Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-14
VIEWS OF COL. BRYAN
Talks on the Control OF Rail
roads.
his MADISON SQUARESPEECH
Sees No Reason to Change His Posi-
ton Now.
OFFICIALS HUNTING COVER
Says State Legislatures Are Nearer
the People Than Is the Ma
ticnal Government.
HIS MADISON SQUARE PEECH
AIS HUNTING COVER

special DlSpdtcn 10 Iuc otaf.
NEW YORK. March 14.-William Jen-
nings Bryan arrived In New YORK TINS
morning on the Delaware and Lackawanna
from Binghamton. where he gave lecture
last night, and left for Boston at 10 O'CLOCK
where he will lecture tonight.
Mr.. Bryan was expected to arrive TINS
morning on the Erie railroad at 6 o'clock,
but when he got down to the railroad
station at Binghamton he found that his
train was three hours late, so he switched
to the Iackawanna and got into Hoboken
at $50 o'clock A committee of the faith
full Bryanites in New York went over to
the Erie to meet the train, and, Of course
missed seeing Mr.. Bryan. The only per-
sons who greeted Mr.. Bryan were re-
porter for The Evening Star and sketch
artist.
Mr.. BRYAN took the 23d street ferry to
20 to the home of his friend John Cox OF
IL East 3Sth street for breakfast. On tne
way over he talked freely OF the railroao
situation. He said that the railroads Were
as a matter of fact, seeking federal con-
troll rather than fighting 1t, because tney
preferred 1t to state legislation. which, ne
averred, represented more nearly pupnc
sentiment He said he did not foresee any
Industrial crisis or panic. He SAID ne
ST. stood firmly upon the ground Wnlch
he had taken in his speech at manson
Square Garden last fall In relation TO led
eral ownership of trunk lines ana slate
ownership of others. He was OF the opln-
ion that the railroad presidents were them
selves to blame for 1.-The aroused pubic
|. sentiment against Them
Fear State Control.
Mr.. Bryan was first asked what he be-
Heyed to be the significance of the coming
conference of the railroad presidents at
Washington with President Roosevelt.
II do not know anything about the con-
ference except what I have seen IN the
papers," he said, but it seems that the
railroad presidents would prefer congress
sional control to that OF the various sta .e
k legislatures The state legislatures are
nearer to the people and more responsive
to public sentiment. The recent legislation
shows this So far, the main erect OF the
prevent rebates. and while this Is good Tor
the business communities, 1t Is also gooo
for the railroads, because 1t leaves IN their
treasures the money they USED 10 give 10
to reduce rates, which is of advantage to
the entire public, and the railroads pegln 10
talk of amending the federal CONSTITUTION
so as to protect them from state inter-
ference. , :.
"Tbis is not strange but interesting, in
| that 1t furnishes an answer to those VINO
have been suggesting that the doctrine OF
state rights Is being used as snleio oy
| federal prosecution. The fact Is that the
big yiolators of the law always try 10 get
| their cases into the United states courts
and the big corporations are desiring ma
| tional cooperation that they may eseopo
state legislation
Two-Cent Rate Problem.
.Wbat do you think, Mr.. Bryan. is the
| effect of the enforcement OF two-cent rail-
road rates by the state legislatures?
1
did the matter when they attempted to ter
rorize the legislatures by proclaimlng that
| the two-cent rates would ruin the roads
They carried the scare too far, and ought
| not to complain IL the investors take them
| at their word. There was no reason Tor their
| alarm If a road is solvent its loans are
| good until It's capital Is exhausted. For, I'M
1 til all interest is paid the stockholders gel
| no dividends, and no one need contend that
| the reduction proposed would be suff1clent
/ to wipe out all dividends. and such reduc-
| tons would not be sustained IN the courts
| if they were made. provided, of course, that
| the stock represents real value
| 1.-THE two-cent rate in Ohio did not even
| reduce the passenger earnings, so great was
| the increased traffic, and the same result Is
| likely to follow in other states. II any other
| legislation is necessary the tim1dity OF the
| investor might have been caused by the dis
| closures in the interstate commerce COM
| mission investigation, when men like Harri-
| man not only admit the exploitation OF the
public, but admit 1t with a jaunty and con-
| temptuous air. They ought not to expect
that the public will be unaffected by the
| disclosures.
Does Not Fear Panic.
| But what is the alternative? Must the
| government cease to investigate for fear the
\ exposure of rotten management will make
| ii possible for the managers to further dis
| turb the public? If the railroads were as
| careful to keep their capitalization on an
| honest basis, and to run the roads in the
| interest of the public, as they are to bull
| doze legislative bodies, and to regale the
| public with gloomy predictions whenever
| any legislation is proposed. we would not
| have so many breaks in the stock market.
| Asked what he thought of the statement
of a very prominent railroad man wne
predicted that great industrial crisis
| would occur within two years, MI. Bryan
| said:
II have not seen the statement. But why
| should there be industrial unrest? The
| farmers have had good crops and beca use
| of the increased quantity of money they
have had better prices. The workingmer
| seem to be busy. and how could panic
IL the republican arguments are to be cred
tied? We are told that panics come only
under democratic administration. Either
the predictions of panics are wrong or re
publican arguments have been faulty"
Issue Of 1908.
DO you still hold the same views which
you expressed in your speech at Madison
Square Garden last fall as to the fedora
ownership of trunk lines and state owner
, ship of lines within state boundaries?'
Yes, I do" answered Mr. Bryan EN-
phatically. THAT speech, however, ha
been widely misrepresented. My critics
have overlooked the word ultimate Tha
argument was presented as the ultimat
solution, not as an immediate question.
! do not know how soon the public will b.
ready to consider II. but the railroad mana
gers doing all they can % convince tn
public of the inefficiency and unfairnes
| of the management we now have"
| DO you believe the railroad question will
| be the main issue of the next presidentia
campaign"
II don't know. I would not care to max
: prediction. One cannot look very ia
, | ahead in American politics.