The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-06-29
UNAMERICAN POLICY
EVIL IN PROPOSED GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS.
Is Sociaiistic and Contrary to Pro
visions of the Constitution-Demo-
cratic Plan Provides Only
Feasible Solution.


According to Webster's dictionary,
socialism is a social state in which
there is a community of property
among all the citizens; and the ord
is said to be a new term for agrarian-
ism. A socialist is therefore a person
who advocates a community of prop
erty among all the citizens OF the
state.
State socialism, or agrarianism, is
tabooed in the federal constitution,
by which personal liberty and private
property are protected in the same
sentence and under the same words
with human life. No person shall
be deprived of life, liberty, or proper
ty, without due process Of law; nor
shall private property be taken for
public use without just compensa-
ton" These words are found in the
famous fifth amendment. The con-
stitution also guarantees the right
of the people to be secure in their per-
sons, papers, houses, and effects
Socialism is, therefore, absolutely
inconsistent with Americanism. Yet
this does not imply that cities, coun-
ties or states may not, or should not,
build, own, and operate railroads,
turnpikes, bridges, gas works, water
works, telephone systems, street-car
lines. subways, or anything which
may properly be called a public utli-
ity, any more than it implies that the
government OF the union may not
own it's ~shipyards, gun factories, war
ships, military railway, telegraph and
cable lines; it's forts, magazines,
~arsenals, dockyards and other needful
buildings" it's military and naval
stores, it's coaling stations, its miuts,
It's printing establishments, etc.
The government might own and
operate a railroad for military or
naval purposes, and it does, in fact,
now own and operate a railroad In
Panama, and it is constructing a canal
there for national purposes consistent
with the constitution. But it las no
dulltOlltN " w vi oPSAoNS
lines" engaged in ordinary interstate
commerce. It's power over such lines
is only the power to regulate" a sort
Of police power entirely distinct from
ownership, yet amply sufficient 10
control all interstate commerce and
its instrumentalities. No man who
reyeres the constitution or prizes in
dividual rights will ever consent to
federal ownership of trunk lines.
Because, such ownership being I'm
necessary and tending to socialism
and despotism, is un-American, and
contrary to the entire ethical and pc
litical ideals of the English-speakins
| races. A leader who would advocate
| such a policy would find himself al
home in a feudal monarchy, but not II
a republic.
The Democratic party, through it.
leaders in 1888, devised the only con
stitutional or feasible plan for con
| trolling interstate and foreign com
merce. On January so, of that year
| Mr.. Rayner introduced in the house
| Of representatives a bill based on The
| commerce clause of the constitution
and on August IA, of the same year
Mr.. Reagan introduced a similar bill
in the senate, providing for. the con
troll of trusts, and defining a trust
and subsequently Mr.. Bland of Mis-
souri, offered al amendment, provid
ing that every contract or agree
ment = = for transportation o
persons or property from one STATE
or territory into another shall b.
deemed unlawful within the meanin,
of this act" (21 Record, 400. Thi
amendment was aimed at the RAILROAD
pools and the Standard Oil trust
1t passed the lower house unanimous
ly, but was partly stricken out by tn
senate. 1t would have rendered tn
so-call0d Sherman antitrust ACT
which was really the Rayner-Reagal
bill, entirely effective. All that is nov
needed is to incorporate the principl
Of the old Bland amendment into tn
antitrust law and increase the pena
ties for its violation by making sue
violation a felony and furnishing b,
Imprisonment the criminals fQun'
guilty. 1t is as foolish to talk of mal
Ing the government WI the railroad
In order to govern them as it wOul
be be to talk of making it own a
men in order to govern them. Go,
eminent ownership would result
placing all railroad employees at tn
mercy of designing politicians, an
create the worst political machin
ever devised by man.