New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17
MIR. Bryan Thoughts on
the Railroad Problem
He Would Not Kill Man First for the Sake
of an Experiment in Resurrection Mis-
givings as to Government Ownership

able that it will hasten the action.
but never believe 1t wise 10 adyo.
cate a bad thing in the hope tha, /,
will bring a better thing. In fact. I
think it ia very unsound philo,.
ophy. think that II you oppose a
thing. and it comes, you can then
take advantage Of il, and you nav
be able 70 use it TO bring something
that is better; but whenever I an
tempted 10 advocate a bad thing. in
the hope it will bring a better thing
| am restrained By this process Of
reasoning-rather, this illustration
Of reasoning. will put it this way:
II ] ever get il into my head that |
can raise man from the dead, will
try it on a dead man; | will not Kill
a man just TO experiment with him;
and I apply that to this case.
While believe that out Of the
abuses that this would lead %, gov.
eminent ownership would come, I
would not be willing-no matter how
much | favored government owner.
ship-to favor the bad thing and
take my chances on the good thing
coming, because IL I helped to get
the bad thing, | would be respOn-
sible for it, and then, if were no.
able to get the good thing. ! would
have no way Of defending myself
from a very serious responsibility.
Now, personally. / cannot say tina.
I desire government ownership, BE-
cause lean TO the individual idea
rather than 10 the collective idea;
that is, believe that governmen.
ownership is desirable only where
competition is impossible. ! am not
oble TO tell you who first laid down
the rule that / have adopted, but
the first man whose name was at.
tached to it was Professor Ely; |
do not know whether it was original
with him, or whether he took some
one else's statement, but my under.
standing Of it was this-that natural
monopoly must be owned by the peo.
pie, on the theory that in the case Of
a natural monopoly competition was
impossible, or, if not impossible, was
so expensive as 10 amount TO the
same thing, and that there should be
government ownership.
That proposition expresses my
views better than any have been
able myself TO frame; that where
competition is impossible, govern
ment ownership is necessary; that
private monopoly is indefensible and
lntolerabie, and | only favor govern
ment ownership on the condition that
proper regulation IS impossible,
and / have been frank to express the
belief that il will be found impossi-
bic, simply because Of the natural
tendency Of the men in charge Of
the railroad TO make all they can on;
of it, without regard 10 the equities
or to the rights OF the people. But
am perfectly willing 10 give to
private ownership a fair and COM
plete trial, and | am willing TO have
ell proper restrictions tried, so that
when the people turn TO government
ownership they will turn with en-
dence either that it is impossible to
devise restrictions, or because the
railroads are able to prevent efficient
restriction, and | have gone so FAR
in my willingness TO try effective
regulation as to suggest this: that
the railroad capitalization be reduced
10 an honest basis, and that then the
railroads be allowed 70 earn a SUI
ficient income TO keep their stock a.
par, and, in addition TO that, sum
to be put into & surplus, as bank
creates a surplus, from which the
railroad could draw in bad years 70
keep its dividend at just and rea-
sonable point.
Now, if | know the sentiment o.
the people, there is no desire among
the masses TO do injustice TO 'n'
railroads, and | have not any douO'
that any fair proposition that IS ~"
to both sides would lie Endorsed oy
the public, and ! have such fslth III
the sense Of justice and the fairness
of the masses that I would not he'''
tate to indorse and appeal 10 them !"
indorse a proposition that would give
absolute stability to railroad s'ocS
Ly permitting this accumulation Oi
reasonable surplus out Of whlen u,
dividends could be paid in any oa'
year, so that any man who bought
railroad stock could know that eVe''
,ear he would receive a return lns'
paid the value Of the money lnves'e''
Japan's Narrow Railway Gaus"