Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-02-17
GETTING READY
NOW TO Fight
SOCIALISM
GOVERNMENT is AGAINST IT
Democracy is Historically Op-
posed to New Movement

Washington, d. c., Feb. 16.-In view
of the innovations now proposed of
government ownership and operation
of the express, telegraph, telephone
business, etc, Democratic leaders are
pointing out that the platform in the
past declared in favor of efficient reg
ulations of such utilities, but not in
favor of Government ownership and
operation of the same. The historic
position of the Democratic party, it is
recalled, is that public expenditures
shall be limited to the needs of gov
eminent economically administered.
Republican members of prominence
declare that in this attitude there is
little or no difference between those
who follow the ideals of Jefferson and
those who follow the principles OF
Lincoln Old-line republicans as well
as cld-line Democrats, not imbue1
with Socialistic principles are now
sometimes predicting that, within a
surprisingly few years, they will be
found shoulder to shoulder fighting
Socialism.
These are saying that the Govern
ment's entrance into the eXpress-car-
rying business is sure to be followed
by terrific effort upon the part of all
those who have privately, if not pub
lcly, accepted the teachings of Social
ism, for the Governments entrance in
to ownership and operation of the tel
eglaph systems; and, if into these,
why not into all others?
The first would entail, they say, an
additional army of employees, Federal
control OF all highways wherever OPP
Grated, innumerable drays wagons,
automobiles and warehouses and the
enlargement and rebuilding of post
Offices necessary to carry the bilious
of parcels predicted by the Post
master General. The condemnation
and taking of the property of the eN-
press companies, they say would al
most inevitably result in the Govern
ment ownership and operation of rail
roads. something which the Postal
Progress League" which has engineer
ed the campaign for Parcel Post open
ly advocates with lowest possible
% ic+o bnN
express it. Reilly bill H. R. intro
duced last session provides for this
Postmaster General Hitchcock has
already recommended Government
ownership and operation of the tele-
graph systems. These would cost
about $250,000,000 and add about 100,-
600 employees under direction of the
Postmaster General. The New York
Times says that the English govern
ment's operation of telegraphs is los
ing the English government mucn
money. A business may be operated
as a private enterprise successfully
and yet be a great loser through more
; eXtravagant government operation.
Adherents of Senator La Toilette and
: admirers of EX- President Roosevelt
no say that if the President did not
have the pull" of the officeholders he
. could not be renominated That the
: President is not emphatically averse
= to this extension of Federal authority
is indicated by the report that he S
now considering having Postmaster
General Hitchcock, who so successful
ly handled the road roller" four years
, ago, again manage his campaign.
Southern Democratic leaders. aside
from their historic antipathy to eX-
tension of Federal power and cons2-
/ Quent loss of importance to self-goy-
eminent and of the rights of states,
have another reason for aversion to
this socialistic and paternalistic pro-
gram: This is a reason which made
Mr.. Bryan's winking at government
ownership aud operation of railroads
detract from his popularity in the
South just after his triumphal tour
abroad, in his speech upon landing
= Government operation Of these utilities
means obliteration of the color line
The Jim Grow" car system in vogue
upon all Southern railroads would
have to be discontinued and whites
and blacks would ride in coaches to-
gether. Southern Senators and repre-
sentatives are beginning to realize
that the operation of an eXpress-car-
? rying business by the Federal Govern
ment means that control of highways
by counties and states will pass to
Nation with a swollen IN"