The Washington herald., 1907-01-19
WILLIAMS IS DEFIANT
Challenges Vardaman to De-
bate Public Ownership.
NOT OPPOSED TO W. J. BRYAN
Hopes to See NebrasI<an Nominated,
and Desires to Make His Election
Possible by Voting Down Owner
ship PIank-TFanspOrta Abuses
Can Be Abolished by Law.

I Based on a recent statement Of Gov.
Nardaman Of Mississippi, that # he We're
delegate 10 the next national convention.
he would not vote against a proposition
for the Federal government 10 own and
operate the railroads of the United States,
Representative Williams, the minority
leader. a candidate for the Democratic
Senatorial nomination against Mr.. Varda-
man. last night issued a challenge 10 the
governor 30 debate the question, Mr.
/ Williams taking the anti-government-
ownership end.
Il shall be glad to debate this question
1 in joint discussion with the governor" "
+ said Mr. Williams last night. from
March Z or S next until the Senatorial
+ primary IN August.
I agree thoroughly with Gov Varda-
man in advocating the nomination of Mr
F Bryan. added Mr. Williams. y hope 20
/ see Mr. Bryan nominated and W..
moreover, to make It possible for him to
I be elected after he IS nominated.
[ 1t must be patent TO all with the
I slightest legal information. the minority
leader went on TO say. that State laws
/ cannot regulate Federal property. l be-
/ lieve that the Federal government can
regulate and control the interstate trans
+ portation rates and business Of the coun-
/ try in the interest Of the people. There
/ is bat one thing standing in its way. and
/ that consists Of croakers who are con-
stantly saying beforehand that Il cannot
/ be done II mas been done I'm Great
/ Britain. the other great English-speaking
/ and self-governing country.
Evils OF Public Ownership.
But even if we had to put up with the
/ present management OF railroads. with
all their abuses. subject only 20 such
cure as State laws and Federal laws have
/ provided. or may provide, would the
country not rather endure the ills they
have than to run 70 the evil Of Federal
ownership, with its 1.oo9,oO0 Of added Fed
eral employees, and its $4,000. 90. 600 of debt
/ Necessary 10 buy the roads2
Gov. Vardaman intimated that. in op-
posing Federal ownership Of railroads, !
am actuated by a spirit of hostility TO Mr..
Bryan" said 1IT Williams 1t is untrue
that my position upon the matter OF
/ Federal ownership Of railroads was taken.
or is held, because Mr.. Bryan happens
TO have the opposite opinion. or because
think that my position viii hurt him.
On the contrary. to pursue the course !
advocate, 10 wit-to vote down in the
committee on resolutions of a national
convention the proposition of Federal
ownership and operation of ralroads-is
the only way 10 save Mr. Bryan from
himself and secure for him the support
Of the people, and especially Of the peO-
pie of the South. who naturally and
necessarily stand opposed To his views
upon this subject. II he were nominated
upon d platform which was silent upon
the question of government ownership
without any previous action to show the
cause Of the silence. the views of the
candidate would become the platform
upon that question. and every Republican
spenbinder would make it the issue OF
the campaign. Nobody could help Il; no
body could prevent the defeat OF Mr.
Bryan IN that event Gov. Nardaman
himself admits that the country is not
vet ready for it The only way then "a
elect Mr.. Bryan in 1893 is TO divorce him
from this question. The only way tC
divorce him is to nominate him upon 4
platform itself silent. but silent because
the convention or committee on resolu-
tions mas voted down and disapproved
this policy. That he would accept the
nomination upon such platform there
is not the slightest shadow of doubt.
Would Not Humiliate Bryan.
That there could be humiliation in any
Democrats accepting a Democratic nomi-
natiOn upon a platform provided for him
Iby a Democratic convention desiring his
Incmination and election is absurd.
Mr. Bryan would not have seIf-respect-
ing gentlemen stultify themselves by ac-
Iauiescing in an opinion not entertained by
. them upon great public question. merely
because that was his opinion. My view is
that Federal ownership is wrong in prac-
tice and wrong in theory. is intolerable in
itseIf-especially in the South. under our
peculiar racial conditions-ald IS inadvis
liable and unwise beyond that because Ot
its centralizing and cCrrupJiHg influence
upOa governmental administration.
Mr. Williams laid particular stress OF
the effect of government ownership in nul-
lHfying the separate-coach laws of South
= ern States.