New-York tribune., 1906-09-13
MIR. BRYAN EXPLAINS.
WELCOMED IN SOUTH.
Would Not Force Government Ozcn-
ership on the Democratic Party.

ans arrival IN the city provoked a great out
burst from thousands OF marchers snd others in
the streets. His reception az the arnorv To-
night. where he addressed twelve thousand mar
sons. was wildly enthusiastic. The mass meet
ing at the Armory representative South
eTh gathering Mr.. Bryan was welcomed 10
KENTUCKY by Henry Wattersor. who presided AT
The meeting The other speakers were Senator
Carmack. Of Tennessee. and Senator ston. NJ
Missouri "a
When Mr. Bryan entered the hall a, thu a-,,
Of Mr. Watterson there was a demonstrat,on
mat laste5 ten minutes. When the noise sub
sided Mr.. WaitersOn began his address of wei
coma He recognized Mr. Bryan as Democracy's
leader saying in part:
We purpose TO reform. not to revolutionize the
goEeTnment We purpose TO reestabsh Democrat
the voters what belongs to the Voters % srT 70
pose pose 70 drive from the floor OF the Senate those
CORPORATION counsel, We purpose 10 drive from
-9 Se 100. OF ne House the Speaker snd his Rules
which was created legislative Sody In a word
The people ana theiT IawmsksSs @ sSs' balance between
., Our Jury is the nation. our proof the record OF
Roosevelt; oar sttorncy. Mr.. Bryan Of Nebraska
When Mr.. watterson pointed to Mr.. BRYAN.
and said. Here he is; God bless him and give
wisdom" the audience yelled for five minutes
Senators Carmack and Stone then made brief
speeches, the latter introducing Mr.. Bryan
MR.. BRYAN's STATEMENT.
The demonstration that greeted Mr. Bryan on
ms entrance 10 the hall was, renewed when he
rose 10 speak. He announced that he would
read statement on a topic which had been
generally discussed since he had touched on II
during his speech at New York" He then read
his statement, which. in part. follows:
In my speech at the New York reception I
made some remarks concerning the government
ownership OF railways, and thought that had
/ expressed myself so clearly that my position
could not be misconstrued, even bV those who
desired 10 miscOnstrue II. The New York speech
was prepared in advance. II was only writ
! ten but IL was carefully revised 1t stated
/ acty what II wanted 10 state and have moth
/ ing 70 withdraw modify in the statement
| therein MADE What I say tonight is rather in
the nature OF an elaboration OF the ideas therein
I presented.
After quoting from the Democratic platform
4 Of 1890 that "a private monopoly is indefensble
and intolerable" and after laying IL down as
4 where competition ends, and that the people
/ should have the benefit Of any monopoly that
\ reached the conclusion that railroads partake
so much of the nature of "A monopoly that they
must ultimately become public property. and be
managed by public officials in the interests OF
the whole community"
! added: Il do not know that the country Is
! ready for this legislation. do not know that
]
! believe that an increasing number OF the men,
bers of all parties in public ownership a
| sure remedy for discrimination between persons
and places and for the eXtortionate rates for the
| carrying Of freight and passengers"
| then proceeded 10 outline a system of pub
/ lie ownership whereby the advantages OF publIc
! ownership might be secured 10 the people with
| out the dangers Of Capitalization. This system
| contemplates federal ownership of the trunk
| lines only and the ownership OF local lines by
the several states. / further expressed IL as my
| opinion that the railroads themselves were re-
| favor Of public ownership. and said that, while
| ] believed that the Rate bill recently enacted
| should be given fair trial. we might expect to
| see railroads stin more active In politics unless
| our experience with them differed from the ex-
| perience we had had with franchise holding cor
! porations.
! by some attempt 10 force these views upon
| the Democratic party and by some as an an
nouncement of an intention 10 insist upon the
Incorporation OF these views in the next Demo-
cratic national platform
SPOKE ONLY FOR HIMSELF.
tried to make II clear that expressed my own
| opinion and have never sought 10 compel the
acceptance of my opinion by an one else Re
serving the right 10 do my thinking l respec1
the right OF everyone else 10 do his thinking.
II you ask me whether the question Of govern
rnent ownership will be issue In the cam
paign OF 1905: answe. do not know. II you
ask me whether il ought 10 be in the PLATFORM
! reply cannot tell until know wha the Demo
1
! Democrats believe that the next platform shouIu
| contain plank in favor OF government owner
| ship thenS that plank ought 20 be Included
the Democrats think it ought not to contain sucn
. / a plank then such plank ought not 70 De IN
| cluded II rests with the party 10 make the piat-
form and individuals can only advise hs'y
| spokeD for myself and for myself alone, ana
> | did not know how the suggestion would DC re,
, ceved. ! am now prepared 10 CONFESS 10 Sor ~
| that II has been received more favOrably thai
I I expected There is this, however. 90 eA-
| pect namely, that those Democrats who Oppose
) public ownership will accompany their Se eeriS, ii
/ tiOn against IL with the assertion thal u,es 80,
favor government ownership whenever they aIe
convinced that the country must choose oetMeeI
3 government ownership OF the roads ana r'lii'
ownership of the government
stu advocate strict regulation, ana shdi
rejoice If experience proves that that s,a, Tesula,
r tiOu can bs made effective. ] VIII go Iurliei
\ than that and say l believe we can nave nloES
efficient regulation under Democratic ADMIN
/ istration with a Democratic Senate and HouSt
j than we are likely 10 have under hepuoHcaI
2 | administration with a Republican Senate alC
House. and yet / would not be honest II m uIo
not frankly admit that observation mas con
q 1 vlnced me that no such efficient regulation Il
T possible and that government ownership can b'
/ Undertaken the plan outlined with less danse'
= I 10 The country than is involved in private own
ership as we have had II. or as we are hkey Il
= have il
/ Among the reasons that have led me TO believe
d that must I'm the end look 70 goVernmen
/ ownership for relief. / shall mention two o
/ three. First and foremost is the couuptlng ia
. / fueuce Of the railroad IN pontics. Nhen IN
] President following the Democratic platform
= insisted upon regulation he was met with IN
/ or,position 81 the railroads and every poin
- gained in favor Of the people was gained after
- have no idea that the railroads are going Il
| permit regulation without a struggle, and fea
. that their influence will be strong enough Il
4 delay. IL Il does not entirely defeat. remedia
q. legislation.
% Another reason which has led me to favo
government ownership IS the fact that the peo
| ple are annually plundered of an enormous sun
by extortonate rates; that places are diserimi