New-York tribune., 1919-08-28
Declares Federal-Operated
Trunk Lines and Feeders
Run by Commonwealths
Better Than Plumb Plan
Opposes Naturalization
Favors Treaty as 1t Stands
and Says Prohibition Will
Help End Present Unrest

William !. Bryan has plan for gov
ernment ownership and operation of
railroads which. he thinks. is greatly
superior to the Plumb plan,- because il
avoids Matchmaking the roads.
He thinks the league Of nations
treaty should be- ratified at once, with
out any change as to form.
4'rohibtion he thinks, will prove to
be a steadying thing in the present
crisis of unrest and labor upheavals.
He has no fear of revolution in the
United States, because. in his opinion.
the people have the pow y in thcir own
hands to remedy abuses, 10 matt r
what they are.
Mr.. Bryan was at the Totcl Chatham
last night in conference with Edwin
Saloon League, and left for Washing
ton on the midnight train
II believe in government ownership
OF railroads." he said, "on the theory
that every monopoly should be a GOV
ernmcnt monopoly that is, that wher-
ever competition is impossible and a
monopoly necessary the whole people
and not few should have the benefit
OF 1T. The railroad part takes so much
OF monopoly that | believe it should
be dealt with ss such, and therefore
become government instrumentality,
operated as well as owned by the gov
ernment.
For State Ownership
"But ] believe that the railroad
question, instead of being considered
as one question, should be divided into
1orty-nlnc questions. the Federal gov
ernment dealing wich Que and the
iorty-eight states with the others. The
! Federal government should own and
operate d trunk line into each state.
making each state independent. All
the other railroads should be owned
and operated by the states in which
they are located. This not only divides
up the problem, but it extends the
changes over period Of years, each
state taking control as pubic senti-
ment develops to that point. This
gives definite purpose TO be accom-
plished by degrees.
The plan not ONLY reduces hy - o
~ per cent the amount it would be
necessary for the Federal government
20 invest in the railroads. but it an
swers the strongest objection to the
naturalization Of the railroads, name
~. the concentration of such great
power at Washington. The dual an
above suggested would strengthen the
states, whereas NATURALIZATION would
lead to the oblteration OF state lines. "
Would this do away with the repre-
sentatlon OF the employees on the boards
OF mana cement? ?'
Employees To BE Represented
"Not at ali. Under government own
ership, both national and state, the
employees could have representation
and, in my Judgment, should have rep
resentatlon. 1t is rather amusing that
people who made no objection to rail
road magnates having three thirds rep
rescntation should become so alarmed
when the employees ask for one third
representation"
Asked about ratification of the peace
treaty, Mr.. Bryan responded with
promptness that he favored it.
81 am unqualifedly for ratification" "
he said, "and without any further de-
lay. The Republicans who arc seek
ing to make changes in the treaty arc
taking grave esponsibilty. No one
can foresee the effect of delay or cal
culate upon the counter proposals that
might be unloosed by other countries
if they are called upon to accept
changes proposed by US. The treaty
was a compromise. 1t did not repre-
sent what any nation desired. Each
made concessions. Considering the
difficulties that the President had to
meet, | think the treaty is even bet
ter than we could have expected. If
majority Of the Senate desire
changes in the covenant, they can in
struct our delegates to work for such
changes within the league.
Says Republicans Must Answer
"What answer will the Republican
leaders make if they adopt reserva-
tions that viii cause extended delay if
that delay should reopen the questions
already settled and create conditions
in Europe requiring the sending OF
American armies there? 1t will be no
trifing matter to defend such course
/ before the mothers who lose their sons
and the people who have to pay adde
taxes"
"Have you any remedy for profteer-
ing?'
ayes. Profiteering is a real evil and
so widespread that the remedy should
be readily applicable in every locality
1t is impossible for the Federal Trade
Commission to deal with all the cases
to which attention is being directed
Every state ought to have state
trade commission to deal with profit
eering confined within the state, and
each community should be authorize q