The Jersey City news., 1906-09-05

More Corruptine Influence In Ameri-
can Politics Than the Railroad" Says
Observation-Disclosures Welcome.
Chicago, Sept. 5.-William ]. Bryan's
visit to Chicago, made on his return to
his home in Lincoln, Neb, from his
trip around the world, was marked by
two addresses by the Nebraska states
man. The first was delivered at the
luncheon rendered to him at the Iro-
quois club, and the second was deliv-
cred at the Auditorium hotel banquet,
attended by 600 prominent Democrats
from Illinois and the middle west.
In his first speech Mr.. Bryan said in
part:
II want to say to you that all over
the world there is perceptible growth
of Democratic ideas. When l speak of
democracy l speak, of course, in that
broader sense in which democracy
means the rule of the people, I think
possibly there has been less progress
in this country in the direction of
democracy than in some of the coun-
tries of the old world. That may be
explained by saying that we have less
distance to travel than they have in
Europe and that we have TO some ex-
tent felt counteracting influence in
the last twenty-five years that, to my
mind, can be traced to the dominating
influence in politics of great corpora
tons interested in favorite legislation
and in special privileges"
Critcises the Senate.
Mr. Bryan then amid much applause
advocated the election of United States
senators by the people and added:
Il think it is time to speak plainly in
regard to the United States senate, and
in my humble judgment the reason
why reform has been delayed for
decade and more is because predatory
wealth has put it's operating tools in
the senate, and until this can be rene
died and the senate brought into har-
mony with the voters of this country
there is not much prospect of reform"
AS a remedy for the trust problem
Mr.. Bryan offered plan for confining
in the state that allowed its incorpora-
ti0n any trust that oppressed the peo-
pie by allowing it to operate in no 9TH
er state. 1t would then be in a posi-
tion to eat up the state that gave it
birth, he said, and that state would
thereafter be careful not to be eaten a
second time.
Railroads Influence Scored.
In his afternoon address Mr.. Bryan
said regarding his recent utterances
in New York on government ownership
of railways:
'In my judgment we have had no
more corrupting influence in American
politics than the railroad. l have
known conventions to be controlled by
passes. l have known judges to be
elected by railroads, and l have reach
ed the conclusion that this corruption
cannot be eliminated until these nat
ural monopolies become the property
of the government. | am opposed to
Capitalization, and therefore | prefer
that we should have the local lines
owned by state governments and only
the trunk lines owned by the federal
government"
In his evening address Mr.. Bryan eX-
planned why he asked Roger Sullivan
to resign from the national committee
as member from Illinois. 81 explain
ed to him." said Mr.. Bryan, ''that his
corporate connections made it impossi-
BILE for him to help the party SO long
as he was In an official position, but
stated that if that was the only objec-
tion the matter might be dealt with at
the state convention two years hence.
pointed out to him that as he held his
seat by fraud there could be no har-
mony in the Democratic party in the
state until he, by resigning, showed his
respect for the wishes of the majority
at the last state convention
Dispatches from Lincoln, Neb., say
the largest crowd in Its history is ex-
pected for the Homecoming of Mr.. and
Mrs. Bryan Governor Mickey, at the
state capitol, will welcome Mr.. Bryan
to his home ON behalf of the state and
Mayor Brown on behalf of the city.
Mr.. Bryan's response is expected to be
eXtemporary and in the main nonpoli-
tic. At the conclusion of his address
the reception proper will be held in the
corridors of the capitol.
Minnesota Democrats For Bryan.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Sept 5. The
Democratic state convention here re