Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-09-22
ACADEMIC
AND TENTATIVE

That thick and thin Republican or
gans should take the Government
Ownership passage in Mr. Bryan $
current repertory for exclusive con-
sideration. is proof at once OF their
PARTISAN character and the inherent
weakness of the suggestion: but the
Boston Herald is not an organ OF the
thick and thin variety, aud hence
We are surprised to find Il laying SO
much stress upon tentative. II not
an unguarded. expression OF indivi-
dual opinion.
Mr.. Bryan. himself. disciaims any
wish. or purpose To dictate the Demo
cratic platform for 1908, either with
respect to Government Ownership or
any other plank. II is safe to say
that the Eastern and Southern wings
of the party are nearly solid against
IL. In case the National Convention
declines To- accept Government owner
ship and declares against 1t, does the
Herald think IL will still become an
issue In the Presidential campaign? !?
IL is the hope OF the Courier Jour
al that long before the assembling of
the Convention. Mr. Bryan will come
TO revise his judgement. II is the
belief OF the Courier-Journal that
In any event the Convention will pro-
nounce against government ownership
by a decisive, IL not an overwhelming
majority. The Republicans might
adopt such policy because IL is pure
Federaiistic. III they could carry Il.
they would by stroke have changed
the form OF our Government from n
representative Democracy to a centra-
lized despotism. with the Republican
party In power for all time, or until
thrown out by revolution precipi-
tated by Civil War. That a Demo-
cratic Convention should accept II
as Democratic policy, is inconceiva-
BILE.
Mr.. Bryan will be nominated by
reclamation. Government Owner
ship will be repudIated by acclama-
tion. In this event. how could the
issue cut any figure in the election?
1T is possible" says the Herald. =.
that the effect OF the new rate law.
with the enlightened cooperation of
the railroads, may remove even the
consideration OF this issue from the
field OF politics before two years have
passed"
Yes, IL is possible. though not prob
able, because # is lklier that the
Railway Kings will go along with
their heads In the sand clinging to
a policy which has always been mis-
taken, doing them more harm than
good. so that, In some form, or an
other. We shall have the discussion.
The people are masters OF this count
ry and the question raised they Will
not rest content until their master
ship is fully asserted; especially in
the driving OF Corporation Counsel
out OF Congress and the forcing of
all franchise-holders under the re-
straints Of Jaw. The Herald Is not
borne out by the facts when II says
that the result of Mr.. Bryan's in
terjection of the Ownership idea has
been TO lose the Democratic Congress
sional Campaign Managers all pres.
ent hope for carrying the next House.
Can the Herald have heard from the
state Of Maine?
Mr.. Roosevelt himself has threat.
ened the Railways with Government
Ownersbip. That is about all Mr.
Bryan is doing. The Courier-Journal
Is Of the opinion that the remedy Is
worse than the disease, and we make
no doubt that will be the verdict Of
the Democratic party and people
Courier-Journal.
The cOlored citizens OF BlueaeId
held meeting last night with about