New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-01
"BRY4NS Plan UNWISE.' "
Henry Patterson against Govern
ment Buying Railroads.
rBy telegraph TO The Tribune. ]

Louisville Aug 81-"The suggestion a
plank in the Democratic platform at this time is
not only impracticable In the highest degree"
Henry Watterson will say in to-morrow's
"Courier-Journal' IN discussing that part OF
Bryan's Madison Square Garden speech relating
TO government ownership Of railroads. but II
it were adopted as fighting line would cost us
the election. It could not be carried out as a
policy even if by some cataclysm we should come
TO power in spite OF It and il ought not to be
adopted or contemplated a policy by any
party having the real good of the people at heart
II IS un-American and un-Democratic-illogtcal
to all our professions on the side of simple
eficacious and upright government-like the
winged horse in the Irish legend-fnpossible to
catch and not worth having when caught"
This graph is the keynote OF a strong but
kindly, arraignment OF the Nebraskan statesman
on this particular point by the dean of the Ken
lucky Democrats In long editorial Mr. Wat
terson attempts to point out the faacies into
which the twice defeated Democratic candidate
for President has fallen. saying:
II IS with positive lamenting that We read.
mark and inwardly digest what he says OF the
purchase and public ownership of the railways
because we not only think il the height OF I'M
wisdom from the political point of view. but of
error from the Democratic and Republican point
OF view.
We'll NAV Mr. BRYAN doubt whether the coun-
try is ready for this change" whether "a major
ity Of my party favor it, though II may be
conceded that IAN increasing number of the
members OF all The parties see in public owner
ship the sure remedy for determinations be-
tween persons and politics and for the extor-
tionate rates for the carrying of freight and
passengers" the Increasing number, embrac-
ing FOR the most part those who fail To differen-
tiate between the administration OF the railway
service with fits too frequent disregard OF pri-
yate rights, and the relation Of the business OF
transportation to the character and conduct OF
the government OF the country.
r-ar'S YrONaPd n
show is IN conflict with his philosophy with the
real tenor and burden of his argument against
the plutoCracy, proposing to enlarge rather than
go abrdge its influence and area and TO multiply
its agencies an hundredfold. while ct the same
time removing the government further away
from the reach Of the people and the pressure
Of public opinion.
The incident of state ownership Of lines
which Mr.. Bryan throws sop TO the old
Democratic theory of state rights, is the ulerest
item. II takes away none OF the centraG2ing
features Of the government ownership of the
trunk lines The federal idea, carried to its
ultima thule. could go no further i'm consolidat
ing the powers of government
Under the system he advocates the govern
ment Of public opinion. upon which, in spite of
organized money, the people yet retain certain
hold would become a tyrannous partisan autoc-
racy the President puissant a monarch
and the people the merest appendages of the
politicians The land would bristle with Off
Gals the spirit Of the time with oflcialism We
should be literally jumping from the frying pan
into