The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-12
John Sharp Williams Dis
cuSSeS Public Ownership.
CONGRESS WOULD NOT ACT
No Hope That Ii Would Provide Sep
arate Coaches, in the south or
Elsewhere, If the Government
Owned the RaiIrOHdS-Bryan Not
Attempting to Dictate.

Mississippi the Democratic leader in the
House, last night gave out statement
with reference TO the decIination of Gov.
Nardaman, of the same State. his Sena-
torial opponent TO take the stump in Mis-
sissippi and debate Jointly their respective
candidates. before the people. in declin-
ing, Gov. Vardaman gave out lengthy
interview. attacking Mr.. Williams. Much
OF his interview related 10 the government
ownership Of railroads, and it is 20 this
part that Mr.. Williams deyotes much OF
his reply.
NY friend. Gov. Vardaman." said Mr..
Williams last night. closes by saying that
until he is convinced that railroads are
stronger than the people he is opposed 10
Federal ownership and operation. but
II. when the time comes, he is con-
WINGED that the railroads are stronger
than the people, then he will favor Fed
eral ownership Has IT occurred to him
that. II the time ever came. when the rail-
roads are stronger than the people. il
would then be impossible for the people,
either To acquire them. OF to own them. or
10 operate them. unless by the consent OF
the railroads and on their terms? If the
time ever comes when the railroads are
stronger than the people. it win be because
a majority of the people for corrupt o.
other reasons. are with the railroads I do
not believe that the time VIII ever come
when the railroads can subon and cor
rupt and own and govern and be stronger
than majority Of the American people.
Precisely what / said was true and re-
mains true. and the governor does not
really attempt 10 argue against it. 10
wit that If the railroads become the
property of the Federal government,
State laws regulating the conduct or
character of the trains would fall ipsO
1acto, because a State cannot regulate
control, or limit the use of Federal prop
crty.
Congress Would Not Act.
THE governor says. But what is to
prevent Congress-when it passes an act
10 buy and own and operate the rail
rOads-from putting a provision in the
act providing for separate coaches for
the two races This is still more child
like and bland than my friends other
proposition. What is to prevent Con-
gress from providing separate coaches
for the two races2 Nothing-absolutely
nothing-except Congress itself the lack
of will upon the part of at least two
thirds OF Congress in each House 20 do
it. Every State in the North could have
separate coaches now for whites and
blacks if the people of those States
wanted them. Separate coaches are now
required by State laws only in the South
eTn States. and not even in all Of them.
knsw West Virginia. which is a South
ern state. has common coaches for the
two races. and Missouri has also. i
know that Delaware, an old slave State,
has. Ohio, Indiana, the Dakotas, Mime
sofa. &c, could. if the people desired TO
DO so, have separate coaches for the two
races by state law. They do not have
il because they do not want il, and the
men rejecting them and their views IN
Congress would not enact il. If we could
look otherwise with any degree Of con
fidcnce to Congress. in case OF govern /
ment ownership of railroads. 10 provide /
separate coaches for the two races. our
confidence would he chilled by other
facts. Congress had absolute power in
the Indian Territory and Oklahoma /
where local opinion demanded it and
never exercised IT. because il old not
want to. It has absolute full power
in New Mexico. Arizona. Porto Rico. and
the District OF Columbia right now. and
yet not 0ne-third Of the votes in either
House-noue, in fact, except the votes Of
the Southern States-cOUld be obtained
for the proposition.
Other Analogous Cases.
What is to prevent Congress from so
legislating that black and white railway
mail carriers viii not be working over the /
same letters and breathing the same
e4ff1fs1c-
Why are white women and negro men in /
the departments at Washington doing
the same work, in the same rooms. and
the former frequently under the orders /
Of the latter? For the same reason. Why
does not Congress pass Representative /
Helms bill TO have jim-crow cars in the /
District Of Columbia? Why cannot it be /
gotten out of the committee?
Next" continued Mr. Williams. the
governor says that Congress has no less /
power now under the clause of the Con- 4
stituton, which enables il TO regulate /
commerce between the States than # /
would have il il were the absolute owner 4
and the practical operator OF the trains 4
This OK cathedTa assertion. I'm its bald /
ness and lack of possible basis of law or /
fact. is paraiyzing The power to regulate /
commerce arms Congress only with the
power TO see to IL that safety Of pas
sengers and employees and reasonableness
and equality of charges for interstate
service are secured TO the people. and that
a corporation shall not carry disease from
one State to another In all other re-
spects the railroads within a State are
subject 10 the State authority.
Mr.. BryHn's Position.
Gov Vardaman says that Mr. Bryan
would not stand upon a Democratic plat
form promulgated by a convention. or the
committee on resolutions. which voted
down the proposition Of Federal ownership
Of railroads. I do not think the unkindesr
enemy of Mr.. Bryan in all the world could
have said Of him more unjust thing. /
do not believe that Mr. Bryan is setting
himself up as the master instead of the
servant of the Democracy At Mernpbis
New Orleans. and jackson ne said that he
WAS merely expressing his own opinion. /
that he did not make Democratic plat
forms. and that, upon that question. as
upon others, the delegates TO a national /
convention would speak
Conference on Indian Bin Asked.
Senate amendments to the Indian an
preparation bin were disagreed To in
bulk IN the House yesterday, and con.
ference was asked thereon. AIessrs