Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-27

I DIleI larry at falrNieW, are ruSnlng
into print with assertions and predic-
lions that government ownership will
not be an issue in the platform to be
framed the second week in July. They
are making no concealment OF the fact
that they get their tips on hat subject
from Mr.. Bryan. In an interview at
Denver. A delegate says he got
the impression about the platform
from a talk I had with Mr.. Bryan
at Lincoln" Tom Taggart has talked
in a similar vein and each leader of
the warning factions joins in the
chorus, as soon as Leader Bryan gives
him the key. Mr.. Bryan is also in re-
treat from his government ownership
issue. In one of the chapters of his
serial story on the republican platform,
Mr.. Bryan says:
Equally false is the statement that the
democratic party believes in government
ownership and the republican party in
sists upon regulation and the democratic
party, dominated by predatory corpora
tions, will not consent even to effective
regulation. The president himself, and
even Secretary Taft. has pointed out that
government ownership must be expected
IL regulation is not permitted. and yet
even this threat does not stir the repub-
lican leaders to a successful resistance to
corporate influences.
1t will be noticed, in passing, that
Mr.. Bryan, who is especially wrought
up over his assumption that the repub-
lican platform at Chicago was dictated
by one man, is frankly declaring what
the democratic party stands for, in ad-
vance of the convention and the franz
ing of the platform. The Nebraska
leaders effort, however, to get way
from the government ownership plank
can not prevent it from being an issue
in the coming campaign. His attitude
on the question has been too clearly
defined. In his famous speech at Mad
ison Square garden, upon his return
from his European tour, Mr.. Bryan
said:
1 have reached the conclusion that there
will be no permanent relief on the railroad
question from discrimination between indi-
viduals and between places and from ex-
tortionate rates until the railroads are the
property of the government and operated
by the government in the interest of the
people
Mr.. Bryan has found it extremely
difficult to get away from his convic-
tions on that question, although he has
since sought to modify his expression.
When the storm of southern protest
came up against the government own
ership pronouncement, Mr.. Bryan, in
a speech in Connecticut, took occasion
to explain that his Madison Square gar
den speech was an expression of his
own opinion and conviction and not the
announcement of a party principle. A
little later, in a speech at Louisville,
he got p%erilously close to his original
proposition when he declared:
Observation has convinced me that gov
eminent ownership can be undertaken on
the plan indicated with less danger to the
country than lie involved in private owner
ship as we have had 1t or as we are likely
to have II.
While now insisting that railroad
regulation is the paramount issue, Mr..
Bryan is committed to his declaration
that he does not~beiieve railroad rate
regulation can be made effective. He
intimates thai in his latest article on
the republican platform and in an in
tervlew with Lincoln Stetfens, as re-
ported in the July E~verybody's, makes
the direct and emphatic assertion that
the railroads can not be regulated,
thus leaving the inference that the only
remedy is in government ownership,
according to his original program. A
salient excerpt from that article fol-
lows:
Here is where he returns to his i'm
~portant distinction between the railroads
and other such public service corporations,
which are natural, necessary monopolies.
and merchandise corporations, which are
artificial and bad.
Regulation is impossible; trying TO reg
|ulate increases the corruption Of govern
ment. What, then, are we to do? Mr..
Bryan says:
First, we must strengthen the repre-
sentative character of the government by
electing senator's by direct vote of the
people.
second, as 10 the RAILROADS ana OlHeI
natural monopolies. we must try faithfully
and fairly to regulate them till they have
taught the people that they can not be
regulated"
That brings Mr.. Bryan back to his
original proposition that the railroads
can not be regulated and that govern
ment ownership is the only remedy.
He takes a rather unhappy position by
declaring that we must try faithfully
to regulate them until they have
taught the people that they can not be
regulated" II would appear to be the
part of craftsmanship to declare at
once for government ownership of the
railroads rather than to waste time in
the effort, which Mr.. Bryan declares
will result in failure. of regulating
them. II he is consistent he will urge
the democratic party to make a de-
termined fight for "the regulation of
railroad rates." which he has already
assured them they a not get and
would be of no benefit to them If they
should get Il. In the matter Of con-
ductinR a retreat. Colonel Bryan will