Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-29
BRYAN IS RIGHT

RAILROAD managers prefer to deal
with one legislative body instead Of
forty-hve." This extract from a state
ment made last Monday by William J.
Bryan contains a square meal Of food
for thought
The railway magnates fought OBJ
stinately against any legislative control
whatever so long as there was pros
pect of fighting successfully. When
both the federal government and the
state legislatures began an attack all
along the line, however, the magnates
quickly showed a preference for deal
ing with the government rather than
the state authorities. This because, as
Mr.. Bryan intimates, they understand
the relatively easy job of dealing with
one opponent rather than with forty
hve-the number of state legislatures.
One of the strongest arguments
against President Roosevelt's PROPOSE
tion for complete government control
of the railways lies in the well-known
power Of the railway influence In con-
gress. In the classification Of members
of the last congress with reference to
railway affiliations it was shown that
more than half the senators and a
large percentage of representatives
were within the scope of railway in
fuence either directly or indirectly.
1t would need but little If any
Strengthening of the railway power in
congress to insure safety at least in
the senate, against any such drastic
measure as would be necessary in car
rying out the scheme of federal railway
control. The strong support heretofore
accorded railway interests in all con-
gressional matters affecting them is
evidence on that point. And
whatever of additional strength might
appear to be necessary could be OBJ
tained no doubt, by methods of per-
suasion with which railway magnates
are familiar.
But an attempt to control forty-five
state legislatures would be quite an
other matter. 1t would be obviously
Some legislative bodies
might be Influenced, as they are now,
but in order to make the fight against
state control effective it would be
to obtain control in each of
the forty-fve legislatures.
President Roosevelt evidently believes
that his own personality would be a
sufficient factor in assuring the success
of his plan. 1t is not necessary to con-
slider that question, however, for the |
reason that Mr.. Roosevelt will va
cate the presidential chair before it
would be possible to install so radical
a change of railway control as the one
he proposes. Even such Of his admirers |
as have unbounded confidence in his |
potency would have misgivings about |
the successful consummation of the
plan under the leadership of any of the
present Republican applicants for
official shoes.
Mr.. Bryan is unquestionably right in
his conclusion on this momentous |
question. In the statement made at |
Chicago, in which the above extracted
sentence appears, he said 1--WE should
preserve the dual character of our gov
ernment, congress regulating the inter-
state business and allowing the states |
to regulate their internal matters, such |
as transportation, etc.
And that sentiment is in keeping with
he feeling that pervaded the founders
If the republic and which is reflected
n the constitutional amendment de-
,laring that all rights of the several
states are reserved except such as are
specially delegated by the constitution
% the federal government.