The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14

we purpose TO reform. not In r.vo-
Iuiohlze the government We ulrpos-
- r.-establtsh democratic institutions
the nations capitol. returning to
the voters what belongs - the voters
We purpose to drive from the floor of
the senate those who sit there not as
servants Of the people but as corpor-
a'lon counsel. We purpos. To drive
from the floor Of the house the speaker
ahd his rules committee who hay.
made an autocracy Of that which was
created a Legislative body. In = word
We purpose TO re-adjust the lost bal
ance between the people and their
Law makers
our jury is the nation. our proof
the record Of the republican party.
our witness Theodore Roosevelt. our
attorney, Mr.. Bryan. OF Nebraska
When Mr.. Watterson pointed 10 Mr.
Bryan and said here he Is. God bless
him and give him wisdom" the audi
ence yelled for five minutes. Mr.
Watterson then introduced senator
Carmack, Of Tennessee. who addressed
the gathering.
senator CaTmaCk vas followed by
Senator ". J. stone. Of Missouri. who
introduced Mr.. Bryan. The demon
strauon that greeted Mr.. Bryan on his
entrance TO the hall vas renewed as
the NebraSkan rose 10 speak. Follow
liz his response 10 the welcome a great
hush fe! on the crowd when MIR. Bry-
an announced that he would read q
statement concerning a topic which
had been generally discussed since he
had touched on il during his speech
at New York.
He then read his statement which
in part follows:
In my speech at the New York re-
ception l made some remarks con-
corning the ownership of railroads
and thought that l had expressed
myself SO clearly that my position
could not be misconstrued even by
those who desire to miSconstrue il.
The New York speech was prepared
in advance. 1t was not only written
but it was carefully revised 1t stat
ed exactly what I wanted to state and
| have nothing to withdraw or modify
in the statement therein made. What
l say tonight is rather in the nature
of an elaboration of the ideas therein
presented.
After quoting from the democratic
platform of 1900. that "a private mo-
nopOly is indefensible and intolerable,'
and after laying it down as q principle
that public ownership should begin
where competition ends, and that the
people should have the benefit Of any
monopoly that might be found nee
essary | stated that | had reached the
conclusion, that railroads partake so
much of the nature Of monopoly
that they must ultimately become pub
lie property and be managed by public
officials in the interests Of the whole
community | added: L do not know
that the country~is ready for this leg
islatiOn. l do not know that the ma
iority of my own party faVOrS it, but
I believe that an increasing number
of the members of all parties see in
public ownership sure remedy Tor
discrimination between persons and
places and for the eXtOrtiOnate rates
for the carrying Of freight and pas
sengers.'
Il then proceeded to outline a sys-
TEN of public ownership whereby the
of public ownership might
be secured to the people without the
dangers of Capitalization.
This system cOntemplates federal
ownership of the trunk lines only and
the ownership of local lines by the
several states. | further expressed it
as my opinion that the railroads them
selves We're responsible for the growth
of sentiment in favor Of public owner
ship and said that while | believed
that the rate bill recently enacted
should be given fair trial, we might
expect to see the railroads still more
active in politics unless our experience
with them differs from the experience
we had had with franchise holdingCor-
pOratiOns This statement Of my views
has been asSailed by some as an at
tempt to force these views upon the
democratic party, and by some as an
announcement Of an intention to IN
sist upon the Incorporation Of these
views in the next democratic national
platform.
Let me answer these two charges.
/ have tried TO make It clear that
expressed nv own opinion and l have
never sought to compel the acceptance
of nv opinion by any one else. Re-
serving the right to do my thinking.
| respect the right Of every one else
to do his thinking.
II YOU ask me whether the question
of government ownership will be an
issue in the campaign Of 1908, l ans
wer. do not know. If you ask me
whether it ought to be in the platform
I reply I cannot tell until / know what
tho democratic voters think upon
the subject.
IF the democrats think II ought not
To contain such a plank then such
plank ought not TO be included IL
rests with the party 10 make the plat
form and individuals can only advise
Ihave spoken for myself and for my
self only, and | did not know now the
suggestion would be received am
now prepared to confess to you that IL
has heen received more favoraoly than
7 expected. There Is this, however
tina, 7 do expect. namely, that those
democrats who oppose government
ownership will accompany their dec
laration against il with the assertion
that they will favor government own
ership whenever they are convinced
that the country must choos" between
government ownership OF the rail-
roads and railroad ownership OF the
government
II still advocate strict regulation
and shall rejoice IL experience proves
that that regulation can Dc made 81
fective- ! will go farther than that
and saw tnat / believe ve can nav"
more efficient regulation under .
~gH.~ -