The Washington herald., 1907-07-21

ton Government Ownership Not an
ISSUE" will appear in the next number
of the Commoner:
'As the campaign approaches it be-
comes more and more evident that Of
the economic questions, the trust ques-
tion. the tariff question. and the railroad
question VIII share public attention. and
these three present the same isues be-
tween the general public and the privi-
legged classes. Shall the government be
administered in the interest OF the whole
people or in the interest of few? This
IS the issue presented by the trust ques-
ton. the tariff question. and the railroad
question.
People Not Ready for Issue.
Government ownership is not an I'm
mediate issue. A large majority OF the
people still hope for effective regulation.
and while they so hope. they VIII not
consider ownership. While many Demo
Gratis believe, and Nr. Bryan is ono of
the number. that public ownership ofrers
UIOUAttIi.
still those who believe that the public
viii finally in self-defense. be driven to
ownership. recognize that regulation
must be treated under the most favor
able circumstances before the masses
viii be ready TO try more radical
remedy.
Regulation cannot be sufficiently tried
within the next year. and there Is 10 de-
sire anywhere 10 make government own
-ership an issue IN 1905. Mr. Bryan fully
agrees with those who believe that 1t
would be unwise TO turn attention from
regulation, on which the people are ready
10 act. 10 government ownership, upon
which the people are not ready to act.
To inject the government ownership
question into the next campaign would
simply give representatives Of the rail-
roads chance 10 dodge the issue Of
regulation and deceive the public.
Aided by Federal Courts.
SO far the railroads have been sue
cessful IN preventing effective Federal
regulation. and State regulation has, as a
rule, been restrained by the United States
courts. Il is about twenty years since
the Interstate Commerce Commission was
created. II required about ten years for
the courts to find out that the powers
conferred were insufficient, and then it
took about ten years to secure an amend
ment The railroads fought the amend
ment at every step with the railroad
Republicans in the Senate as their sup
port.
Even that amendment, secured after
tremendous effort. falls short of what it
should be- Il aims TO stop rebates and
passes and the railroads profit pecuniarily
by both the stoppage Of rebates and the
prohibition OF passes, but extortionate
rates still exist and State legislation re-
duction of rates has resulted in an agita-
ton on the part Of the railroads for
legislation which Will deprive the State of
authority and centraliZe all regulation
in Congress.
Vow Up 10 Democratic Party.
The Democratic party must meet the
issue presented: it must resist the en-
Croachment upon the authority of the
States. Il must insist upon the exercise
Of Federal power for the regulation of
interstate commerce. and it must insist
upon the exercise Of State authority for
the exercise Of all Of the power vested in
the State.
This question has grown in Importance
during the past year and its prominence
Will be increased if any attempt is made
10 impair State authority The Republi-
can party is as impotent to regulate the
railroads as it Is TO exterminate the
trusts and to reform the tariff
THE Democratic party has in three
national campaigns demanded effective
railroad regulation, while the Republican
national platforms have been silent upon
the subject The President has partially
adopted the Democratic view on this
subject but so far the Republican leaders
have resOlutely opposed II. The President
is helping 10 educate the people up to the
need of railroad regulation, but his party
under its present leadership is pOwerless
TO accomplish this or any other important
reform.
What Democrats should Demand.
II the Democratic party will clearly
and unequivocally demand, first, the as
certaining of the value Of all the rail-
fDduSs SttOllut Al4E prev CHUNG OF over
capitalization; then, third, the reduction
of rates TO point where they will yield
only reasonable returns upon the real
value OF the roads-if the party will do
this it viii commend itself not only 10
Democrats. but 10 those Republicans who
have been led to study the railroad
question.
The railroad situation presents a vital
issue and the issue should be SO stated
that every one can understand the par
tvs position. While Democrats may differ
as to the relative Importance Of the trust
question, the tariff question. and the
railroad question, al must agree that
the party must take the side OF the
common people on all three questions.
Let the line be drawn between those who
want to make this government of the
people. BY the people and for the people,
and those who want il TO be a govern
ment Of the corporations. by the corpora
tions, and for the corporation
Travel Made Comfortable I'm Hot
Weather.