West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-02-16
President Roosevelt Has Adopted
Democratic Policies.
BRYAN AND OTHERS BACK HIM
Republican Platform silent on Railroad
Pools While Democrats clamor for
Years for Action Democrats are
Helping Him In Congress.

~ " hSNNAhk up MI NoOhSNClt
hands as he labors for the enlarge.
ment of the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission aud for
Government supervision of railroad
rates. The Hon. John Sharp VIII.
Jams and the Democratic brethren
in the House of Representatives raj.
ly around the President with well
simulated enthusiasm. They will
be his shields against monopolistic
Republicans, il such there be in
Congress.
In this lightning change comedy
of politics has Mr.. Bryan chopped"
to Mr.. Roosevelt or has Mr.. Roose-
welt chopped" to Mr.. Bryan ? Have
the Democrats become Republicans
or the Republicans become Demo-
crats7
The best way of answering these
questions is to consult the Republi.
can national platforms aud the Dem.
ocratic national platforms, beginning
with 1890, the first year of Bryant
zatIon.
What did the Republican plat
form Of 1896 say upon this now all
absorbing and supreme regulation of
railroad rates
Nothing.
What did the Republican plat
forms of 1900 and 1904 say about it2
Nothing.
Turn now TO the Democratic
books. First the Democratic plat.
form of 1896:
"The absorption of wealth by the
few, the consolidation of our lead
ing railroad systems and the forma-
ton OF trusts and pools require a
stricter control by the Federal Gov
eminent of those arteries of com
merce. We demand the enlarge
ment 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 OPP
preston"
In 1900 the Democrats called tor
laws providing for publicity as to
affairs of corporations engaged in
interstate commerce." and requiring
these to "show, before doing busi.
ness outsid of the state of their
origin" that their stock is not wat
cred and that they are not trying to
monopolize more especially as to
railroads:
owe favor such an enlargement
Of the interstate commerce laws as
will enable the commission to pro-
tect individuals and communities
from determinations and the public
from unjust and unfair transporta-
ton rates"
The Democratic national plat
form Of 1904 repeats the cry Of 300
and 1900:
"We demand an enlarge mcnt Of
the powers Of the interstate commits
sion, to the end that the travelling
public and shippers Of this country
may have a prompt and adequate
relief from the abuses to which they
are subject in the matter Of trans.
portation."
Three times the Democratic par
ty was beaten. Three times its plat.
form was rejected. Three times the
Republicans showed by their silence
that they did not want the powers
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion enlarged.
In his message to Congress Dec.
8, 1904, Mr.. Roosevelt said.
"The government must in increas-
ing degree, supervise and regulate
the workings Of the railroads engag-
ed in interstate commerce, and such
increased supervision is the only
alternative 10 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 sctnow needed
as regards the regulation Of corpor.
aiions is this act TO confer on the
interstate commerce commission the
power to revise rates and regula.
lions, the revised rates TO go at once
into effect, and stay 10 effect until
the court Of review reverse IT,"
Thus Mr. Roosevelt complied
with the Democratic demands" for
an enlargement Of the powers Of the
interstate commerce commission,
Naturally the Democrats, like Mol
iere, take their own where they 6nd
] Editorial in New York Sun.