New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-11
~ELTEnATE" AND GRADUAL" TOO.

Mr.. Bryan's interesting letter to "The Wall
Street Journal" may be taken as declaration
OF his platform regarding the railroad problem.
He is for ultimate government ownership
and that, too, only gradually" The sting OF
radIcalism that is in his programme he strives
TO take out by the moderation OF his adJecuVes-
II is as 1.-The Wall Street Journal says. the
most conservative form of a radical PROPOSE
tion." Even timorous Wall Street should not
be frightened by this gradual ultlmity. A Wall
Street newspaper, Ike Mr.. Henry NJ. Whit
ney, seems a well chosen medium for plac-
ing before the conservatives a radical p. po-
sition in its most conservative form.
Perhaps It Will be fair to Judge Of Mr.. Bryans
motives in choosing conservative medluns anu
conservative forms from his own history Of his
motives In announcing his radical PROPOSE
ton" His first public expression on the sub
ject, he recalls, was after the national cOnVen-
ton Of 1901: THE triumph Of the reactionary
element at St Louis discouraged the more
radical members OF our party. To en-
courage these progressive Democrats to re
main with the party l announced the conclu-
"sion which / had reached in regard to the
final necessity of government ownership"
Just now the situation is reversed. The more
conservative members OF the party are the ones
who are discouraged and so the conservative
features Of the idea that once heartened the
radicals may appropriately be emphasized
Mr. Bryan has no Intention Of alarming any
body Just at present he thinks that "a ma
"jorlty Of the people still seem to have faith
'in regulation" The recent election In Chi
cago would seem 10 bear him ont in this con
clusion. He is not going to unsettle this faith;
for II shall assist as far as l am able to test
regulation under as favorable conditions as
''can be created; but be has little hope OF
regulation It will fail and then we shall have
reached the ultimate" But even then there
should be no cause for alarm. We should be-
gin gradually"
1t is probable that a commencement should be
made with transcontinental line. with one
cross line. line from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc. crossed by a line from the lakes to the
Gulf would do more TO demonstrate the wisdom
the folly Of government ownership than all
the arguments that could be made for or against
the system.
Private roads Ought 10 welcome such an
experiment" These experimental lines can be
bought or built, and, for the reinsurance Of
Wall Street, the Nebraskan points out that 'Our
business is increasing so rapidly that new
cline would not materially lessen the business
''Of the old lines" The transcontnental lines
have not been able to carry all the freight
Offered to them" Therefore this gradual
experimental venture contains no danger for
private ownership.
You Will that sudden change IS con-
templated On the contrary. the change II
adopted. must necessarily be slow. It ought not
to be treason in a country like ours to suggest
that the people themselves are the ones 10 de-
ternne what should be done and the plan
which have proposed provides for the inau-
guration Of the change with the least possible
disturbance. II is needless 20 say that
fscatiOn is proposed.
But II should not be necessary TO quote more
OF these reassurng passages. Despite them the
letter means that Mr.. Bryan has determined
to commit his personal fortunes and, II he can
prevail the fortunes OF the Democratic party
to the government ownership OF railroads as
programme. Ii IS not Urea SON. so to do as
Mr. Bryan reproachfully suggests that some
would make it out. The utmost punishment
will be defeat at the polls. Mr.. Bryan stands
for government ownership, ultimate" grad
ual' in its most conservative form. and so least
likely to frighten away timd voters. but still
for government ownership and II he were to
be placed In office he would retain the right
to interpret the word ultimate" according TO
his own light He asks TO be elected 10 carry
out the plan Of government regulation which
he believes will he found ineffective" Why
should the people, majority Of whom "have
faith In regulation" put in office to carry out
regulation a man who believes it impracticable
unless TO have ready in office before his term
ends a man with a substitute for the ineffective
regulation, namely, government ownership?
Unless Mr.. Bryan expects his ultimate" period
to be reached before the close Of his term, we
see no reason why he should desire to be can
didate- He surely cannot wish to undertake
a programme that he predicts will fail
Mr.. Bryan by his letter would make the next
national issue either government regulation
against government ownership. or government
regulation by a man who believes IN regula-
ton against government regulation by a man
who disbelieves in ii. The making OF an issue
that will be neither too radical nor too con-
servative Is ticklish business.