The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-07
BRYAN CAMPAIGN BEGINS.

BRYAN CAMPAIGN BEGINS.
Mr.. Bryan will arrive in Nebraska
today after a trip around the world
Tonight in Lincoln he will begin a
campaign whose purpose it will be to
carry Nebraska for the democratic
party this fall. Already he has sound
ed the keynote of his campaign as
gov ernment ownership of trunk rail.
way lines and state lines" An appeal
is being made by Bryan organs in the
state to elect the democratic ticket
this fall just for Bryan's sake.
Personally, Mr.. Bryan is respected
by his Nebraska neighbors regardless
of party politics. But politically, Mr..
Bryan is too radical to carry the day
in Nebraska His own party is all
split up over his new revolutionary
doctrine, while such an idea is abso-
lutely out of the question when con-
sidered from the republican view.
point.
Mr. Rryan's government ownership
idea is merely a grandstand play, and
1t will appeal to the galleries. But it
will not appeal to the thinking men of
this country, nor to those who have
the interests of the country truly at
heart.
In the first place, the government
of this great republic never operates
any business as economically as does
a private proprietor. The government
is extravagant. This can be seen right
here in Nebraska with force. Hast
ings has postoffice building that cost
$4,000 1t is a magnificent building
and Hastings is mighty glad to have
it, but it must be conceded by all that
such a structure is not absolutely es-
sential to the conducting of the post
office business at that place. A private
owner would not have spent more than
$4,000 for that postoftice, and would
words, under government operation,
100000 was spent that need not have
been, considered from an economically
business viewpoint. Who pays the
extra cost? The taxpayers of the
United States. The result is that
the postoffice department is not self
supporting and there is constantly a
deficit.
The same rule would apply, only
with thousandfold opportunity for
extravaganza, in railroad ownership
by the government. Millions would
be spent needlessly where a dollar is
spent now. There is no use saying
that extravaganza would not prevail
for this country knows too much
about that sort of thing to be con.
WINGED now.
Again, government property is not
| taxed. Under government ownership
the railroads would not pay a penny
of taxation, where they now pay much
of the taxes of this country. And the
property holders of America would
pay the difference.
There are a million employees OF
railroads in this country. There would
be more than that under government
control, because of the political pres
| tige to be had from appointments
There would be absolutely no way
short of revolution to ever change
parties in control of the administra
ton, because the railroad offices woult
simply be one vast machine of votes
1t is great gallery-appealing dec
laration which Mr.. Bryan has made
but this radical and revolutionary
doctrine is bound to cost him the
presidency, If he ever did have any
chance for it, and it may cost him thu
nomination.
It is much more radical than hi
ancient free.silver radicalism, which
is now proving so embarrassing to hin
and his party.
EDWARD ROSEWATER.
| "He made Omaha and helned max,