The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-22
Mr.. Braxton's Speech.

' 81
The attendance was not as large as
the reputation. of the speake-s-B raxton
and Flood. noted spell Understand
Ca used many to expect 1t to be, but there
were two ladies' and perhaps 25O men
present: Jardela's Band "whooped EN-
up for awhile before the speaking be-
gan, filling the hall with deafening
roar Of sound.
Shortly after 3 so,hlock Mr.. ]. A.
Pamplin vice-presldent Of the Cay
Ward Actives, called the rally to order
and presented Mr.. 5Braxton. Several gen
tlemen occupied seats upon the PLATFORM,
including 1 heF Hon. j. Taylor Dllyson,
colone15A 3, Buford, Mr.. a. c.. Harma,I.
Mr.. EugenaSC:l Massie, Mr. E. p. Cox,
Chairman James,;B Doherty and several
otherS A M sys II. IN
Mr.. Braxton made clear and effective
speech in which, after pointing out Mr..
Roosevelts agreement with several fun
damental principles OF Democracy, he
took up the chief of these principles
tariff REFORM regulation OF railroads and
them in detnil. His exposition OF the
very striking and convincing. He ridi-
culed the deasE that the nlaboring man
benefited by the excessive rate called
for by the Republican party. Wages. he
said, were controlled absolutely by the
law of supply and demand. On the Pa
ctfic coast where there was much work
and few men to do 1t more money was
paid for the same service than on the
Atlantic coast, where there was less
work to be done and more men ready
to do It. Yet&the same tariff applied
to the East and the West. Mr.. Braxton
blamed the tariff for many things, In
ri no no nj a
shipping.
The Railways.
On the question of the regulation Of
the railway corporations, Mr.. Braxton
had the crowd frequently applauding
him. Fle stood squarely he said, for the
Democratic doctrine favored by Mt.
Roosevelt and opposed by the Republic
cans, and he wanted to see Virginia 40
her share to live up the influence OF sEe
great American public behind the Pres
ident. No function of the State, he de-
CARED, Is more important than the con-
troll of the highways. A railroad is not
private property but Is essentially, he
said, a partnership between the company
operating It and the State. The company
furnished the money, the State the power.
No company, however great Its wealth
and influence, could cross single high
| way or nayigable stream or use an inch
| OF private property. The State possessing
| the right of eminent domain, made 1t
| possible for tho company to do this, and
| demanded in return O ralr service at u
rea sonable compensation to allsof Its cit
liens without discrimination, All that MT
Roosevelt and the Democratic party ask,
cd was some machinery of government
with power to enforce this agreement ane
deliver to the state It's share OF prortt
resulting from the partnership. WITH
| out such tribunal the railroads had y
4 IN his power to blight and wther towns
| cities, and entire sections OF the country
i at their will.
4 The Interstate Commerce Commission.
| he said had become thing TO pc scolleu
! at. The railroads did as they wllled. ano
i when they spoke the word the ony thlne
for the people to DO was 70 DOW aoW!'
In meek and humble submission ana
thank God they were still living, IN this
cnnection he referred to tho Chesapeake
and Ohio and Norfolk and Western, OPP
Grating In tho same territory and appar-
| entity engaged In that competition which
! would create low rate But the Penn
sylvanla controlled both, and only re-
Gently had attempted to raise rates on
1 coal. 1t paid nolregnrd TO the demands OF
| the people. ono tHlHs WY e.opPeu Z.
i Senator Elkins, being at the time more
4 Interested In coal than In tho Pennsyl-
vanin Railroad, called a halt and accom-
pllshed more than the remainder OF the
American nation combined could accom-
plish. The Pennsylvania was fearful OF
the influence OF the senator OIL tho rate
regulation proposition The advance In
| price was not made.
After paying his respecta to Lewis ant
Slemp, Mr.. Braxton concluded, calling
attention to the work accomplished ir
Virginia under the Democratic regime
| his references to the Constitutional Con,
yention and the Corporation Commits
sion provoking loud applause, He pale
" IL Il, '-Al,a GRO IL