The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-23
DEMOCRACY AND RAILROADS.
Government Ownership Would Work Dangerous Centralization
 of Power.

O1 EOWef.
 The future of the Democratic party depends upon its adherence to its fun damental principles If there be any thing whatever in the utterances of It's founder; If there be anything in its traditions and history; if there be any thing in the philosophy of its profess sion and action for more than cen tury, the party must oppose paternal- ism and centralization.
 Paternalism is that theory which wolud intrust to government the busi- ness of the citizen. It comprises not only paternalism proper, but it involves the perversion of the functions of gov ernment from public to private ends. Generalization is that theory which would augment the powers of the State governments by encroachments upon the rights of the people and the political subdivisions of the States; and that theory which would clothe the federal government with powers not delegated to it by the constitution.
 Great as has been the offense of the Republican party in fostering paternal- ism, in perverting the functions of gov ernment, and in encouraging centraliz- ation of power under State and fed- eral authority, any single proposition in its history is as naught when com pared with the policy of government ownership and operation of all rail- ways, which was first proposed as a party measure by the Populist party and its predecessors. Nor did the fed eralist party ever propose a measure so radical and far-reaching. Not only would it work a dangerous centraliza- tion of power both in the State and federal governments, creating millions of additional partisan offices and con- trolling at the outset, through political machinery more than $15,000 000O00 of wealth, but this measure enbodies the most advanced and aggravated form of paternalism ever seriously offered in free government, except perhaps it's Populist companion measure, the sub-treasury
 | Much as I respect and admire and honor some who advocate this dogma, I cannot conceive that the future of the Democratic party lies along this path. It could only lead to party stulti- fcation, and to the corruption subver- sion, and destruction of its vital prin- l ciples. Such a doctrine, indeed, implies and presupposes that the principles of the party are unsuited to the times; that individualism is gone; that cen tralization is wise; and that the gov- ernment is best which governs most
 As the doctrine is based upon the proposition that public ownership is necessary wherever competition is inl- practicable, its logical and ultimate end is government ownership and operation Of every business susceptible of nionop- oly whether of carrier producer, or dealer, and this is the essence of So- c,alism.
 The hope and the future of the party rest, rather, in the preservation of it's ancient landmarks and the mainten- ance of it's organic faith These include the control and regulation of all public utilities and all property charged with public use and trust, and if cour- agsously applied they will be found eH6al to every emergency which can confront us as people. Instead, there- fore of turning to new and foreign dogmas, let us lift up the old banner and declare old-fashioned truths. These truths are at the very root and founda- ton of free institutions, and through ! them alone can the government which the fathers conceived be preserved and maintained, and the future of the dem ocratic party be assured,-United States Senator Charles A. Culberson of Texas, in Golfers Weekly.
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