will enable the commission to
protect individuals and communities
from determinations and the public
from unjust and unfair transportation
rates.
! The democratic national platform of
1904 repeats the cry of 1896 and 1900:
I'VE demand an enlargement of the
powers of the interstate commerce
Commission to the end that the travel
ing public and shippers CT this oonn
try may have prompt and adequate
} relief from the abuses to which they
are subjected in the matter of trans.
portation.
Three times the democratic party
was beaten. Three times it's platform
was rejected. Three times the republi
cans showed by their silence that they
did not want the powers of the inter
state commerce commission enlarged
In his message to congress Dec. g.
1904, Mr.. Roosevelt said:
The government must, in increas
ing~ degree, supervise and regulate tn,
workings of the railways engaged in
; Interstate commerce, and such il
creased supervision is the only alter
native to an increase of the presen
evils on the one hand or still NOR
radical policy on the other. In m
judgment. the most important legisla
O tive act now needed as regards the re
! gulation of corporations Is this act t
confer = on the interstate commerc
commission the power to revise rate
and regulations the revised rates
t 90 at once into effect, and to stay i
q effect until the court OF review r.
r verse it,
t Thus Mr.. Roosevelt complied wit
r the democratic "demand'' for an or
q largement of the powers of the int,
9 state commerce commission Natura
Q ~ the democrats, like Moliere, tax
q their own where they find it.
II I'd Ale