The Caucasian., 1905-04-30
THOMAS F. WATSON
NOT ENTITLED TO
CREDIT FOR THE VICTORY.
The Principle q PuhIic Ownership IS
Pop,1iistic and Stronger Than
Any Political Party.

published in the New York W Orld,
expressed the opinion that the principl
of public ownership of public utlitie
was stronger than any political party.
The recent victory won by it in Chi
cago makes the truth of that statemen
apparent.
Here was city which a few months
ago gave the Republican ticket the enor
nous majority of 10000. So far al
parties are concerned, the Republican
party stands precisely where it stooc
when Roosevelt won that triumph. Sc
far as the Democratic party is concerned
it has not budged an inch from the
ground which it occupied when it met
its Waterloo in the November elections
What is it, then. which gave the candi-
date of the minority party a decisive
success, so soon after an overwhelming
defeat? Evidently, it was the principle
which he represented.
The National Democratic party has
never declared itself in favor of public
ownership. The National Republican
party has never done so. The Peoples
party is the only national organization
which has proclaimed and battled for
the principle which was involved in the
Chicago election
So far back as 1890 the Peoples party
of the State of Georgia, and Of other
States grew tired of the deceptive COM
promise called public control; threw it
aside as a failure: boldly advanced to
the more radical ground of public own
ership. and formed it's line of battle
In spite of abuse riiicule and defeat.
cur party has never faltered in its
steady advocacy of the principle which
at that time met the aggressive opposi-
tion of both the Democratic and Repub-
lican parties. In the campaigns made
by Mr.. Bryan he stood for no such
principle as this In the campaign led
by Belmost and Parker and German in
1904 the Democratic party stood for no
such Ri ciple as this; nor has the Re-
publican party ever dared to proclaim
itself in favor of suc11 robust radcalism
Therefore. it is folly to say that the vic
tory won in the Chicago election is
Democratic victory. 1t is misleading to
say that this election illustrates the fact
that the Democratic party always wins
when it is Democratic" The principle
of public ownership has never been a
part of the political stock in trade of
the Democratic party. Therefore the
principle of public ownership OF public
utilities can not be classed as Demo-
cratic, if we use the term in the partisan
sense which attaches to it. The principle
If public ownership is Populistc. and it
S merely rendering to the pioneers of
hat movement simple justice when we
say that the Chicago election, which |
wiped out party lines and gave to the
people and to the principle magnificent |
yictory, should rebound to the credit of !
hose much-abused and misrepresented
hen who thirteen years ago unfulred
hat particular flag and began to fight
,eneatl it,
The people of Chicago evidently grew
ired of being plundered; grew ashamed
# their own political imbecility; grew
shamed of their own municipal cow
lrdice. Reused to activity by few
magnetic leaders who were not afraid
nd who were not to be sidetracked by
compromises, they mar
hailed their strength and demonstrated
low easy it is for the masses to throw
IF the yoke of those who plumber them
lnder forms of law Nobody ever
doubted for moment that the people of
chicago, in the MAN, were honest, cour-
geous, public spirited, but they had
ubmitted so long to the initiative and
he domination of few organized ras-
ais who intrenched themselves in
'laces of power, safeguarded by 1egis1a-
ion, that it seemed we'll nigh hopeless
0 expect them ever to revolt. The fact
hat they have revolted, and have re-
rersed the results achieved in the No
rember election, gives another illustra-
ion of what l said in the first issue of +
his magazine, namely, that the election
# 1904, properly construed, was so en-
to the reformers as to be-
:ome an inspiration. 1t was pointed out
hat the victory of Douglas in Massachu-
etts, of Folk in Missouri of La Toilette
n Wisconsin, each of whom was known
IS reforn1er, could be construed in mol
'ther way than that the people were
ired of party names, of party tradi-
ions, of party machines and party
and were determined to go to
he support of any man any principle
which promised them the relief which
hey so much needed. The triumph ofl
udge Dunno, the Democrat, following sol
peedily upon the heels of an adverse
ote for Judge Parker, the Democrat.