The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-18
Senator Daniels
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.

Washington, Sept. 1s.-There is no
Goub, as to the position occupied by
Senator Daniel on the proposition adj
vanced by Mr. Bryan in his Madison
Square Garden speech last week, that
the Federal government should own
the trunk lines of railway and the
states the state line.
II heard every word of the powerful
speech" said Senator Daniel. and
agreed TO ninety per cent of it. re-
GREETED the declaration in favor of gov.
eminent ownership of trunk line rail-
ways and state ownership of state
lines. Our experience in Virginia in
the matter of state participation was
30 disastrous and go burdensome to
our taxpayers that we are just emery
Il from the financial troubles brought
upon us, and our constitution. by gen.
eral assent has clause which forbids
county or state subscriptions to rail-
road building. What may come to pass
in the future Of the world no man may
no wread, but do not believe the
people of this country nor the der.o-
cratic party is in favor of government
ownership of railroads.
Would Breed Politics.
One difficulty in the way Of gov
eminent ownership is that the roads
would at once become 'politicated.' 1t
would cost the government more than
it would cost anybody else to run the
roads, and those employed in their
operation would concentrate them
selves TO control candidates and cleo
tions and become in fact fixed part
of political and governmental ma
chinery. They would be regulars in
stead Of militia. fear that while we
would find ourselves out of the frying
pan We would also find ourselves in
the fire.
Experiments of cities and towns in
municipal ownership Of public utilities
are nnObjectionable. Our country is
the greatest experiment station of the
universe. and by experiments here and
there one state and one city sees the
good points of things. and gradually,
as in the inventive arts. works out i'm
provements. The question is one which
We must consider most sedately, and
by no means allow ourselves to be
committed to the policy of govern
mental ownership.
Plenty Of Issues.
We have, and Mr.. Bryan has him
self shown it in his able speech, an
abundance Of issues" continued the
senator. ut seems to me the cam
paign should he fought out upon them.
Even if this issue of government own
ership of railways be wise one, it is
premature, and we have plenty to
occupy the highest faculties and best
efforts of our people.
'Mr. Bryan himself indicated the
consolidating tendencies of govern
ment ownership, and showed that
while he himself fears 1t. he may not
regard it as essential to party action.
IL is to be remembered that the demo-
cratic party, so far from favoring such
proposition. has always been in prin-
ciDle upon the adverse side, and many
democrats have long expressed them
selves against it in addresses, perhaps
little noticed because It was not live
issue. ] have myself opposed such a
policy once or twice in public adj
dresses.
Must Get Together.
The democratic party must get to-
gether if it expects to lead the country,
and there is abundance of room. in the
concurrent opinion of all democrats,
for broad and deep basis upon which
success could be hopefully predicated.
On all new ideals and in all united
schemes we should go slowly, and not
attempt to make them the creeds Of
party's faith until they have first dem
onstrated themselves to be for the pub
lie good.
Our people of the south have just
gotten through a revolutionary epoch,
and are settled In that serenity Of mind