The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-08-29
Nj. Bryan on the Issues.

8As II Oh 80 ecA.c1e oAase -
sues Of the next campaign leaves surh
disingsnuous critics as Henry Wet
terson without q foot 10 stand on.
Mr.. Watterson, together with some
other very eminent gentlemen, has
sndsavored, persistently, Of lats, TO
place Mr.. Bryan In Q false light BE-
fore southern democrats. With
crocodile tears and much bemoaning
they have regretted that he has be
comes champion Decentralization"
an "snemy Of states rights" and Q
tyrant master preparing TO cram
government ownership Of railroads
down the throat Of the protesting
democratic party the very next time
II Is In national convention assem-
bled.
This persistent Misrepresentation
has not deceived intelligent men who
have taken Mr.. Brysn's opinions
from his own pen and his own tongue
rather than from his enemies. In
the light Of this latest concise and
comprehensive statement, however,
IL will be interesting to zee whether
those who have belisd him will have
audscity enough to continue their
campaign Of distortion, or will be
content to oppose Mr.. Bryan because
OF his real opinions rather than on
account OF opinions they have kindly
manufactured for him.
Mr.. Bryan says, as he has said be-
fore, that government ownership Is
not an immediate issue" Il will be-
come an Issue only II regulation fails,
and the test can not be made salts
iactorily and conclusively prior to
1908. A large majority OF the peo-
pie hopeior effective regulation, land
while they so hope will not consider
ownership" Therefore, so inject
the government ownership question
into the next campaign would sim.
ply give representatives OF the rail.
roads a chance to dodge the issue Of
regulation and deceive the public"
Since no reasonable man will con.
tend that public ownership will not
become an issue II regulation should
fall after a full and fair trial, that
disposes Of this question.
As to the issue OF GENERALIZATION as
against the rights Of the states MIR.
Bryan's is equally specific, and In
thorough accord with democratic
doctrine as he has stated 1t many
times before. The democratic party
is firmly set against Legislation
which will deprive the state OF su-
thority and centralize all regulation
in congress-" No happier statement
OF the democratic position could be
made than this:
"The democratic party must meet
the issue presented; It must resist
the encroachments upon the author
| ity OF the states. 1t must insist upon
the exercise Of federal power for the
regulation OF interstate commerce,
and 1t must insist upon the exercise
oil state authority for the power vest.
ed In the state. This question has
grown in Importance during the past
year and its prominence will be In
creased II any attempt is made to
impair state authority
Mr.. Bryan's outline OF the course
the democratic party should advo.
cate to make regulation effective is
equally satisfactory:
First-The ascertaining OF the
value OF all the railroads.
Second-The preventing Of over
capitalization.
Third-The reduction OF rates to q
point where they will yield only q
reasonable return upon the rea
value OF the road.
The present republican admins
tration is making no effort to pro
coed along any OF these lines, yet
until they are all followed and en-
forced regulation can prove Of littl'
value to the people.
The corporation press and corpo
ration agents in politics will continu
no doubt, to find fault and deplor
and object. But the fact will remain
that the position outlined and cham
: pioned by Mr.. Bryan meets with tn
! hearty approval Of the vast MAORI
. &c &ha, A vo~loop nooplo nomocyot 4,