Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-28
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP LEAGUE
Permanent Organization Effected at Meet
ing Thursday Night
CLUB FORMED ON A STATEWIDE BASIS
Intention is to Push IL Along and IL
dmately to Make It's scope
NationRI-Permanen ON
GERS Elected.
President-M. +. HARRINGTON, O'Neill.
vice President-H. G. Bronze, Omaha.
Secretary-Edgar Howard Columbus.
Treasurer-W. II. Green. CreiQhtou,

1.eloent-M +. harrington, O'Nein
Secretary-Edgar Howard, Columbus.
Creasurer-W. H. Green, Creighton.
The Government Ownership League OF
Nebraska, embodying the principle Of gov
ernment ownership of railroads and in
tended to be the nucleus of movement
which shall spread over Nebraska and in
short time over the entire United States.
was organized last night at the Paxton
MOTEL About eighty men were there from
several counties men of various political
parties and Of opposite views on tariff
and finance, but all together on the ques-
tion Of the right and duty of the govern
! ment to own and operate the railroads
NJ. f. Harrington, provisional chairman
and Edgar Howard. provisional secretary
were made permanent president and secre-
/ tary, respectively. II. c. Bronze of Omaha
was elected vice president and w II. Green
of Creighton treasurer.
President Harrington was authorized to
appoint an executive committee OF six.
one from each congressional district to
draft a constitution, which shall be in ef-
rect until the first state convention Of the
league shall be called Mr.. Harrington
VIII take time to select the committee. A
statistician will be chosen by the executive
committee
of the league in every county in the state,
and 1t is expected to have delegates from
every county when the first convention is
called. which will be In about six months
After this convention 1t is proposed to
| begin the spread of the movement by help
Ing to organize other states.
Fund for Organization work.
! TO carry on the work of the secretary,
who is to have literature printed and dis
tributed and to provide for the expenses
of organizers a fund was started last night
by subscription. Mr.. Harrington started
with pledge to give SO a month for
year. and William Deck of Nemaha county
followed him with a pledge of S. By the
close of the meeting $50 a month for
year had been subscribed. The secretary
will continue to take pledges.
| Previous to definite action, addresses
were made by Mr.. Harrington, w. F. Porter
of Lincoln. C. J. Rundell of Wayne, William
/ Deck of Nemaha county and c. Vincent of
Omaha. Former Senator William v. Allen
had been expected, but he sent letter
saying he had found 1t impossible to be
present.
Mr.. Harrington said the question of gov
ernment ownership of railroads is the big
gest one that has arisen since the foun-
dation OF the government, even bigger than
the slavery question By virtue of its agi-
| tation, he said there is bound to be a new
alignment in politics, that men are to es-
cape the new cause without regard 20
party. Bryan and LaFullette, he said.
thinking they do on this question. can
not fight each other, very long, but must
stand together
Cost OF Purchasing Roads.
| Taking up the matter of the cost of pur-
chase to the government Mr.. Harrington
said:
"The Union Pacific proved in court that
It could build its main line at $4,000 a mile.
1t also proved in court in 1904 that it could
pay dividends on $4,000 a mile. 1t can
now pay on $4,000 mile.
"One-half of the money that crosses the
Union Pacific counter is profit; more than
one-third is profit on the Northwestern,
and more than one-fourth on the Burling
ton. Can you find any other business that
will pay as well that?
'"The capitalization of the railroads of
the country is $4,000 10000, and LaFolette
saws 5000. 10000 OF this is water. If he is
right, then IS, ,OO0OOO,OOO would buy the rail-
roads. AS the government can get money
at per cent 100000 a year would pay
the interest. What is that to the S7OO 900
annually which the railroads take from the
people by their eNOTDltanl cndTBeS 10 pay
dividends on the watered stock?
"The debt would be less in proportion
TO the population and the wealth of the
country than was the national debt at the
end of the civil war"
Mr. Harrington spoke of Switzerland and
New Zealand which own their railroads,
as the most representative governments of
the world He gave many instances show
ing where the railroads are building up
communities at the expense OF others, in
order to get the long haul on merchandise
and make money for themselves.
Cannot Prevent Rebates.
He said the laws could not prevent the
railroads from giving rebates. though they
might have TO give them indirectly. The
railroads could agree to buy all their meat
! from Armour and pay him a big price,
or they might agree to buy all their ice
from Swift and pay him a big price, and
the law could not stop IT,
William Deck created some amusement
by squelching a man who advocated gov
ernment ownership, but not operation.
1T learned years ago." he said, that
when you want to cut OF dogs tail, you
want to cut it or where you want it cut"
q. Vincent of Omaha said the rate on
corn east of Omaha TO Chicago is IL cents
per bushe per 100 miles, but from points
in Nebraska to Omaha It is So cents.
First Informal Meeting.
Speaking of the meeting, Edgar Howard
said: 1--WE held an Informal meeting in
Omaha several weeks ago and then decided
to hold this mass convention, to get the
movement started in this state. Our present
object is TO form local organizations in ev-
cry county In Nebraska. We also hope to
make our organization the nucleus for ma
tional organization which shall have for it's
object the furthering OF the cause of govern
ment ownership. We believe we can make
many converts TO the cause in this way,
and we expect to start a movement which
shall be real force in bringing about the
ownership of public utilities by the gov
ernment.
1--WE are interested in the government
ownership of all public utilities. but es-
pecially railroads.
This is not a Bryan movement" said
NJ F. Harrington. ''Of course II Mr.
Bryan should become the democratic nomi-
nee for the presidency next time and
should run on a government ownership
platform, he would naturally reoeive the
support OF this league, but II he should
choose not TO run a government owner
ship platform he would not get our en-
dorsement. This movement Is launched as
Of M A.