The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-26

OF the debate. We have stood tonight
for the preservation of the private
ownership of our railway lines under
adequate control, distinctly Ameri-
can Institution, one under which we
have prospered and developed so
rapidly that our commercial and in
dustrial supremacy astonishes the
world. What do the gentlement of
the affirmative stand for? They stand
for the abolition of that institution
which has of late years become posi-
tive necessity, and the substitution of
another altogether untried under AM
erican conditions, and altogether for
eign to our principles of government
and business methods. What argu-
ment is made to support their conten-
ton? They say we have evils in our
railroad system. But the first speak
er for the negative showed that these
evils were of transitory nature and
that they were as nothing compared
with the evils that would arise under
government ownership. And before
l am through will endeavor to show
how these evils are being eliminated
by remedial Legislation. But granting
for the sake of argument that these
evils are grave; granting for the sake
of argument that the evils are con-
stantly growing greater, will that
make the argument of the affirmative
valid? They say that government
ownership is successful abroad. That
Germany, for instance has govern
ment ownership and has no evils, and
therefore we should have government
ownership in our country. l contend
that this conclusion is false for three
reasons: First, the system as used
in Germany is not the system as advo-
Gated by the affirmative. Germany has
state ownership. Each state owns
and operates its own lines, referring
to the central government for gener-
al supervision. But the affirmative
advocate system in which the great
common carriers of our country are
to be owned and operated by the GEN.
trail government at Washington, hence
there can be no analogy.
For Military Reasons.
The second reason is that Germany
owns her railroad lines for military
reasons and military reasons alone.
She is driven to this policy by reason
of her geographical position. She
knows the excitable temperament of
the French on the west, the revolu-
tionary spear of the Slav and Magyar
on the south. She has had experience
with the rebellious Poles on the east,
and hence she has broad border to
protect. How does she do it? Take
down your map and you will find that
the principal railroad lines of Ger
many radiate in all directions from
the capital, Berlin. These lines inter-
sect the border at almost equal dis
tances. What is the reason? Here is
plainly displayed the hand of Bis
marck and of Won Moltke. 1t is to
transport troops and provisions along
these lines with the greatest facility
in time of war. But in America we
have no such military plan. We have
no such military reason to own our
railroads. We are at peace and amity
with our friends on the north and our
neighbors on the south, hence, the
conclusion fails again.
Third Reason.
There is a third reason and it is
fundamental in this debate. Germany
is an old and developed country. Lit
tie money is expended in the building
of new lines but more in the mainten-
ance of those already in operation,
while in America We have a young
and developing country. Large sums