The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-01-09

of the New Haven Democratic elup'
that these two clubs will in no wise
conflict. as the old club and the league
are doing a purely educational work.
while the new club is for practlcal WoIN
at elections. These organizations VIII,
therefore, really supplement each other'
and the same men can consistently pc
long to EACH for the time has undoupt-
edly come for democrats to bury tnelr
past grievances and minor differences
and all work together for the common
good.
AS this is the first public meeting OF |
the New England league, we are mos.
fortunate in having as the speaker Oh |
the evening a man whose reputation 10
known throughout the breadth OF the
land, a man who has valiantly Ioush' /
the foes of the people in many pattie'
whether those foes claimed to be demo-
Gratis or republicans; a man whose ue-
mocr-cy is Of the highest and whose
character is a shining example-ohe
whose cogent reasoning powers OF de-
hate and great eloquence make him
dangerous foe to our friend the enemy
Ladies and gentlemen, l have the
great honor to introduce to you lhe
sneaker of the evening, Hon. George
Fred Williams, of Massachusetts,
MR.. WILLIAMS ADDRESS.
Mr.. william said in part: Practical
Nv every monarchy in the world mas
either in whole or in part restored lts
railroad systems to the ownership anu
operation of the government Germany
Austria Hungary Russia, Sweuei'
Norwav.Denmark Belgium, The Meth
erlands. France, Japan, India, Mexico
tbe Australasian states, Brazil, the
Argentine Republic, Siam, Natal anu
other countries which I need not men
tion in detail, have adopted the pallcy
of railroad operation and ownership py
the government and either now own
all their railroads or are rapidly &C
ouirjng them. 1t is a serious dlscFeolt
to the intelligence of this republic that
our citizens so little apprehend NOW
far behind the rest Of the world the
United States is in meeting TINS SUI
preme question
No individuals should be entrusted
with a monopoly especially a monopo-
w of services which are common to
the whole people. The very grant 81
such a monopoly to private persons IS
"a grant of autocracy and despotism IN
irdustrial affairs wichin a republic.
The very grant of such a. monopoly
creates at the outset natural ana
unavoidable conflict between the cor
noration, which is interested only IN
proats, and the public which Is inter-
, ested only In service. Such cohllic'
mas a further inevitable result, namely
that it drives the people and the mo-
n9nolv into the legislatures and thf
courts in the course Of the warfare be
tween the respective interests. II i
here that the evil assumes its mos
menacing forms. The people are un0r
: ganized and have individual grieV
ances. while the corporations, havini
control of industry and having un
hnnded means at their command, arr
le able to Guido all the people before al
y the tribunals which are constitute
N for the protection of the public rights
1t llBy their empowering influence IN pol
Is itics and by their unlimited control o
to money and talent they are enabled :
D. enter politics, control and pervert leg
1t islation and exercise an enormous in
Ill huence not only over the making bu
xt over the execution of the laws. So ia
has this face been demonstrated tina
t thoughtful men must well constde
tn whether our republic must not deca
so If the corrupting forces Of these pow
ny erful organizations are not remove
nd from the field Of politics.
a Every year their power increase
"e their monopolies become more irresis
~ ible and the thousand evils of the sy'
~ tenn pile up until rescue seems almo
a. impossible, But to return to son
~ minor considerations which are le'
q apparent to the observer.
he THE principle of the private owl
,e- ership Of the railroad Is also essentia
~ " wrong In this regard, that on
he where competition exists can the pu
re- lie obtain the benefits OF rivalry, low
ng rates and better service. With an o
vn stinary which constitutes the wor
w. aTraignment of railroad managers Il
ass existing policy is, as 1t was at the on
set, to charge for services "all that Il
traffic will bear Wherever the m
IN nopoly is perfect, this principle OF ra
nd making is absolute. 1t is qualified on
of where competition exists The rest
rv is an unnatural, abnormal and unju
,rn sectional development Where comp
nj tition exists we find development, pr
en- gress and prosperity, while in the di
an tricts not so favored, we have stagn
of ticn, depreciation and even ru
ary That the state should permit such Sc
ace tional favoritism Is the fault of t
the system.
tns when a railroad is privately CO
or structed there is every inducement
ues over capitalization. This excess Of ca
and italization absorbs an undue profit frt
nay industry and constitutes standi
bic burden. If this original burden We
re- all it might be borne with complacenC
lew but the next step Is as inevitable as
9th first, namely, that when the prot
rise above fair return on the capt.
il or promise so to rise measures ;
ver taken to meet the new gains The m
a. familiar is that of consolidation of 4
NO. ferent corporations. in which proc
- one railroad buys another not at
M par of its capital, but at the mar
49,, price of the securities, and then
90 | only capitalzes this market price,
~ generally adds literally to its own CT
nv, iio' italization under one pretense or
i've other How radically false is a syst
ud4 thnt hnstnrue i1nnn dnad nanllal oil