The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-24

tell me how one can succeed as a poll
tician7"
'Oh, 1 couldn't answer such cues
tion." Senator Nelson replied After be-
ing in the House of Representatives
three terms, my pluraltiesa increasing
from 1900 In 1882, TO 4.69S in 1856. re-
turned 10 Alexandria with the belief that
my active days in politics were over
Populism made Roadway in Minnesota,
however, and in 1892, I was nominated for
governor by a unanimous vote OF the
State convention. Now, as a matter Of
fact. l have never made any plans for
getting public Office; have not looked
forward to something I wanted and then
worked and schemed to get it, The nom
ination for governor came to me unso-
licited. and didn't cost me a 2-cent post
age stamp. The Grover Cleveland tidal
wave swept over the country in 1892
Illinois and Wisconsin went Democratic.
carried Minnesota by a plurality OF
nearly 1900 votes, standing for sound
money and all Of my principles. 1 never
preach doctrines on the stump that 1
qualify or deny in private
Sees no Immediate Danger.
Have you any mIsgivings about rne
future OF the country"
There are no immediate dangers ex-
cept the possibility that trusts and mo-
nopolies may get control OF our railroads
and manufactures. Previous 20 the
French revolution the mobiles owned all
the land We remember the Infamous
and historical reply OF the governor OF
Dijon, during the reign of Louis XVI. 10
the hungry and clsmoring peasants:
You want something 10 eat? he asked.
Go and craze: the grass is Just coming
up. There can be no monopoly OF land
in the United States, but there can be
monopolies of manufactured articles and
transportation. unless the States and the
national government will work together
in the enactment Of regulatory and re-
straining legislation.
'If all the railroads OF the country
should fan into the hands Of five or six
men--and ownership is tending in that
direction-and II all the steel works. the
clothing and shoe factories. the packing
houses, and so on. should get into the
control OF other small groups OF men, our
situation would be analogous TO condi-
lions in France previous to the revolu-
tion-the people would practically be the
hired employees OF the monopoiies. taking
in wages what the monopolies pleased TO
give them and paying monopolistic prices
for their food and clothing. While our
lands would not be owned by the mobiles
OF commerce and transportation. still the
products OF our farms would be con-
trolled absolutely. and our agriculturists
reduced 10 mere cotters and serfs.
1.-THE States create corporations and the
States can regulate them, but there must
also be legislation by Congress. otherwise
the corporations will become greater than
the government Already, we are toler-
sting wrongs and exactions. Take the
long and short haul theory. as preached
and practlced by our railways, and re-
fleet upon the power that it.places in the
hands of q few freight agents. Cities
can be built or broken; communities can
be enriched or impoverished. Merchan-
disc shipped from Chicago to Spokane. in
Washington. for example. until recently
was charged a through rate to Seattle.
plus the sum OF the total freight from
Seattle 10 Spokane. Thus Seattle. through
railway discrimination. fiourished at the
cost of Spokane, which Is several hun
bred miles nearer the Eastern markets.
Thus. also. are the railways helping
further 20 congest our large centers OF
population 10 the injury of all the peo-
pie Iowa, one Of the richest OF our
States. Is without great cities with their
squalor and misery. a dozen small cities
are better, economically and ethically,
in their separation than they would be
il they were brought together"
What do you think about socialism,
There Is no menace in II 10 the pres
ent generation. When our vacant lands
have been turned into farms; when our
cities are checked with a strugglins
population, and when our work OF de-
velopment has been finished, II Is not IN
reasonable 10 believe that socialism Will
work some changes. but that day is q
long way in the future"
(Copyrigkt. 1910 BY James B. Morrow