The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-09-15
BRYAN AND THE RAILROADS.

Mr.. Bryan in his speech at st. Louis
on last Tuesday explained more fully
his attitude in reference to railroads:
1T is government supervision for which
first stand for. When that fails it is
time to take up more radical meas
urcs. This is Il marked modification
Perhaps the country did not fully un-
derslund The New York speech and per-
haps Mr.. Bryan, because OF his long
absence from me country, does not
fully understand the political feeling
of the country. 1t may be that the
reception that was accorded his New
York speech by southern leaders hau
something to do with the notifications.
Nothing could be surcr in politics than
before the deliverance OF his first
speech after arriving in this country.
He is still reasonably sure to be this
next Democratic nominee. ii is also
reasonably sure, however, that the
southern states, the only ones that gave
Parker ;ln electoral vote i'll the las.
election, will never support Il plank in
the Democratic platform calling for
government ownership of railroads. Ut
teranccs by such men as Senator Bailey
Of Texas, Senator Daniels OF Virginia,
John Sharpe Williams Of Mississippi,
and Governor Folk Of Missouri, indicate
pretty we'll Democratic southern feel
ing. Mr.. Williams takes IL sensible
view OF Mr.. Bryan and his attitude
toward the railroads. Mi. Williams
says that just because all Democrats
do not agree with Mr.. Bryan on this
single question is no reason for re-
pudiating him, for there are 50 many
things upon which Mr.. Bryan is right
that they can easily agree to disagree
Mr. Williams says that il such q plank
is proposed at the next national cons
vention of the party, we" meaning the
southern delegates, would vote it
down" That is exactly right. Mi.
Bryan does not claim to be Il dictator
Neither is he the keeper Of the Demo-
cratic. conscience.
The Democratic convention, conf
posed of delegates from all quarters
frame the next Democratic platform.
They. not Mr. Bryan. will make the
platform. And if it is such that MIR.
Bryan cannot subscribe to it, of course,
he will not be the candidates. 1t will
never do for the Democratic party to
manufacture platforms to please lead
ing candidates. \ candidate must be
found who agrees with Democratic
policies. The Democratic party in con-
gress is already pretty we'll committed
to the principle of federal regulation OF
the railroads. In fact. the Democratic
members of congress obtained AZ good
deal of credit for the railroad legisa-
ton proposed and forced through con-
.rcSs through the influence Of President
Roosevelt. 1t is much better to vot.
down objectionable party platforms at
convention time than to have the party
voted down by the people on election
day.
From his st. Louis speech we take
it that there is no great difference be-
reference to the railroads and that Of
the Democratic members of congress.
The Democratic members OF congress
who so earnestly supported President
Roosevelt in his fight for the rate bin
will be delegates or instrumental in
clecting delegates to the next Demo-
cratic convention. 1t would be to.
much to expect that they would in two
years change their attitude in reference
to railroad regulation and admit so
soon that government regulation for
which they voted was Il failure. We
do not underestimate Mr.. Bryans in
tlucncc in the Democratic party. We
do not forget what he accomplished in
1904 when Il great majority Of the dele
gates were hostile to some of his views.
We are certain that he is more popular
now than he was then, and yet we are
almost as certain that the next Demo.
cratic convention will never submit to
a plank calling for the federal owner
ship of the railroads Of the country
WOULD RULE OR RUIN.