Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-05

industry. l am for the American theory
and against the European theory. Let Eu-
rope copy America, not America copy
Europe. Government control Of railways,
but not government ownership of rail
ways.
The utmost faith is therein implied
that this country can regulate railways
and other corporations and eliminate
the abuses complained Of. When that
is accomplished, or when it is demon
strated that it can be accomplished. we
fast to his theory of government own
ership; until it shall be demonstrated
that it cannot be accomplished, the peo-
pie of this country are not going to
stampede for Bryan and for the new
Bryanesquc doctrine. They nave been
attracted by the brillianry Of his cleo
trio oratory before only to discover that
he vas leading them into dangerous
and untrod bypaths, far from the high
way Of sane and conservative action.
The SenatOr discussed the develop
ment of American industries from the
individual to the combination stage. the
growing needs of the country making it
imperative that men join capital and
brains to meet the increased demand.
But still the control remains with the
people. We talk of m~illiOnaires and
multi-millionaircs as being in absolute
possession of large corporations. and
yet it is a fact that 10 per cent 90 the
stock and bonds of these mammoth en-
terpriseS is held by hundreds of thou
sands of people. II they will, they can
see to it that the government exercises
who are managing their property. For
Senator Dcveridge says:
Government supervision means the in.
telligence and conscience of the people
laying their restraining hands on the
wrongs of railway management; govern
mcnt ownership means an American bu-
reaucracy as much greater than any other
bureaucracy on earth as the American
railway system is as much greater than
any other railway system on earth.
Those who advocate government own
ership admit that private management Is
more efficient, admi. that American rail
way service is the best railway service in
the world. But they say that the gov
eminent ownership is the only way of
keeping the railways out of politics. 1t
is true that the railways NEEDLE too much
in politics. When they NEEDLE at all they
NEEDLE too much. and they NEEDLE a great
deal. But government ownership is not
the way to stop in"m.
Criminal laws is the way to stop them.
Prison bars for corrupting railroad lob
primaries and conventions; prison bars
for railway representatives. who try to
influence the nomination and election of
Senator. Congressman, judge or any other
public oficer-that is the way to stop
them.
Let the railways attend to their own
business just as every ore of YOU is OK.
pected to attend to his own business, and
no man will speak of government owner
ship. And their business is not to nOmi-
nate and elect any public officer; their
business is not to purchase. coerce or in
tluence his action. Their business is to
haul passengers and freight, and nothing
else.
We are curious to near Bryan's re-
ply to that argument. If it is not truly
American in every line of it her we
mistake the Senator's meaning. If ii
doesn't breathe of courage md hopeful.
ness, then we fail utterly to give it 9
correst analysis.-Toledo Blade.