Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-26
RICE OUT FOR GOVERNOR
Tells Why He Thinks Fusionists Should
81 Give Him Another Try.
PROPOSES TO START A REVOLUTION
Lumber Dealers File Answer TO suit
81 &c Attorney General and Deny
"a Association H. in RE-
straint of Trade.
PROPOSES TO START A REVOLUTION
eFrom a SAD correspondent.l

LINCOLN. May 25.-(speclaI THE long
expected statement from George w. Berge
that he expects to again lead the demo-
cratic hosts this fall is out. Mr.. Berge
made It this afternoon. and in the state
fnent he outlines his platform and tells
what he will do il elected governor. The
statement is as follows:
I am constrained TO comply with the
urgent demands made upon me by friends
4 throughout the state To at once make.
public announcement OF my candidacy for
the governorship OF the state at the hands
OF the democratic and peoples independ-
Pent conventions to meet at Lincoln In
August.
The many expressions OF approval of
the fight l waged two years ago and the
determination on the part of the people
70 press the fight along these lines until
victory is complete and final have added
etimulus TO my purpose not TO rest until
eur state shall be redeemed from railroad
control.
z, Yield to no man in either the state
or nation In my loyalty and devotion to
confidence the hope Of seeing the greatest
democrat OF modern times elected to the
we have great work to perform in Ne
braska- For years the people of this
state have battled to throw OF the yoke
OF railroad domination, but today the rail-
roads are still as firmly entrenched as
= ever. They control our politics. they
charge Just such freight and passenger
rates as they please; they dodge the pay
ment of their just share of taxes. while
Inc people 3 taxes are OutfaEeOuSly nigh.
they furnish only such facilities to the
people will best serve their own ends
regardless of the public good They have
because the officeholders and politicians
& have been untrue to the people. For the
consideration of free passes and other
favors they have been willing 70 con-
spire with the railroads and against the
= people ~neneVer railroad interests were in
4 .volved. Railroad influence in government
Is possible ony through the oficeholders
and politicians. As a consequence the
decoy candidates over whom the eclipse
OF railroad influence constantly cast its
shadows. The result has been that our
legislators and those charged with the en-
foreement of law. instead of legislatng
and administering the laws for the public
good. have spent their time trying to
chloroform the people with burlesque leg
lslation and sham enforcement that
t tne pa. pain , OF the people would not seem
extracting from them all kinds of plumber.
what He Promises.
If the people of this state will elect
me their governor and give me friendly
legislature we win break up this unholy
alliance between the peoples trusted serv-
ants and the railroads and make the gov
ernment Of Nebraska in fact as well as
in name government representative of
the people. ] will use every influence at
my command to bring about the passage
1, A law that viii destroy the free pass
bribery system, root and branch.
2 law that will drive the professional
3. direct primary law.
4. A law reducing passenger rates to
cents mile.
8. A law reducing freight rates and gen.
orally to control the railroads with respect
to transportation facilities, charges and
Determinations.
IN this connection let me call the at
tention of the people to a bill passed by
the Legislature providing for an elective
railroad commission by amending the con-
stitution This fall the people viii be
called upon to vote upon this amendment
Also. no doubt, three commissioners will
be- elected who VIII serve IN that ca
4 pacity, n the amendments carries; The fol
4 lowing Is the only language in, the amend
nient touching the powers of this board;
THE powers and duties of such com.
mission shall include the regulation of
rates. service and general control OF COM
vide by law. But in the absence OF spe-
cific legislation the commission shall ex.
ercise the powers and perform the duties
enumerated in this provision"
But what duties are enumerated in that
provision? Absolutely none. When that
commission is elected IL Will be without
power until the legislature confers II. II
the railroads control the legislature they
will see to II that the legislature does not
do this n the commission undertakes &c
do anything without waiting the legis.
lature the railroads will enioin the com
mission on the ground that the commits
sion has no power except as the Legislature
may give It
Lumber Dealers Answer.
The Observation-Disclosures Lumber com
pany. WIN am Fried, treasurer of the Ne
braska Lumber Dealers association and
Thomas Ostegaard & Co, have filed an
swers to the injunction suit of the attorney
general in which he claimed the members