The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-13

source nearly all Tie nllHEONeTHIlEIlL
that has cursed mankind We cannot
reach that goal at a bound, but that
nevertheless must be the goal
other Monopolies.
There are other monopolies than those
that have their origin in the protective
tariff. One of the great sources of monop-
oily and oppression is found in the com
ditions that have governed railroad trans
portations. Any man who pauses to reflect
that there is practically no competition
between railroads, and that the price
of every article of commerce is eonsump-
ton Is affected by the cost of railroad
transaction. whether it Is actually trans
ported or not. must realize the necessity
of effective government control There
is not a government on earth which can
WELD a taxing power for the public treas
ury such as is welded by the great rail-
road companies for private profit when
not rigidly restrained, and regulated by
law
Mr.. Bryan believes with many others.
that the country must ultimately come to
government ownership. as the only solu-
ton of this great question; I prefer to
think of that only as a last resort, after
;the demonstrated failure of all other
methods. | hope that long before public
sentiment can be brought to approve
government ownership, 1t will have be-
come strong enough to compel a thor
onghly effective government regulation,
and control
But we are told that the country
has no further need of the democratic
party, since a republican President has
blossomed out as. the foe of monopoly.
| would give the President all the credit
that is his due, but ! must say that
all the glory he has won is measured
by the faithfulness with which lie has
fp1inWpd IF 7
Bryan, and compelled the republican party
to fulfill the promises of the democratic
platform The very plank which we put
in our platform for increasing the powers
of the commission, was urged upon the
republican convention which nominated
Mr.. Roosevelt, and 1t did not find there
a single champion or a single friend. At
no time during his whole administration
or during his campaign did the President
ever whisper one word In behalf of this
policy. On the contrary, his campaign
manager Sas greedily soliciting and re-
eeiying contributions from every trust
and aw-breal<ing corporation in the land.
He dared not trust the people to sustain
him in fair and open fight with the
railroad power, and beg leave to say
that the man who cannot trust the peo-
pie is not a. man whom the people can
trust
: Party Is Unchanged.
But, however. that may be, neither Mr..
Roosevelt nor any other man can change
the character of the republican party.
You may whitewash the Ethiopion and
paint the leopard, but you cannot make
one a Caucasian or the other lamb.
Those who believe that the republican
party has turned from Its evil ways have
a larger faith than mine. ! know that
there was q thief who repented on the
cross, but / know that he was on the
cross when he repented. The very mo-
ment the republican Is relieved of the
pressure of Mr.. Roosevelt's personality It
will go hack to Its old love and It's old
masters as naturally as the dog returneth
to his vomit, and the SOW that was
washed TO her wallowing in the mire.H
Declaring that the democratic party
stands today as always. upon the teach
ings of its great founder Mr.. Carmaek
said in conclusion.
AT no time was the country In greater
need of the brave heart and the steady
hands to guide the ship of state between
the whirlpool and the rock in the broad
and peaceful waters of the open sea.
There must be in this country a saving
spirit of conservatism which can rescue
the government alike from chaos and
corruption and lead 1t alike along safe
paths To IL happy issue out of all its
perlls. That spirit is to be found not In
the vain dream of the socialist but in the
application to existing conditions of those
great faiths and principles which inspired
the founders Of our government. the lv-
ing and enduring principles of the dem
ocratic party"
Senator Carmack was followed by Sen.
ator Stone of Missouri who, in a few
words, introduced Mr. Bryan. The demon
stration which greeted Mr.. Bryan on his
entrance to the hall was renewed as the
Nebraskan arose to speak. Following his
felicitious phrases of response to the
welcome. a great hush fell on the crowd
when Mr.. Bryan announced that he would
read statement concerning a topic which
had been generally discussed since he
had touched on IL during his speech at
New York
He then read the following statement
before entering upon his main speech:
Bryan's Address.
Before addressing myself to other sub.
jects which ! wish to discuss, / beg your
indulgence while l present statement
in regard to one question concerning
which my attitude has been to some ex-
tent misrepresented
I'm my speech at the New York re-
ception l made some remarks concerning
the government ownership of railroads,
and | thought that / had expressed my
self so clearly that my position could
not be misconstrued. even by those who
desired to misconstrue IT, The New York
speech was prepared in advance. 1t was
not only written, but II was carefully re-
vised. 1t stated exactly what I wanted
to state, and | have nothing to withdraw
or modify In the statement therein made.
What | say tonight is rather in the nature
of an elaboration of the ideas therein pre-
scented.
after quoting from the democratic plat
form of 1900 that "a private monopoly is
ndefensible and intollerable,' and after
laying 1t down as a principle that public
ownership should begin where competition
ends and that the people should have
the benefit of any monopoly that might be
found necessary, ! stated that ! had
reached the conclusion that railroads par
take so much of the nature of monopoly
that they must ultimately become public
property, and be managed by public Off
Gals in the interests of the whole conf
munity' | added:
81 do not know that the country is
ready for this legislation. / do not know
that the ma jority of my own party favor