Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-13
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an assault upon those who favor the pup
lie ownership OF railways. So believing.
and having been an advocate Of this great
principle long before either Judge Howard
or Mr.. Bryan. l take the liberty to reply
to you, using the same means of publicity
that you Have used.
The only thought which you suggest. and
that might cause real democrats to hest
tate. is that Jefferson's ideas are opposed
to public ownership. Jefferson's opposition
would indeed be quite potent with demo-
Gratis. We recognize him as the great
democrat of the nineteenth century, just
as we recognize Bryan the great demo-
crat of the twentieth century But Doc
tor, you cannot possibly quote Jefferson
against the public ownership OF railroads,
for there was not a railroad In the United
States when Jefferson died. But Jeffer-
sons teachings, his avowed views, have a
distinct bearing upon the issue. In JEFF
ferson's time the means of communication
and transportation in the United States
were over lakes. rivers, canals and the ordi-
nary highways. There were no rallied high
ways In those days. Jefferson sanctioned
the taking of money from the national
treasuryFfor the purpose Of constructing
canals and building highways TO transport
persons and property between the canals
and other bodies of water. II II was right,
Doctor, for the national government to take
money from its treasury to build canals
for the public use and to build highways
connecting the canals with lakes and rivers.
is 1t wrong to take money from the ma
tional treasury to build the highways Of
commerce today, which means the steel
rallied highways? Jefferson advocated the
public ownership of the only means Of
frs 10 nd
believe II is quite logical to say that the
man who believed in the public ownership
and operation of the only means OF trans
portation in his time would likewise believe
in the public ownership and operation of
our modern means Of transportation. II
you deny. Doctor. that Jefferson advocated
this principle that have stated, will fur
nish you the proof. The trouble is Doc
tor, that those so-called democrats who
oppose public ownership, don't know what
Jefferson did teach, or knowing II, pur-
posely conceal 1t. They never practice
what Jefferson practiced. They hate and
despise Jefferson's ideas No man who be-
lieves in the teachings of Jefferson can or
will oppose public ownership Every JEFF
fersonian democrat in the nation will stand
with Bryan, who is only advocating the
Ideas of Jefferson.
Those who talk of Jeffersonian democracy
so glibly are mistaken as to the author of
their so-celled democracy. The men who
believe that private parties should own our
highways whether they be canals. rivers,
lakes or railways are not followers of
jefferson at all The men who belive in
granting special privileges to private men
and in giving to them a monopoly of the
modern public highway are not followers
of Jefferson; they are the followers of So
called democrats like Grover Cleveland.
William c. Whitney. August Belmont and
Roger Sullivan.
In letter such as this, Doctor, cannot
discuss one-hundredth part of the arguments
in favor of public ownership. For the pur-
pose of this letter 7 shall suggest but a
few reasons why we are not afraid of the
DOGGY man called GENERALIZATION. In the
first place a proper. civil service would
protect the .railvay,l employee and he will
cast his ballot freesfrom coercion Just as
he does in New Zealand.
But, Doctor, let us find out what the
private owners of the rallied highways are
doing in this matter of Capitalization.
do not intend to 60 into all OF them. That
would take a letter that would fill many
newspapers. But before the discussion is
over during the next two years, the de-
tenders of the present system will have all
these arguments dinned into their ears; for
Bryan has aroused. by this great issue.
the young men OF the country as Jefferson
aroused them a century ago. There are
countries in Europe-many Of them-which
own and operate their own railroads. Let
us contrast their exercise of power with
that of the dukes of the steel rallied high
ways who manage our modern railroads
In 1895 every man in the United States
who would agree to vote for William Nc
Kinley was given the opportunity to have
free ride, free bed, free meals and n
free drunk II he would take trip to visit
Mckinley at Canton, o. These were ac-
cepted by men from all parts of the United
States The railroads furnished 1t all. The
purpose was to stir up enthusiasm and
secure votes for Mckinley and the modern
system. Has any government In Europe
ever exercised such power this to aid
any political party?
These same railroads took millions from
their treasures in 1896 and used II to de-
feat William J. Bryan. This was not their
own money. 1t was money wrung by them
in extortionate freight and passenger
charges from the people of the country 1t
was wrung alike from the friends and foes
Of Bryan. But II was used against Bryan.
Would any government dare take money
from the railroad treasury under govern
ment ownership and use II to further the
candidacy of any presidential candidate?
Yet this money was acquired by these rail-
roads by exercising national power in inter-
state commerce and state sovereignty In
state commerce. For be 1t remembered,
Doctor that no railroad company can
transport freight or passengers a single
mile In the United States without state or
Interstate authority.
l. do not claim that the railroads were
the only sinners in that campaign. The
trusts and money combines were In With
them. But am pointing out to you, Doc
tor. that they exercised despotic ard
corrupt power that never has been exer-
cised and never will be exercised by any
railroads owned by any government on
earth. In Douglas county. in which you
live, Doctor. what did the railroads and
other combines do? They desired to boat
Bryan and likewise 10 elect a legislative
ticket subservient TO the CORPORATIONS.
hat hax 40 Would