The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-12-21
BRYAN Is RIGHT.
To the Editor Ocala Banner:

the COMMENT VI lilt SilICu No'tCi Jun
has been copied by the press, and
read by majority of the reading pub
lie, causing manw to look on gov
eminent ownership of railways as
something opposed to their best in
terest, and contrary to the true prin-
ciples of democracy. If the spoils
system is to continue; if the appoint
ing power is best and be applied to
government roads, then Colonel Wat
terson is right, it would prove the
greatest source of corruption the
world ever saw. The appointing pow
er takes from the people the best
elements of self-government, and
should be done away with as fast as
possible.
That power in the hands of presi-
dents and governors enables them to
control the influence of men, who, If
freed from personal obligation, would
refuse to stand pat; for men whose
acts are repugnant to them, and whose
principles are opposed to their con-
ception of right.
All officers intended for clerical pO-
sitions should be named under civil
service rules And those rules should
be honest American rules, and not
partisan trickery. No community
should have officers thrust upon them
unacceptable to a majority Of said
community. That would take from
executive officers a power that is too
otter used to the detriment of the peo-
pies interest, and has enabled worth
less men to retain power and POSITION
which they were unworthy to fill.
The abrogation of the spOils system
would remove all objection to gov
eminent ownership of railways. And
the public ownership of these great
transportation companies would de-
stroy one of our great corporate pow
ers, which has robbed the public OF
everything but the name.
If Mr. Watterson is right in his
sweeping objection to government
ownership of railways, then following
out his line of argument, the postal
service should be given to private
companies, for it employs men who
may be influenced by the positions
they hold and salaries they receive to
support parties and men who don't
represent their ideals of wise and just
Ipolicies.
Every one will agree that the mon
ey devil" will destroy the repuhli"
and crush the peoples hopes unless
they kill or control it. And what bet
ter way could it be crushed than by
destroying and taking from cOrpor-
ations the source from which they
draw their dishonest revenues. No
one will deny that the great railway
companies have contributed to cam
paign funds and often force their en-
ployees to vote contrary to their hon
est convictions.
1t is true we have not the right to
force railway companies to sell their
property to the government, nor have
any right to take these railways from
these corporations who have acquired
them under the laws of our country
however unjust those laws may be.
But the government has the right
to squeeze the water out of over-val-
ued stocks, and force them to a prop
! err value.
There can be no question raised as
to what is a proper value. Full cost
of construction and equipment, or
just what it would cost to build a
: parallel line, is the value of a rail-
way.
But when We see railways costing
$40, 100000 per mile capitalized for
$50, 100000 and earning a good dividend
on that amount, it is plain, to any one
d. that thinks that the people are be-
ing robbed seventy-five per cent. in
charges. That condition does not pre-
vail in any other country in the world.
No people have ever endured more pa
tiently such unjust oppression than
the citizens of this republic. And if
the government cannot control the
railways interest, they should build
l parallel lines to carry the mails and
furnish a cheap service for parcels
5 and freight. And therefore free the
masses of our people from the op
Y pressive charges now imposed upon
: them by the railways and express
companies.
: Mr.. Watterson knows that the great
d express companies have prevented
S the establishment of a postal parcel
service. which is enjoyed by the peo
nile of MANY of the European cOun