Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-15
PUTS POSITION IN DIFFERENT
LIGHT IN COLONEL WAT
ERsoN's TOWN.
Tells the kentuckians 1t Is Only His
: Opinion and Does Not Know Wheth-
er or Not 1t Will Ever Become an
lssue-LouisviIIe Editor Present.


an and took him to his bosom again
here at the gateway to the southland
yesterday. Arm in arm, beaming on
each, they entered the armory last
night while 10000 Kentuckians
stretched their lungs in welcome.
1t was the climax to a day of noise
in Louisville, which had not seen or
heard Bryan for two years. And the
little Ratchet which Watterson was
toying with a few days ago was no
where in sight.
The principal feature of Bryan's
speech at the armory was reiteration
of the belief in the government owner
ship of railroads, coupled with state
ment in the next democratic platform.
Il stated in New York" he said,
that had reached the conclusion that
railroads partake so much of the ma
ture of monopoly that they must I'LL
timately become public property and
be managed by public officials in the
interests of the whole community I
added: I do not know that the coun-
try Is ready for this legislation l do
not know that the majority of my own
party favors it, but | believe that an
increasing number of the members of
all parties see in public ownership a
sure remedy for discrimination be-
tween persons and places and for the
extortionate rates for the carrying of
freight and passengers
Ownership Idea Just His Opinion.
!, II then proceeded to outline sys-
tenn of public ownership whereby the
advantages of public ownership might
be secured to the people without the
dangers of Capitalization This sys-
tenn contemplates federal ownership of
the trunk lines only, and the ownership
of local lines by the several states.
II have tried to make it clear that I
expressed my own opinion, and 1 have
never sought to compel the acceptance
of my opinion by any one else. Reserv-
ing the right to do my thinking, re-
spect the right of everyone else to do
his thinking.
Il have too much confidence in the
independent thought in my own party
to expect that any considerable num-
Der of democrats would acknowledge
my right to do their thinking for them,
even If We're undemocratic enough to
assert such right.
IF YOU ask me whether the question
of government ownership will be an
Issue in the campaign of 1908 L an
swer. I do not know If you ask me
whether it ought to be in the platform,
reply, l cannot tell until l know what
the democratic voters think upon the
subject
God Gave Him Observation-Disclosures
Mr.. Bryan was welcomed to Ken
lucky by his whilom opponent, Henry
Watterson, who presided over the
meeting. The other speakers preceding
Mr.. Bryan were Senator Carmack of
Tennessee. representing the south,
and Senator w. ]. Stone of Missouri.
who introduced Mr. Bryan.
When Mr.. Bryan entered the hall
leaning on the arm of Mr. Watterson
there was demonstration that lasted
ten minutes, thousands of flags being
waved In unison with the surges of
cheers that swept over the throng.
AS soon as the noise had subsidized
Mr.. Watterson began his address of
welcome, in which he spoke of Mr..
Bryan as follows
Il recognize as our chieftain in this
approaching conflict William jennings
Bryan of Nebraska The appeal to the
moral nature of the people. which he
has made. l was making when he was
boy. He grew to manhood under my
teaching. If at times l have raised
the warning finger of the schoolmaster
even threatened the rod-he was big
enough and old enough and good look
ing enough to stand it and to survive
1t, and has thrived in spite of it-may-
be by reason Of it, and, in any event,
has quite outgrown it, l, too. have
lived and learned apace; and one of
the things have learned has been to
look more to the objective point and
less to non-essentials."
Mr.. Watterson's speech touched off
the pent up enthusiasm almost at the
start. and when at the close he pointed
to Mr.. Bryan and said Here he is.
God bless him and give him wisdom"
the audience yelled for five minutes.
Mr.. Wallace finally commanded silence
long enough to introduce Senator Car
mack of Tennessee. He was followed
by Senator W. J. Stone of Missouri.
who introduced Mr.. BRYAN