The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-26
HERE'S A NEW ONE.

It is being "norated" that now scheme for government ownership of railroads Is being nursed by some of Mir. Bryan's ardent friends just now. The rumor also gives out the informa- l tion that the President Is seriously considering the proposition with a view, if he likes 1t. to make it an ad-
 ministration measure and thus cut the earth from under the feet of the. Bry- an leaders, and leave them up in the air. Briefly stated in the words of a contemporary. the plan is that the Fed eral government shall acquire a small ownership of stock in the principal railroad systems of the country, and shall then force representation of the government with each of the several boards of directors. If 1t were not that no proposition is too fantastic to be con sidered by men who believe them- selves to be divinely commissioned to lead this country into the paths of righteousness by the means of new tricks in law w-making. we should think this a bit of mid summer political fam cy. Perhaps it is true. however, that MT. Bryan thinks the proposition a good one, and Mir. Roosevelt is prepar- ing to head him off by jumping first, Almost anything can happen. and we presume that can.''
 In this day of political unrest, of political vagaries and experimentation we need not feel much surprise at any thing that may be suggested or pro- posed on the one side or the other, for political sanity and sound judgment are not confined to any one party. On this latest proposition it may be that some of the Democratic leaders are at work and 1t is equally probable that Roosevelt will try to get ahead of them and thus make it appear that his ad- ministration saw 1t first. Commenting on it The New Bedford Standard well says:
 But how about the detail of this scheme? Boards of directors are chos- en by a stock vote-and small stock holders do not ordinarily have much to say about the choice unless they agree with the big ones, We appre- hend from the form in which the prop osition is worded. that the govern ment will be. minority storkholder.- and a small one at that.-but that the Hproposal is that 1t shall have a di- rector of its own. Would it gather up the proxies of all the smaller stock- holders more or less dissatisfied with the railroad administration, and seek thus by a joining of forces to control the election. or would it demand that because it Was the government 1t should enjoy a prerogative not enjoy
 ed by any other small stockholder! When John Jones buys ten shares Of New York, New Haven & Hartford. he understands that his voice in the man agement unless there should come time when he held a balance of pow
 CT, would be negligible. But why shouldn't he have a director Of ms own as much as any other small stocK-
 holder. even If that srockholder were the government of the United States! Suppose there were g. government
 director. what then? He would be one of eight of ten or a dozen, and unless he was an extremely well-posted ana intelligent man. his only office would 1 be that of a repo CT to the public of what happened in directors meetings In case he was the sort of man who | could be made to see that the public | interest demanded such reports. Most men chosen to such an office would more likey be mysterious. It Is way l that public officials have. As to poli- cies, he could not be controlling fac | tol: and unless he was an abier man than governments are apt to get for similar places. he would be controlled by his fellow-members representing | private interests. Even the most radical anti-corporation man, brought into | close contact with the average board | of railroad directors would soon lind them to be very clever fellows. and not ogres at all, and would be won to
 their way of thinking on many points
 If the country is eventually to have
 government ownership of the rail
 roads, this may be an excellent De- l ginning Those who do not want | such ownership had better not play
 with the proposition