Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-11-30
at the ElKo postonice for transmissio.
through the malls as second-class matter
AN LKssON.

n.#H#N& -.-
A railroad stockholder, writing to the
New Yorh World, says: I have before
me;your editorial aAn Object Lesson
for MIR. Bryan" P%' Q ;
BRYAN may have erred in his advocacy,
OF i~itpsernment ownership Of fafltoadsi
peoyided he had nothing IN view butsa,
.eelBsh desire 10 be elected president IN
1908, hut while the massee may notbe
sufficiently educated to government
ownership by that time it is positive
Tint before 1912 u vast maj 5rity of the
people Of these United States will favor
the proposition and government owrer
chip become u living reRlny. n:
Youigive the only reason that has yet
been'advanced against government own.
ershir, that 1t gives too much power to
the government in power. and you
presume that that power wonld he one
for evil. The same arguments were
used against the government taking
over the postal service.
Can we not trust railway as well ny
other employees OF the government
Would not civil service prevnilP Gould
we not trust tine railroad employ es to
vote ns conscience dictated, or ARE they
unworthy OF trust md devoid VI con
~ec,enc? There would be no fear in
the exercise OF the electio.. frnhchisf, rs
we have the secret ballot. W"nld the
COVER nment be- stncter. more exacling
more I%artisan Thru the present Officials
OF railroad corporations? With eigh'
honr5 as II day of labor would not the
travelling public increased? Would moi
the present managers Of railroads tina
are considered so proficient be glad tc
work for the government? And il not
is it not possible that there are men O
quite equal ability in the ranks? wonlc
moi the entire population east anu west
north and south, he wonderfully bene
titeo by cheaper freight and chcape
passenger rates? These rates are toda!
more than double those necessary, ant
the prod Icer and the consumer are botl
taxed to the very uttermost limit.
~ Phhse' advocating government own
ership do not propose to coniifcat'
properly, bnt 10 take over the railroad,
at a fair aud just valuation. The occur
titles given by tile government, |
bonds instead Of cash were given
would surely be greater than those o
any railroad in existence, for govern
ment securit q would not be suscept
ble to railroad re-orgnnizers, schemerl
and stock-wsteriug manipulatOrs
There is no more positive fact thai
railroad corporations today contro
Legislation and conditions could rot b.
worse IL the 1900 cmplo, cs change,
their allegi incr from the railroad trus
to tie government, state or national.
What hus b, en- done in the building
OF steam railroads during the pnst lev
yeirs aud what is being done toda,
without the expressed approval of tn
existing corporations? Absolutel,
nothing other than that in the electri
railway line, and the railroads fight an,
delay the Sc modern mems of transport
alton or buy them up ns coon ma the.
become active competitors. The rail
road commissioners can and do proven
the construction Of new railroads, nm,
they make the excuse that there ar,
enough r0ad nIread! (; that the e~xislin,
ruad- ehoull uoi he pnrnlleled or thei
tertiary Invaded. Where is the CON
mission that protects the oppueition b
another drug, another grocery, apothe
~drysSgools storeY Where is the la
Of sdnitys Why prevent tie man will
.tApitI Investing in heW liueA o
railroads and permit an institution lik,
the cigar trust to destroy every CON
5letitorS0r force tile small dealer. 70 sell
fhG people, both rich aud poor, th,
stakeholder. the emplo,c, tile govern
ssnepL, all will be beIlefited 10y govern
meqt nSfership aud il 0uly requires
litttu- more education for the loyal
intel gent, pat rlotic c,tjzan to favor, tht
goyernment ownership and operation d
railronds.