New-York tribune., 1908-08-27
MR.. BRYAN AS An "ANTI-SOCIALIST.

MIR. BR4a AZ An ANI1-SOCl4LfSI.
In his Indianapolis speech on the regulation
Of trusts Mr.. Bryan showed the same exag-
gerated facility for theorizing which led him
two years ago to declare offhand In Madison
Square Garden that the only solution of the
transportation problem lay in the ownership
and operation by the government of all the in
sti-umeitalities of interstate commerce. MI
Bryan's talent for generalization constantly
tempts him into proposing experiments IN poll
tics and economics which look to him as easy
as casting up a sum in simple addition. In MS
fertile Imagination he can see the federal gov
ernment owning and operating the railroads,
the canals, the telegraph and the telephone sys-
TENS and developing into a vast paternailstlc
machine without in the least discreditng JET
fersonan theories Of non-centralization or up
setting tile present balance between the powers
of the nation and the powers OF the states
Similarly he can picture the federal adminlstra-
ton controlling production and distribution, nix
ing limits to the activities of any industrlai
or commercial combination and equalizlng the
prices at which products are to be sold IN the
different parts of the Union. without in the
least infringing on the Jefersonian doctrines
of free competition and the least possible inter
ference by the state with Individual initiative
and independence He does not hesitate TO
suggest measures which would precipitate state
socialism but at the time he pretends to
he an orthodox Jeffersonian and claims that the
Democratic party under his leadership rs the
defender Of competition and the only great
party which is seeking to restore competition.
+ The indianapolis speech emphasizes the ha-
grant contradictions of Mr.. Bryans attitude.
He assails the Republican view of trust regu-
lation as at once too sociallstc and not social
istIc enough, and tries to show that the policy
of the Democratic platform Is more effective
both socialistically and anti-socialisucaiis. MI
Rrvan has persuaded himself that he can re-
store free competition by calling on the gov
ernment to superntend all production and eA-
change, TO limit output arbitrarily and to en-
force sales at one price In every community
from Maine to Texas. The Republican party
does not think that competition can De re-
stored by such an heroic experiment IN com
munism It is therefore. condemned as cow
artfIv in Mr.. Bryan's view, Its cowardice being
inspired by subserviepcy to the trusts But I'D
the next breath be denounces 1t as soclaiistic
In tendency and as being responsive for the
{ snread of socialism. Said the Democratic nom
inee at indianapolis with true Jehersonian
, severity:
The word "socialistic' is hurled at the Demo
cratic party and the Democratic platform NOW,
as a matter Of fact II is Mr.. Tafts party ana
not the Democratic party which has given en-
coura cement to socialism
! H
speaking two years ago as the leader OF the
Democratic party and its logical candidate for
President in 1905 calmly proposed that the
federal government should own and operate
the railroads and all other instrumentalities OF
interstate commerce.
The fact is that the Republican party. on the
railroad and trust questions, occupies rational
midway position, while Mr.. Bryan is continu-
ally Topping from one ia nix OF that position To
the other. The Republican policy is regulstive,
not absorptive 1t wants to minimize the evils
| of the present systems Of production and trans
| portation but not TO change their character or
| to replace them with bald state communism.
Mr. Bryan holds that the attempt TO regulate
the railroads will fail utterly and that they
! must ultimately he nationallzed. The Repub-
ncan plan for licensing trusts contemplates a
! similar restraint on overcapita2ation ana
monopolstic practices 1t does not contemplate
making the government the dominant partner
in all production But Mr.. Bryan, although
protesting that he believes in competition,
! far outdoes the proposal TO regulate by super
! vision and demands that the government nix
metes and bounds for industry and guarantee
that products be sold at the same price at
! every crossroad from one edge of the con-
tinent TO the other. The Republican plan is
! moderate cautious and capable of gradual
! appIication in the light of experience. Mr..
Bryan's plan is crude, radical and absolutely in
capable of application under economic con
dtions as they are. and with our as yet iln-
perfect mastery of them. The trust plank
OF the Democratic platform is characteristic
of the party's irresponsibility and general hazi-
/ ness of ideas Mr.. Bryan's defence of it only
! accentuates the contrast between Democracy,
the party of rash experiment, and Republican,
ism the party of steady and orderly progress.