Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-26
SHAW REPLIES TO BRYAN
Claim Of Democrats to Credit for Railroad
Legislation is Analysed.
ALL PLATFORNs SILENT UNTIL 1896
CuIloH ana Elkins Acts Both Passed
Before Party Made Any
omciai Ttterance ON
Subject.

CHICAGO. oct 25-Leslie NJ Shaw. sec
retary Of the treasury. was the chief
speaker at a republican rally tonight ia
the suburb OF Oak Park He devoted the
greater part Of his speech TO denials OF the
statements attributed 10 William J. Bryan.
particularly those in which claim Is made
that much that has been done by the re-
publican party is In line VITA policies pre-
viously outlined by the democrats. The
I secretary claimed thst the democratic
party had no share in any Of the measures
| passed recently for the public good. except
the rate bill, and he accorded them only
small credit IN that
Secretary Shaw said in part:
1 Colonel Bryan has been most eloquent
this season in claiming that the popularity
! of the present congress and administrator
Is due TO the adoption by them OF demo-
| cratic policies. He said that II the demo-
cratic party could have secured patents
I upon its recommendations, the present ad-
minlstration would long since have been
compelled to go into liquidation As usual,
/ the eloquent orator contents himself with
rhetoric and valves proof.
Among the many achievements OF the
last congress are the pure food bill. the
! meat inspection blll the dena tured alcohol
! bill, the reorganization Of the consular
service quarantine against yellow fever,
| the bill TO safeguard naturalization of im-
migrants. more rigid steamboat inspection.
| the employers liability act and the llnita-
\ tion OF immunity TO witnesses in criminal
| cases. None OF these is OF democratic
/ origin and none we're ever suggested In a
| democratic platform.
what Democratic PLATFORMS say.
The only legislation for which the demo-
cratic party can possibly claim approval
even is the rate bill, Three times IN its
| ferred to transportation and I'm substan-
TALLY the same language. It has never
promised anything definite I quote its
first utterance from its platform OF 1896:
I'VE demand the enlargement of the
powers Of the Interstate Commerce COM
| tees in the control OF railroads as viii pro-
tect the. people from robbery and op-
/ Colonel Bryan cannot be charged with
undue modesty in seeking to trade the
parentage Of the rate bill. which gives the
authority to ultimately determine rates,
subject to review by the courts, to the
loose and indefinite platform suggestion
The history Of transportation. legislation,
state and national clearly disproves
party. is in the remotest degree responsible
The FIRST bill on the subject ever intro
duced in congress was entitled "A bill TO
regulate commerce by railroads among the
several states" II passed the house with
only five democratic votes In its favor. No
democrat spoke In favor Of the bill.
History OF First Law.
The next step towards national control
was Joint resolution passed by the legls-
lature of Iowa asking the national con
gress to assume the power granted IN the
federal constitution Of regulating commerce
between the states. This resolution sena-
t9T ssn pFsSeassq z This 'Rs his selas
Senator Wilson, offered resolution de-
. | signed to commit the senate on the CUES
! tioneel It's autilo'aiy g iesisle1e On y.
iFhe republican national convention In '1ss'
a5agpie 5snt bS resoiltien is VViIiam McRiniey wa.
chairman Of the committee thst reported
the resolution. II was IN obedlenee 70 tnls
conunittment that the Cullom interstate law
was passed by a republican senate and q
republican house, though approved by
President Cleveland in 1887.
TSbe den,ocratic piatforms Of 1884 1883 and
| of 1872 both before and after the passage
OF the Cull0m bill. were silent on natioIa
| control Of transportation companies. lu
| first reference to the subject was IN 1888
! The last democratic national convention
: goes one step further and camps nearel
republican grounds, for it mentions rebates
r. and DETERMINATIONS and demands 'promp
and adequate relief from these abuses. I
Is doubtful whether the party would haN'
! veutured 30 tar from Jenersonian principles
? had not the Elkins bill been enacted, unne
which the present administration ha'
brought more than half OF its successful
prosecutions agamst combined capital
: The democratic party can usually be re
so from the time Of unloading OF repub
lican eargoes.
Fafrbanks ~ Topeka.
TOPEKA, Kan. Get. 25-Vice Presiden
Charles W. Fairbanks addressed an audi
ence Of more than 5000 persons at the Audi
torium tonight in the interests Of the stat
and congressional republican candidates
The meeting at the Auditorium followed
: big torchlight parade and fireworks displa'
: through the principal streets of thN city
Vice President Fairbanks also addresse
!, an overflow meeting in the street. wher
: more than l00O people who could not sc
. into the Auditorium. heard him.
q The vice president states that the I'm
, portance Of the congressional election
u could not be overestimated and declare
9 that a change Of party control in con
gress would be highly dangerous at shi
time. when. he said. the republican part
I was in the midst OF many great reform