The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-09-01

he can make it the commanding issue,
disrupt the old parties as they were
disrupted by the slavery issue, AMI
bring to the support of his views and
his candidacy an increasing number
OF the members of all parties, which.
under the magic Of his persuasion, will
swell 10 majority proportions in the,
presidential contest.
Considered as a piece oftactics, Mr..
Bryan's new doctrine was almost
forced upon him by necessity, and
( presents way of escape from the
helpless position in which ne appeared
Ito have been placed by Mr.. Roose.
velEs advancing radicaltsm. The
President had taken the wind out Of
his sails but upon this tack he has
the wide ocean to himself That he
had to do it will be the comment Of
political DISORDERS. A Presidential
campaign in which Mr.. Bryan should
content himself with following In the
wake of Mr.. Roosevelt would be
tame and lisuess performance, and he
would be the subordinate performer
| Now, at least he will attract attention.
Mr. Bryan has possibly done his best
to create an issue, but, we are not Of
the opinion that he has done well or
wisely. We do not believe that either
the Democratic party, or any great
part of the membership of either party,
Is ready 10 accompany his upon this
perilons adventure in radcnlism and
GENERALIZATION. The people are not so
distrustful of their institutions and of
their own powers within the old forms.
1t cannot be denied that the evils Mf.
Bryan declares to be overshadowing
do exist. Discrimination has been
practiced, and 1t is harmful. But the
public remains to be convinced that It
was through railroad Discrimination
alone that the Trusts have been built
up. and it is very far from being con.
WINGED that public ownership is the
only effective remedy. For our own
part we are entirely confident that the
Interstate Commerce act, the Anti
Trust act of 1890, the Elkins Antf-Re
bate act. and the Hepburn bill of the
last session, the enforcement of all of
which measures has been wonder.
fully facilitated by recent decisions
| of the Supreme Court, enabling
the prosecuting officer to disclose
to the court and to the public the
innermost secrets of railroad Drac'
tice, supply remedies adequate for
| the cure Of MIR. BryaRs "overshadow
ing evil" and vest the Federal Govern
ment with the power of control over
carrying corporations that will protect
The people from their jnsulence and
heir rapacity. and put a stop 10 unfail
Discrimination. The new policy OF
Furnishing the receiver of the rebate
must powerfully tend 10 break up
system OF brigandage in which the
railroads have been not merely co1lu'
sive partners. but victims.
Moreover, Mr.. Bryan oyerlooks on"
aspect of his new policy that will in
stantly and with the greatly glee be
preceiYed at oyster Bay. How could
he have been so blind as not to see that
his great issue will be almost wholly
within the keeping of the enemy party
within the next two years? 1t is a
tremendous advantage for the Repnb,
lican party and for Mr.. Roosevelt that
the remedy of regulation, the alterna-
tive to the remedy of public ownership.
is III their hands and can he admins
tered to the patient IN proportion to
his needs and not without regard to
the activities and the success of Mr..
Bryan in making Roadway with his
new party, II Federal regulation cures
the overshadowing evils, or cures
enough Of them to lull the present dis
content of the public and permit it to
turn it's thoughts to other things, Mr..
Bryan will have lost his grievance. his
new party will be thing without an
issue. incumbered with dead princi-
pies, and for leader 1t will have a
man forced 10 confess that for third
time he has guessed wrong
AIR. Bryans new doctrine OF public
ownership for the railroads Is distinct
ly and measurably more dangerous and
upsetting than his abandoned issue OF
16 to /. It Is revolution that he pro-
poses. and incalculabIe disaster would
attend the success OF his effort. The
people OF this country can bee far
enough ahead to steer clear Of ca.
lamtty of this magnitude SO plainly in
their view. The transfer OF the title
to thirteen billions Of property to the
Federal Government, and the issue OF
an equivalent amount of National secu'
rifles, would effect a displacement OF
values and Of productive force which
would result in disturbances for which
our history affords no precedent OF