Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-20
Mr.. Bryan's Position.

government ownership of railroads was that
IL the effort to control them by legislation
proves ineffective then he would favor gov
eminent ownership of the trunk lines by
the national government and the ownership
of the local state lines by the states them
selves. in order to maintain the idea of
local control on the part of the state. But
he has also declared that in his judgment
the effort to control the railroads would
be futile. and that the country would be
brought face to face with his alternative.
Whatever he has had in his own mind as
to the effect of this statement upon the
the impression among his friends, as well
as among his political opponents. that he
Is an advocate of government ownership
and that he believes that that will have to
become democratic doctrine.
Southern Protests.
All over the south protests have been
made privately by prominent democratic
leaders against this issue which Is being
brought into the democratic creed by the
influence of Mr.. Bryan. There have not
been so many open protests against it, but
privately there is expressed almost no sym
pathy for the new doctrine. John Sharp
Williams, democratic leader of the House
of Representatives, has spoken out. as have
a number Of other readers. Now that former
Senator Jones has placed his views before
Mr. Bryan in friendly way and in definite
form, wonder Is being expressed whether
Mr.. Bryan will "see the error of his ways
as the democrats express his excursion into
the realms Of government ownership and
return to strict government control. 1t is
well known that Mr.. Bryan has the utmost
confidence in Mr.. Jones. After his defeat
in 1896 there was some talk about changing
the national chairman, but when Mr.. Bryan
again became the candidate in 1900 he de-
clared that he wanted his old and loyal
friend as the manager of his second battle.
Force of Jones' Advice.
Since Mr. Jones' retirement from the
United States Senate it has been generally
understood that he has abandoned politics
and would in the future devote himself to
the practice of his profession, although he
has said that he would never cease to take
the interest of a citizen In politics and the
democratic party. His advice to Mr.. Bryan
will for these reasons come with peculiar
disnterestedness and force. 1t is to be
speeches in the south will give any indi-
cation that he is willing to accept the adj
vice of his strong friends.
Democratic Sentiment.
A good many democrats believe he will
do SO because he has said he was merely
expressing his personal opinion as demo-
crat and not as the candidate of the party.
II the party does not like his ideas he has
clearly said 1t will be simple matter for
them to omit them from their platform,
and he will stand on the democratic plat
form If he is nominated and accepts the
nomination. He has made it plain that
he Is not SO thoroughly welded to gov
eminent ownership as to create dissen-
sion in his party because Of his advocacy
of that policy. Democrats are everywhere
declaring that IL he continues his talk
about this issue he will create a division
in the party that will destroy all their hopes
for success in 1905