The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-07-17

care to revive this great interest In a
large way and on intelligent lines, and
make IL once more "a mighty force In COM
mercial development and In the augmen-
tation of national prestige, the work must
he again committed TO Democratic hands.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
Senator Stone next discussed the regu-
latiun of railroads. In dealing with
railroads and the question of transpor-
tatlon, he said that absolute justice to
both the corporations and the public
should be the guiding rule Railroads,
he declared, Were not only essential to
the business world, but had been Il
mighty force In the up-building of great
states, and he believed they ought not
to be dealt with In a narrow spirit or
with prejudice. but should be dealt with
In brOad and generous way. He de-
ciared that men who invested large
sums in building and equipping railways,
ana men who devoted their talents and
energies to the arduuus task Of operat-
for the money and labor expended on
the other hand he said. railroad cor
porations are quasl-publc bodies.
clothed with special privileges. and are
organized not solely as source OF profit
to investors. but also 20 perform n
public service, and hence are subject
to regulation by law. While a generous
profit honestly earned should be allowed
"a
tortion from the public should not be
permitted. Railroads should not be made
to suffer a wrong. nor permitted to do
wrong. Asking justice OF the public.
they must do justice to the public.
Proceeding on this line. the Senator
said:
Therefore. believe In the supervision
and regulation Of railroads by public au-
thority. Whenever the managers Of rail-
road corporations shall learn to cheer
fully obey just laws and conform to Just
regulations. and whenever they deal, as
II is their duty to deal, impartially and
without discrimination, not only with the
public as n whole, but with men and
localities also, and whenever public au-
thouty, which itself IL often not without
fault comes to the point OF dealing with
railroads In spirit OF fairness and with
out prejudice, the time will be at hand
for amlcablc and kindly relations be-
tween the corporations and the people
Absolute Justice should be the universal
rule. The public should deal fairly by
the roads, and the roads must deal fairly
by the people. II a company undertakes
to Increase Its stocks or debts for sprcu-
lative purposes, intending to exact profits
on fictitious values. or undertakes by
determinations to build up one person,
Industry or locality to the detrIment OF
another, or undertakes to do any wrong
to the public injury, II is the duty OF
the public authority. under the power to
regulate, to step In and stop IL. | be-
lieve that the, power OF regulation. when
properly applied is ample to control the
railroads and to adjust all differences
between them ana the people. | have
never been favorably impressed with the
idea of government ownership. / fear
that the evils of ownership would be
greater than the evils we would attempt
by that policy to cure. j believe If ade-
quato laws regulating railroads should
be enacted and rigidly enforced, practi-
caly all the greater evils of which the
country CumUIutuE could he aF1ltgaf.t
II | should be mistaken as to that, and
u after the country has tested regula-
ton to the limit and IL should fail
then 1t viii be time to discuss the uues-
no need TO do that now. 1t is not n
question of immediate concern. and
hence It has not been made the subject
OF platform reference, No one pro-
now. Those who believe that policy
practicable or advisable. speak OF II
only In tentative way. as "a possible
and ultimate solution of the problem of
from discussing and developing the idea.
for in time the country may conclude
to try II, and 1t Is the part of wisdom
that every phase of this complicated
subject should be elaborated But now
the discussion is OF necessity more aca-
demlc than practical. and hence | do
not care to enter upon IL NJ length. In
passing, however, | will say word con-
ttTNIlk tHb CFltclSTnS tnnt nave been
made of Mr.. Bryan for what he has said
upon that subject. lie IL apprehensive
that the regulation OF railroads and rail-
road traffic will fail In the future as 1t
has In the past, and he has expressed
the belief that public ownership will be
finally resorted to as more effective
remedy: and he does not lock with that
dread that others do upon the policy of
government ownership, He believes a
plan can be worked out to so divide
ownership and responsibility between the
states and the general government as to
largely obviate the objections usually
made to the proposition. But, highly as
esteem MIR. Bryan ard his opinions, |
cannot but doubt both the wisdom and
feasibility of the project. Still. he has
said nothing, done nothing, to invite,
much less to merit, the harsh partisan
criticisms show0red upon him. He has
simply acted the part of a statesman, rs
he always does In fearless manner. by
discussing a great question of paramount
Importance for the enlightenment of the
people. He does not expect nor even
desire that the public ownership OF rail-
roads should be taken up as a question
for immediate action. He knows II II
ever comes. 1t will be years away. and
he says himself that for the present he
favors exhaustng the power or the gov
eminent in regulating the roads before
attempting the more drastic remedy ~
ownership: and he says II regulation
can be made successful, there VIII be no
Httu Oh COUtluefilE the question OF
ownership. What Is there about that to
cause his enemies to cock their ears and
sound a loud alarum? they talk as IL
they had never heard of government
ownership before. Ii Is not a new uues-
ton, but an old one. jeremiah Black,
the great Pennsylvania Democrat, die-
cussed 1t favorably and with signal
ability twenty-five years ago, and
Thomas ii. Benton discussed II ATTY
years ago, when he made his memorable
fight In Congress for a railroad from the
Mississippi to the Pacific, to be con-
structed, owned and operated by the ma
tional government. II was talked about
and written about before Mr.. Bryan was
born, and II has been experimental with
by many governments I'm different parts
OF the world. Still, Republicans speak
Of II as II II were some new and hor-
rible thing that Bryan had conjured to
alright the country and menace the
liberties OF the people. Az q matter OF
fact. on this subject there Is but little
practical difference between Bryan's po-
sitiop and RooseveIt's position. As
read MIR. Roosevelt's speeches and mes
sages. he does not favor government
ownership per Sc, but he declares II will
ultimately come II regulation proves ia
Ing regulation TO .ts farthest limit. and
says II Il proves reasonably effective and
satisfactory. then there will be no need
of ownership. but, on the other hand II
regulation fails, ownership will follow
So far. the two men stand on substan'
TALLY the same ground. The difference
between them Is In their opinions as 70
on the country. Mr.. Roosevelt thinks Il
would be fraugbt with danger while
Mr.. Bryan thinks that with proper
dfvlaton OF property assS responsibility