The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-09-26

live did not err iu the count, W. ]. Bryan
referred TO himself as 81" l49 times, as "me"
80 times, and as my" 26 times in the short
extracts of his speech as delivered in Colum
bia and as published in The State.
THE TARIFF.
Mr.. Bryan, Instead of reading from Secre-
tary Shaw's speech on the tariff, simply told
bis Interpretation oft. And then If he said
anything 10 refute the tariff principle"
or policy, we did not see It. The tariff is
question, too, upon which anybody might
express an opinion even II he could not write
a volume. The State of South Clrolina ia
becoming a manufacturing State, and az far
as manufacturers succeed, the principle OF
the tariff will prevail. Without the tariff
every wheel In every cotton mill In the Stat-
woul Id stop. Wherevrr there il manufac-
turer or q stocknolder In manufacturing
interest, there you will find man whose
interest lies in protection.
THE RAILROADS..
Mr.. Bryan Is quoted as speaking thus Of the
railroads:
~ have watched the corruptine Influence OF
the railroads. | know somethlng or now
railroad Hobbies In fest every State legislature
and the national capitol, / know how they
legislatures and e4 ecutiveS, and have secured
appointments of theit employees as Judges
when appointments were made" '.:.. l.
Well, now, we would venture to suggest
that Mr.. Bryan cannot prove the truth of this
assertion. We suggest that this assertion Is
out OF the whole cloth, and that there Is not
single word OF truth in It.
1t is seld om th at the business man combines
In his makeup, the arts Of the politician.
II would be better if these two qualities were
combined in railroad men. But they are not.
Except for the aggression of people who de-
spise the railroads, and who. would crlpp
them by Legislative action, there has no
been and would not be lobbyists in the state
House. The railroads. as far as we can now
recall, have asked no legislation that was in
furious to the public welfare.
But when railroads are upJustly attacked
like individuals they must defend them
selves.
WHY THIS WARFARE ON RAILROADS?
The officers o the railroads are not politi-
clans and are. therefore, not careful to avoid
an tag onizipg the people. Coming down from
the president who is usually governed by the
M manners and instincts which command good
will and respect. The brusque manners OF
some Of the unfortunate general officers OF
the railroad give Lffeuse to customers Of the
road.
Instead Of the railroads controlling the
politics or The country, II requires the great
est effort on their part TO keep the
politicians off OF them. The railroads have
no influence In politics, while pollii-
clans find that abusing railroads. corpora
tIons and trusts, Is the easiest way to secure
office at the ballot box.
The popular sentiment against railroads is
due almost entirely to the lack Of a little
policy of discretion on the part OF railroad
sutocrats.
The epmity 10 railroads IL nowhere more
manifest than in the yerdicls OF juries where
suite for damage are brought by men who
are perhaps only slightly hurt.
An impartial public might justly
think that scme ofthe verdicts are but little
short Of highway robbery.
If the railroad officers were more consider
ate of The people, und If an accommodating
spirit or better manners towards customers
were more In evidence these outrageous yer.
diets against their employers would not
stand The way some OF the roads have been
spItelully assessed can only be accounted Tor
on the ground uf general hostility TO the
roads-which hostility was needlessly
brought about.
AspIoof this assertion we could cite local
facts TO prove that the roads are responsible
or whatever hostility exists on the part OF