The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-01
THE BRYAN RECEPTION.


York on Thursday evening was in mag
nitude and enthusiasm, everything that
could be desired by bis most fervept
admirers. Mr.. Bryan g response was in
general in good taste, and was received
with an appreciation that could not
fail 10 have warmed his heart. The
tenor of Mr.. Bryan speech shows
that, while not cutting loose from the
former things, he is much more disposed
to conservatism than heretofore. His
conpratulation to President Roosevelt
upon taking up what Mr.. Bryan claims
TO be Democratic doctrine was in good
taste, and there is enough truth in it to
make it telling point. His definition
of what corporation is and what its
rights are was abstract, but it does
not fit in cases where the rights of the
corporation are so guarded by fran
chises such as the robbing monopoly
Of the Utah Light and Power Com
pany in this city, for instance, that
the people are helpless in its grasp for
long term of years. The remedy for
found by any one in such cases; and
wo doubt if under our form Of gov
ernment when concern has been given
such enormous privileges as are often
given by municipalities, there is any
satisfactory remedy.
In one matter, however, Mr., Bryan
WAS not altogether candid, and that Is
when in speaking of tariff reform he
censured the sale of American manu-
factured goods in foreign countries at
a lower price than such goods are sold
at home. The secret of that is in fact
no secret at all, but is a common prac-
tice among manufacturers and among
merchants everywhere. A manufac-
tory is run, let US say, at full capacity
in order to meet the usual demand for
its product; let that demand slacken
somewhat, or let the capacity Of the
plant be somewhat above the market
demand, and what is the natural thing
to do7 Not to depress prices and so
establish basis of business that may
be ruinous, but the surplus product is
| worked off either at home or abroad,
| on such terms az are found practicable.
Precisely the same rule governs where
| merchant is selling off a season IS
stock that has been purchased too
| great for the market; and the usual
"clearing out" sales are Of the same
| nature.
In.so far as Mr., Bryan g speech may
| be interpreted as to commit him TO
| government ownership of railways,
| there will be much opposition to it.
Tho transportation interests in this
country in the hands Of the railway
magnates are SO enormous, their en-
ployment Of men is on such a tremen-
dous scale that government ownership
would be direct invitation to those
in charge Of the railway interests to
combine for political purposes and have
their own plans of government, to be
carried at the polls by themselves in
control Of the elections; the railway
interests alone are sufficient TO sway
elections in most Of tho States, pro.
vided that votes werc all cast in one
way. Government ownership would
solidify that vote, and it would nc
doubt combine with other agencies OF
the same kind to either overthrow al
administration it did not like or ia
maintain in Office one that was salts
factory to it.
A small taste in its way Of what
we might expect in this matter wa:
given two years ago when the railway
mail clerks undertook to force candi
dates for Congress to pledge that they
would support increase Of salaries fol-
these clerks. Suppose that we had the
railways all nationalized; is it moi
apparent that the employees in thai
department Of the Government woult
join with those in other department.
(for it is not at railways that TIL,
Government activities would stop)
suppose, we say, that all should joiI
for the purpose Of increasing the sal
aries Of each and all and to maintain
in Office those who were favorable t.
the demands Of these employees; wha
advantage would it be to the genera
public not in that combine to have tn,
Government run In that fashion7
Is not a matter that is theoretical il
the least, but it is something tina
might be expected to come along anc
awhat certainly would come along i,