Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-07
TEXAS COMMENT.

The republican party was never
able to make a dent in pollucs OF
Texas. Whenever a republican III
that state arraigned democratic lead
ers or policy all utterances fell on
ears that heard not, But now within
the ranks of the dominant party Is
strong protest over the course of It's
chosen national head and his asso-
GATES
In times past the democratic party
loved socialists about as It cherished
republicans.
Fondness of some democrats for
socialism has not yet been bestowed
despite the adoption of socialistc
steps by Wilson. Burleson, and others
whom the leaders of the party m
spire.
The most recent and vigorous rem
ocratic protest is from a former idol
of Texas, Joseph w. Bailey. who
when in the United States senate was
first known for his rampant democ-
racy and later as an authority on
constitutional law.
A lesser man, a nonTexan, or a
republican might be banished from
Texas should he commit the lese
majesty of asking Texas democrats
to cut loose from Wilson to avoid
being buried in socialism. But that
is lust what the brainy Texan has
done in a letter for publication. Com
ing from such source and not open
to a charge of being in the interest
of the republican party the Texas
press is evidently much interested.
The FL Paso Times, in an editorial
on the Bailey letter, admits that the
administration has adopted extreme
socialist methods in important mat
\ ters. The Times, however, in keeping
with party tradition that whatever
comes through leadership must be
approved, or condoned, rather seeks
TO excuse the president. At the same
time the paper promises that demo-
Gratis will get back to sane policies,
The editorial comment begins with
an admission that federal control
of the railways has involved social
istic doctrines" and the result is
what every level-headed person
prophesed should the experiment
exer be made in this country-the
people paying enormous bills for
most deplorable service and for the
proving that this theory cannot be
demonstrated in practice"
Before the war Postmaster General
Burleson asked congress to take over
telegraph lines and let his department
operate them. The request was not
needed. Democrats in the majority
in congress did not favor extending
government control over wires. nor
even ownership of railways. Later
war caused federal operation of rail-
way lines, ostensibly as temporary
measure. 1t was evidently the design
of administration forces to stretch
railway operation on indefinitely. un-
til the old social dream of govern
ment ownership would result.
Subsequently, under war powers,
the postoffce department.. with APP
prevail of the president, seized the
telegraph, telephone and cable wires.
These seizures were made with the
approval of President Wilson, in quite
as summary manner though without
the violence. as marked the taking
over Of private property in Russia by
the Bc!shevist autocrats, Lenine and
Trotzky.
OF the wire seizures the party news
paper at e. Paso says:
As to the government seizure of the
wire system-telegraph telephone
and cable-and the manner in which
one company has been treated SO that
funds might be fliched from the peo-
Pile to pay for the venture into the
domain of idealism. These are the
two outstanding surrenders to the
teachings of socialism. and these were
probably in the mind of our former
senator when he wrote his letter
There was an admitted necessity
for the government controlling the
railroads during the war period. and,
during the war period, there might
have been. good reason for managing
the wire systems.
We are firm in our conviction that
when the war ceased, there was no
longer necessity for extending the
socialistic idea of federalizing the
railroads, and that no occasion for
taking over the wire systems existed.
The above is full admission that the
administration is following methods
beyond the fondest hope of the old
socialist party Yet the Times, in
an apologize mood, says that Wilson
is a busy man and does not control
all laws and wars. And "if the pa
triotism of the people will patiently