Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-05

j
All sober minded. thinking men
certain great problems which have
! grown out of our extraordinary devc.
| opment, and which must be resolutely
| met and solved il we are to preserve
| the institutions of our fathers in their
| full integrity. We have more Than no.
| 600 miles of main track railway in the
| United States. Gradually. these miles
| of railway are being gathered into a
| few systems. The business of the coun-
| try depends for its transportation upon
these railways. They are public high
| ways and ii is conceded that The gov
| eminent may lawfully compel them to
| do at least two things--tirst, TO fur
| nish transportation for a fair and rea-
| sonable compensation: second. to fur
| nish transportation to all persons, UNI
| Ger like conditions, for the same COM
| pensation: and the prohibition agains.
| discrimination applies n 9 we'll to local
| tiles and communities as to individuals
| The task of bringing into practical
| use the power which the government
unquestionably holds. has been most
difficult one, and will continue to tax
the best efforts of the most enlighten-
| ed people of the world. One of the
questions that you must answer in the
coming election is this: Which party
| is most likely to so deal with the sub
| iect that justice will be done to all the
| people, and the rights of the railways
| maintained.
| Eighteen years ago. the republican
| party gave to the state of Iowa a law
| At TT, ;,, IL
nowledged to be as perfect as the wit
of man has yet devised. 1t was ma
/ tured in the wisdom and zeal of Il man
| who has done as much to protect the
/, people from the aggressions of corpor-
| ate power as any man in America -
| Governor William Larrabee. 1t will.
| think, be admitted that the republican
party in this state Is therefore entitled
| to the trust of the people in Its lead-
ership upon this most important phase
of public affairs.
In 1887, the republican party gave to
| the nation a law which seemed to pro-
vide for the exigencies of that time.
The ingenuity of railway management.
the complexlty of the subject ITSELF
and new conditions in the business.
rendered the, law inadequate for the
protection OF the public, and recent
years have witnessed one of the most
interesting, instructive and vital strug-
giles for Its amendment that ever oc-
Cured In the war of reform. Forum
ately for US, we had at Washington a
president whose head was clear, whose
heart was pure, and whose courage was
unfaltering. He led the fight with I'M
surpassed skill and relentless energy,
and before the last congress adjourned
the law was SO strentheneds that it
will do much to remedy the abuses
which have aroused the Indignation of
the people. Again the republican par
ty INDICATED its title to leadership in
American affairs.
1t may be true-it probably is true
that the law will need further
change, and that still other stringent
regulations must be added, and that
additional powers must be granted to
the Interstate commerce commission.
We, however, are dealing with the
question in way that will allow the
railways to earn a revenue amply
sufficient for their maintenance, opera
ton and the reward of capital, and
will at the same time secure to trav-
elers and shippers their inherent rights
over our public highways. 1t is strange
that the democratic candidate for gov
ernor does not pause long enough in
the ceaseless flow of his criticism of
my doings and sayings to tell you what
plan the democratic party proposes
for the regulation of transportatio
He says that he follows unreservedly
his distinguished commander. William
M
for Mr.. Bryan. I believe him to be
sincere and all the world knows him
to be strong and courageous Mr..
Bryan proposes government owner
ship as the solution of the problem, in
event of complete or even partial fail
ure of the effort to regulate our rail-