Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-09-27
Mr.. BRYAN on Government ownership.

week, Ion. w IL. y. OiJ al Ca
his ideas on the government. owner.
ship of railroads, and made his posi-
ton very clear. Mr.. Bryan started
out by saying that Democracy is a
doctrine that appeals to the heart
and that is why the Democratic party
lives, whether it wins or losses. The
idea of Democracy, he said, is grow
ing, and in this country he found on
his return large development of the
Democratic idea. The party is full
of hope for the coming campaign, he
said, because the people better under
stand the ideas of Democracy, and as
they better understand them they
are growing more friendly to them.
He said that after ten years OF
power the Republican party has tall
en- so low that there is but one Re-
publican in the party today, according
to leading Republican papers, who
would stand chance of election II
the election were now.
Republicans will tell you, he as
serted, "that the President is that
man. Do the others lack ability?
No, they are just as able as they ever
were. Are not they well known?
Yes, too well known. Why is it then2
1t is because he has adopted so many
planks Of the Democratic party.
He referred to the Presidents set
ting the coal strike and said he was
glad he did it.
"But where" he asked, ibid he
get the idea of arbitration? He got
it from the Democratic platform; and,
my friends, am little proud of the
fact that wrote that plank myself
While the Republican party is
claiming credit for its opposition to
the trusts, it is not doing its duty on
the trust question, said Mr.. Bryan.
II am willing to go down on my
knees and ask my Heavenly Father,
Give us this day our daily bread,
but am not willing to make millions
of my countrymen get down on their
knees and say to some trust magnate;
Give us this day our daily bread,
and have his reply: 1 will if you vote
the ticket l want you to vote.
"In the impending campaign we
shall challenge the Republican party
to state its position, and we will state
ours boldly-that you cannot regulate
private monopoly, that you need not
waste time trying to restrain it, but
that you have to kill it outright.
He referred to the railroad rate law
and said he was going step farther
on the railroad question.
1.-TWO years ago" he said, IL had
reached the conclusion that the Gov
eminent ownership Of railroads was
the only solution Of the question. l
did not say it when l was the leader
of the party in either campaign; IN
fact, had not reached the conclusion
until few years ago. When l was
relieved of leadership at st. Louis
and could speak as private individ-
ual, stated my conclusions.
"My conviction has grown since,'
and in New York ! stated it as my
opinion that that was the ultimate So
luton. l said 1 did not know
whether the country was ready for it
or whether a majority of the Demo
Gratis favored ii. Now, | want to say |
that my position has been misstated
and in some places mlsconstructed.
I have been accused Of favoring a
thing that would lead to centraliza-
ton. Let me remind you that this
plan not only does not lead to
Capitalization, but it is the first sug.
gestion made in many years that looks
toward the strengthening of the State
and making bulwark against GEN.
tralization.
People have been discussing pub
lie ownership with the idea that the
Federal Government would own the
railroads, and it seemed to me that
that was fraught with danger, because
l believe in the Democratic doctrine
oflocal self-government and that IN our
opinion is strongest when the inde-
pendence of the State and the con-
duct of its own affairs is recognized
and respected.
81 believe in our Constitutional
doctrine that local things are for the
States and national affairs for the
Federal Government, and, therefore,
instead of advocating a Federal
ownership that would centralize all
this power at Washington, l advocated