The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-10

to the laws of tde state which created
ii and the laws of the states in which
il does business.
How strict can these laws be? Just
as strict as may be necessary for the
protection of the public.
Our platform outlines the regulation
deemed necessary, and the legislation
is specifically set forth in order that
our government may not be able to
scare the public by predicting hurtful
legislation. Our platform unlike the
republican platform, says what it
means and means only what it says.
\ distinction is drawn between the
railroads and other corporations. The
railroad. being a quasi-pubIic corpora
ton and, as such, being permitted TO
exercise a part of the sovereignty of
the state, is subject to regulation at
the hands of both the nation md the
state, but this regulation is intended
not to cripple the railroads but 10 in
crease their efficiency. The people at
large are as much interested as the
stockholders are in the successful
operation of the railroads Their own
pecuniary interests as we'll as their
sense of justice would restrain them
from doing anything that would i'm
pair the road or reduce IFS efficiency.
The travelling public is vitality interest
ed in the payment of wages sufficient
TO command the most intelligent ser
vice, for life as well as property is in
the hands of those who operate the
trains, guard the switches and keep
the track in repair
Democratic Party and Railroads.
The democratic party would dis
unguIsn between those railroad own
ers, directors and managers who. rec
ognlzing their obligation to the public.
earn their salaries by conscientious
devotion to the work entrusted to
them, and those INSCRIPTIONS "Napo-
Icons of Finance who use railroads
as mere pawns in "A great gambling
game without regard to the rights of
employees or TO the int -PStS of the
patrons. II is in the interest of honest
railrOading and legitimate investment
that the democratic party seeks TO
ascertain the present value of the rail
road properties and to prevent for the
future the watering of stock and the
issue OF fictitious capitalization: and il
X in. the interest of both the railroad
and the public that it seeks only such
reductions in transportation rates as
can be made without wage reduction
without deterioration in the service
and without injustice TO legitimate in
veStmentS. The democratic party in
sist~ that in the matter Of regulation
Of railroads both the state govern
ments and the federal government
shall act up 10. and yet within. their
powers; for nothing else will restore
the confidence and good will that
ought to exist between the railroads
\ o In
ufaCturing and trading corporations
the democratic party draws a dictinc-
ton between those coTporations-and
they constitute the great majority of
all the manufacturing and trading cor
pOratiOns-whicl are engaged in
legitimate effort TO supply what the
consumers need, and the very few cor
poTatfons which are seeking by con-
scienceless methods to take advantage
Of the public on the one hand while
on the other hand they BANKRUPT COM
petitOTs- Cypress the producers of raw
materials and deal arbitrarily with
their employees IT endeavors 10 pro-
tPct the innocent corporations by
visiting punishment upon those cor
Doratlons which are guilty. of infrac-
tons Of the moral and the statute
law Here. too. our platform IL speci-
fC and no one cen use its language
TO Brighten any business man whose
transactions arc fair and whose in
come Is honestly earned
No one can contrast the plain.
straightforward declarations of our
party with the vague and ambiguous
utterances Of the republican leaders
ana the republican candidate withour
recognizing that our appeal is to the
Judgment and good sense OF the vOt
eTs who desire justice for themselves
and insist upon justice being done bv
others Our party. If entrusted with
the power. will remedy the abuses
which have grown uD under reDubIT.
can rule, and yet remedy those
abuses with due regard 10 consritr-
uonal limitations and without injury
10 any legitimate business interest