Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-02-09
WHO IS THE BORROWER?
From the New York SUM.

Some observers are amused and more
are surprised by the sight of Mr.. Bryan
and the Democrats in the act of holding
up Mr. Roosevelt's hands as he labors
for the enlargement of the powers of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and for
Government supervision of railroad rates.
The Hon. John Sharp Williams and the
Democratic brethren in the House of
Representatives rally around the Presi-
! dent with we'll simulated enthusiasm.
They will be his shields against monopo-
listic Republicans, if such there be in
Congress-
In this lightning change comedy of
politics has Mr.. Bryan Topped to Mr..
Roosevelt or has Mr.. Roosevelt Hoped
to Mr. Bryan? Have the Democrats be-
come Republicans or the Republicans be-
come Democrats
The best way of answering these ques-
tions is to consult the Republican national
platforms and the Democratic national
platforms, beginning with 1896, the first
year of organization.
What did the Republican platform Of
1896 say upon this now al-observing 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. First
the Democratic platform of 1896:
THE ABSORPTION of wealth by the few,
the consolidation Of our leading railroad
systems and the formation OF trusts and
pools require stricter control by the
Federal government of those arteries Of
commerce. We demand the enlargement
Of the powers of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and such restrictions and
guarantees 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 COM
merce,' and requiring these to show,
before doing business outside of the State
of their origin, that their stock is not
watered aud that they are not trying to
monopolize. More specifically as to rail-
roads
we favor such an enlargement of the
scope of the Interstate Commerce law as
will enable the Commission to protect
individuals and communities from discrim-
nations and the public from unjust and
unfair transportation rates.
The Democratic national platform of
1904 repeats the cry Of 1896 and 1900:
1--WE demand an enlargement of the
powers Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, to the end that the travelling
public and shippers of this cou try may
have prompt and adequate relief from
the abuses to which they are subjected in
the matter Of transportation. =
Three times the Democratic party was
beaten Three times its platform was
rejected. Three times the Republicans
showed by their silence that they did not
want the powers of the Interstate Com
merce Commission enlarged.
In his message to Congress December 6,
1904, Mr.. Roosevelt said
The Government must, in increasing
degree, super ise and regulate the work
ings of the railways engaged in interstate
commerce, and such increased supervision
is the only alternative to an increase of the
present evils on the one hand or a still
more radical policy on the other In my
Judgment, the most important legislative
act now needed as regards the regulation of
corporations is this act to confer on the
Interstate Commerce Commission the power
to revise rates and regulations, the revised
rate to 90 at once into effect, aud to stay in
effect until the court of review reverses it, y
Thus Mr.. Roosevelt complied with the
Democratic demand for an enlargement
of The powers of the interstate Commerce
Commission. Naturally the Democrats,
like Molere, take their own where they
find it,