The Washington times., 1905-06-22
PUBLIC OWNE ERSH|P
TO Be AN ISSUE
Likely to Appear in Next
Democratic Platform.
CONFINED TO MUNICIPALITIES
One Party Man Thinks It VIII Over
shadow National Questions in
National Campaign.
CONFINED TO MUNICIPALITIES

Public ownership will be an Inn
rortant feature in the next Democratic
national platform: OF that much you
can be certain" declared Democrat
OF national standing and prominent
connection with politics, who was In the
city today.
mo. I don't mean Government owner
ship of railroads. I doubt If 1t will be
put into the platform. But there viii
be declaration In favor of the pr'n-
eipie and practice of municipal owner
ship OF municipal utility establish
n,ents that win commit the party to
this policy everywhere
How do you expect to make ma
tional issue of a proposition that is
necessarily strictly local in applica-
tionT" was asked How Will You in
duee people to vote for Democratic
Congressional and electoral candidates
OH an issue with which Representatives
and the national Administration can't
possibly have anything to do?"
A Principle OF Reform.
''By appealing to the growing sentt-
rnent that reformation of public afrairs
in general must be had through better
rcent of conditions in the large cities.
made permanent and effective until the
incentive to graft is removed by public
ownership
But wouldn't you be compelled. In
such campaign, to withstand the at
tackS of an opposition which would de-
clare You really aimed at Government
ownership of railroads and telegraphs,
but didn't have the courage to demand
1: all at once? Wouldn't you frighten
the opponents of Government owner.
ship without attracting its advocates" ?"
mo. L don't think so. People who
favor Government ownership would be
disposed to go with the party that was
moving in that direction l don't be-
heve there is any considerable demand
for Government railroad ownership ex-
cept among the socialists. and / don't
believe the demand is growing
Bryan's Ideas Vague.
Mr.. Bryan has talked and written q
little about State ownership OF rail-
roads. but 1 don't believe he has any
very definite idea of such a thing. and
/ am sure that nobody else believes
Ii is even worth while to discuss the
creation of as many railroad systems
as there are States. That is what Mr.
Bryan would give us. under his ar
rangement for ownership by the in
dividual States.
This whole public ownership issue
may be turned uD or down before
national convention meets. II Dunno
should make a distinguished success In
Chicago, and If the proposed coalition
of the Hearst Democrats and the Citi-
zen's Union IN New York should get
that city committed TO public ownership.
there would be no stopping 1t as ma
tional issue for 1905.
"On the other hand. If Dunno gets
tied up. tires the country with waiting.
and falls TO make good, the advocates
of the issue will be discouraged. The
tariff may be the great issue before
thing new entirely may force itself on
the attention Of the country. There Is
both parties recognize that leaders In
both barties recognize, and whose ten
dencies they don't very well understand
but greatly fear
1T may crystalize around some par
ticGlar issue and make a great change
paign."