Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-22

II = II
there are SO many needs Of reform, it
4 is evident that something should be
/ done / recommend government own
Iership and. operation.
i Dan v. Brennan.
\, The second speaker, Dan. v. Bren-
nan Of North Dakota, negative, said in
part:
Transportation difficulties in the
/, United States are much greater than
4 in any foreign countries. Our political
and business conditions make our rail-
road problem vastly more difficult
than that of any older nation Of Eu-
! rope. Therefore, before we entrust to
a new system the great railroad in
dustry upon which the very welfare of
!, the nation depends, we must not only
! know that evils in the present system
! cannot be lessened, but we must also
be convinced that this new system is
! safe and will be successful. It must
I be more than an alluring theory. 1t
must be practical, working remedy
!; for American conditions. 1t must sue
cessfully meet the two great problems
! Of America, problem Of development
as well as of service This is the ire
/ mendous burden Of proof which the
opposition must meet. If they fail to
/ do this they will have failed to estab-
lish their case for government owner
ship.
Take the conditions in the United
States. Under the present system we
/ have prospered and the railroads have
/ been most important factor in our
| prosperity. Our service compares
well with that Of any foreign nation.
II is true we have evils. No system
could develop SO rapidly and be free
]! from evils. The main cause lies in
1 the fact that Until the past year the
government has not exercised its pow
& er OF regulation. But all necessary
/ power to regulate resides in the gov
ernment. and when that power is ex-
4 ercised we find abuses remedied. The
1 american people are going to see that
! power exercised. Public opinion Is
aroused. With Theodore Roosevelt
i leading the fight, backed by men Of ali
4 parties, the people feel that the rail-
4 roads can be regulated, that abuses
!. ! can be remedied. Once exercise the
4 full power Of control, back it with the
entire strength Of our government and
4 no corporation, railroad or otherwise,
can defy the law. When the meat
4 business or the aduIterated food bust
ness was exposed did the government
attempt ownership No, it applied
the power of regulation and those cors
4 porations are now glad to obey the
q law. My colleague will take up gov
], ernment control IN detail and will
show how present evils, whether OF
j rates or service, can be remedied, to
j the end that the American system of
/ private enterprise can be preserved.
We want no European paternalism.
Our system was founded to give free
dom to the private citizen. 1t is not
j adapted to carry on the private citi-
Izen's business. Our administration is
i unwieldy and full of log rolling and
corruption. Thus, government owner
ship is utterly unsuited to the prin-
! ciples and purposes of American gov
! eminent Moreover, aside from the
political difficulties of such step
I there are grave business dangers. In
the coming years must come the great
lest increase in mileage and equipment
4 we have ever seen. And, already, the
railroads employ a million and half
Iof men. They have fifteen billions Of
capital. The railroad is the most inn
portant industry we have, requiring
1 the highest ability and strictest econ
omy in its management. IT must be
run on business principles alone or un-
paralleled failure will result.
In the light of these facts, ladies
and gentlemen, this is orr case against
/ government ownership. Government
| ownership cannot meet the railroad
problem in America because Of our
] condition. First, because Of political
difficulties and second because of bust
ness difficulties. MY colleagues will
4 discuss the question In regard to its
business side. 1t is my purpose to
deal with it from the political stand
point First. take the machinery Of
/ our government. Let me contrast IT
with that Of Germany, one Of the few
nations having government ownership.
I Germany's legislation Is dictated by
II her military ruler In her railroad I'M
proVements, military expediency is the
deciding factor. Moreover, Germany Isl
! confronted by no problem OF building
new lines, but merely Of maintaining
4 an Old established system. How liif-
! ferent are conditions In the Tinted