Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-02
WHITNEY AND BRYAN MEET
Boston Nan Wants Nsbraskan to Publish
Intention Not to OonHsoate.
MUST RtAssuRE PEOPLE ON THIS POINT
Boston q Maine Railroad Director
Says Hartman and Hin Are Pro-
noting Government owner
ship Scheme.

william j. Bryan and Henry NJ. Whit
ney, nominee on the democratic ticket last
fall for lieutenant governor of Massachu-
setts, engaged in a colloquy on the merits
and demerits of government ownership at
the Omaha club yesterday in the presence
OF group of prominent democrats who
were there at lunch together. Mr.. Whit
ney has been out here from Boston for
some days on visit and Mr.. Bryan had
come up the previous night to pronounce
the eulogy at the John A Creighton me-
mortal at the Auditorium.
The controversy between Mr.. Whitney
and MIR. Bryan was intensely interesting,
particularly in view of the fact that 1t
involved the views of an old-line demo-
crat OF the east whose interests are allied
with the corporations and radical demo-
crat of the west, whose tight is on the
corporations. But 1t was devoid of any
acrimony.
II am a director I'm the Boston & Maine
railroad" volunteered Mr.. whitney, 'and
yet can conceive of there being virtue in
/ the government ownership theory. And
yet, Mr.. Bryan, do not believe the people
of the east or any other section will ever
embrace your policy until you couple your
declaration OF government ownership with
the declaration that the government will
7
! fun value of their property In taking IL
over. think you must make this so clear
there can be no Misunderstanding before
you succeed in your undertaking"
DO Not Want Conhscation.
'Oh, we don't advocate confiscation OF
| property" said Mr.. Bryan.
mo. but that is not all the point, Mr..
Bryan; you must do more than assure the
people you are not in favor Of confsca-
ton-you must make them feel certain of
your sincere intention to pay for the prop
| ertY Just what 1t is worth In taking II
Over" rejoined Mr.. Whitney And the
Massachusetts man sought by various ar
guments to bring Mr.. Bryan to a frank
commitment on this point, but did not
altogether succeed.
! "The difficulty would be-" said Mr.. Bryan
ARRIVING at a satisfactory basis of valua-
ton. The railroad would be running in
| their stocks and bonds and watered stock. -
well, 1 certainly would not be In favor
of that" said Mr.. Whitney. 'T would
favor as the only correct basis the amount
of what It would take to reproduce the
railroad or the property"
Sentiment Is Growing.
Mr.. Bryan did not assent to this propo-
sition in exactly that form, but insisted
on disclaiming any sort of idea to confs.
cate or take over property at less than its
actual value.
Mr.. Whitney admitted the growing senti.
ment of railroad ownership by the govern.
ment. though he believed government reg
ulation was possible and better
IT might say" he asserted. that while
am not an advocate OF government owner
ship-for I am a part owner in a railroad
yet I could approve such system under
proper conditions If 1t must come"
4 'Do you think It will not come?' asked
Mr. Bryan.
well, II we have much more Hartman
ism I don't know that its coming Is mo-
\ certain replied the Bostonian. 'I believe
Hartman and men of his kind are doinl
more for government ownership today thar
they or we know. People are discovering
things, through these public Investigations
which they never dreamed of before, and
these discoveries are such as to convlnc'
them that changes in the management o.
certain corporations would be great bless
ings to the masses. In this way, it seems
to. me- Mr. Hartman and Mr. Hill and
men of that class. are effectually promot
ing the success Of the government owner
ship scheme"
Among the men who were at the lunch
con were Congressman Hitchcock. former
Attorney General c. ]. Smyth e. p. Smith
w. s. Poppleton and t. ], Mahoney
Mr.. Whitney was one of the committed
Of men who became involved in the acri
monious discussion with the president re
Gently over tariff matters, when Mr.
Roosevelt intimated in terms of character
istic vigor that his friends had seriousl!
misstated certain facts.