New-York tribune., 1907-07-22
DRIFTING FROM BRYAN.
IndiQna's One Experience of PUBLIC
OzCnershiD Enough.

Indianapolis. July q (SpeciaD-some OF the Indi-
ana Democrats who have been enthusiasts In theis
support OF Mr.. Bryan. and soma who voted FOR
him IN the campaigns OF 1895 and 1900 merely thar
they might have UnbrOksn political record. agres
that there has been a gradual drawing away OF the
Indiana Democracy from the Nebraskan IN the
last few months at least decided weakening
OF Democratic enthusiasm compared with the
sentiment that found expression in the state
vention one year ago. At that time Mr.. Bryan was
about to return from his travels abroad, and had
everywhere been received with such consideration
that the party leaders believed he could win in
1903, and the state convention gave him generous
Endorsement, and thus launched his 190S boom
Naturally there much surprise and disap-
pOiltnent when AR Bryan advocated gOvernmsnr
ownership OF railroads The Democrats found some
consolation however in the attitude that the Re-
publican administration had assumed toward cor
porations in general. and still believed that the
election oP Frvan would be possible. Those who
dissented from this view could not be brought 70
believe that Indiana Democrats would indorse sucn
a prOnouncenent with their votes, and they saw
in Bryan's Utterances the first note OF d1ssension
for the campaign OF 1878. upon which they had
hoped TO enter united party The Gold Demo
crats almost a deprecat the presenl4-
ton OF such an issue. either in The platform or IN
the person OF the candidate. and there have slIc7
been added 10 their ranks many men o. lhnteI-S ls
as leaders who feel THAI the utrerance mas acle1
as a boomerang on the party
The Democrats who are opposing even sus-
gestion OF government ownership OF public utilities
are men who have made conditions a study. and as
a result base their opposition on past experiences
IN Indiana Since Mr. Bryan'S declaration one
hears q great deal OF the old Internal improve
ruent craze in Indiana and the burden OF debt tnat
It placed upon the people in stUpendous attempt
70 operate public utilities By the state And IN
deed, a more instructive chapter or state history
period from 1886 TO 1s42 when the state had 40
miles OF abandoned canals on its hands and the
people were loaded with debt aDprox1natlns
S7o6oON
The incentive TO this mad rush toward disaster
came from the general government IN the act
enabling the territory OF Indiana TO advances 20
1-T- -raFE < mar ant ~ EN&
sales OF public lands should DO reserved as q fund
for the construction OF roads and canals. and
three-hfths OF the money was 70 be dsoursed under
direction OF the legislature From time 70 una
appropriations were made IN aid OF various roads.
and II 1897 the government made special grant
OF land IN aid OF ths Wabash and Erie Canal and
tan years later the Legislature ordered its con
structIon This was The opening wedge to enor-
nous expenditures with ur one cent OF return tor
the state
As the state was entering upon improvements,
everybody in Indiana thought he ought 10 have
some tangible benefits rom the expenditures THIS
was not unnatural, when taxes collected nom
every one were 70 be used Under pressure thus
brought TO bear from al parts OF the state the
Legislature mapped out extensive system pro-
viding one series OF acts for the construction OF
ss9 miles OF canals railroads and turnpikes- The
work entered upon IN the same prOdisal spirit
IN which the system was begun and IN three years
was well under way. But by that time the state
had exhausted all available funds, well as It's
credit and there no market In which its bonds
could be sold at any prtce Even interest was de-
faulted. so sensIbly the financial strtngency
felt In a state where no rainy day provision had
been made by It's treasury. II then no longer
q Questssn Of the state completing the works. FOR
that was impossible, but could any one be induced
70 take them up and carry them on 70 completion?
Work had been everywhere stopped The tax
rate had been increased. land values had fallen
practically nothing, and people were leaving
the state by hundreds. In this extremity the
Legislature offered TO turn over al the unfinished
works TO any private companies that would organ
ize ard complete them. the Wabash and Erie canal
being the only exception Some OF the railroad
construction was undertaken by private capital
and was pushed 10 completion and under this man
agernsnt has proved paying investment But, al
though the government to the aid OF the state
with additional land grants for the Wabash
and Erie canal, IL never completed. but IS o.
day a part OF that ass miles q abandoned canals
that bear testimony 10 the states attempt TO
and operate it's pubic utilities II not TIL IsT1
that the last Of the internal Improvement bonds
were paid OF and the books were closed forever
against the repetition of such chrnerical project
Looking back this history. with its failures
and entaied suffering 20 the people, Indiana Demo-
Gratis who are students Of events do not to
make any departure from established rules Of
ershiD OF public utilities