New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-01

that certain close friends of Mr.. Bryan had
pleaded with him TO cut out OF his speech his
declaration for government ownership OF rail-
roads
but, you knew. he is heady man." said
the speaker. land IL is almost impossible TO
turn him from his convictions. But when some
of his friends get hold OF him in private after
this excitement has blown over they will tell
him Just how foolish they think he was"
EVEN FOLK DOUBTFUL.
Governor Folk of Missouri. who is strong
admirer of Mr.. Bryan. loath TO criticise him
yesterday. but felt constrained to express his
doubts to the feasibility Of government and
state ownership OF railroads.
Whatever Mr.. Bryan may say is entitled to
careful consideration, he said, but the question
OF government ownership of railroads is one of
great importance. and cannot be considered off,
hand.
"Mr. Bryan is an earnest and sincere man.
Undoubtedly his speech contains the issues
which he thinks should become planks of the
party platform IN 1908, and 81 ne is nominated
by the party he will want those planks to be
adopted. do not think, however that he would
refuse the nomination because any particular
one of those pIanks was left out.
II regard the chief planks desired by Mr.
Bryan for the platform in 1908 the issues laid
down by him on the railroads. the trusts and the
tariff
Governor Folk spoke particularly Of the ex-
perience that Missouri had had in the owner
ship Of railroads. He said:
The time may come when It may be feasible
for the national government TO own and operate
the railroads of the country. I doubt very
much however, IL the people of Missouri will
vote TO bond the state for the of from
S3O0OO0o 600 TO S4oo 600 necessary TO buy
the railroads within the state boundaries.
The State Of Missouri practically owned all
the railroads in the state forty years ago, and
the people have just finished paying the debt
incurred. The state at that time issued bonds
10 aid in the construction OF certain railroads,
including the Wabash, the Missouri Pacific. the
Iron Mountain. the Burlington and the Hannibal
& ST. Joseph.
All of these roads except the latter, defaulted
in their payments. the liens were foreclosed and
the railroads bought IN by the state Later
commissions were appointed to sell the rail-
roads. The transaction resulted in loss Of
s25 600 900 20 the state. Regarding this Gov
ernor Folk said:
II must be said however. that much Of this
loss was accomplished by shameful fraud and
corruption. The commissioners were bribed to
sell the roads TO certain parties, and members
OF the Legislature bribed to authorize the
sale of the roads and to release certain part
of the debt 10 the state.
Governor Folk said that other states might
not be similarly situated. but he thought that
the experience of Missouri might serve
warning He finished:
Conditions may be different to-day, but the
possibilities OF between $500 100000 and 500
100000 in bonds outstanding and the efforts
that would be made by corrupt persons to get
control of the railroads bid any careful mar TO
hesitate The result might be that the people
of Missouri would find themselves in the end
with millions OF bonds TO pay and the railroads
back where they were before.