Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26

who whipped his slaves. l wrongly
thought that all planters were guilty
of that practice.
Although my father was a demo-
crat, he believed in the integrity, the
patriotism and the wisdom OF Abra-
ham Lincoln. So I grew up q Lincoln
BOY and from reading his speeches
ana nearing my mother talk I became
q republican. The tariff also was dis
cussed In my presence.
Il thought the subject over ana
came to this conclusion: II saw
IS made in England and sold in thu
United states, then the man who
makes the saw will be an English
man, whereas he ought to be an
should be kept at home
i
Such was my crude conytction
many years ago. It has been strength
ened by my experience In business.
I have since elaborated my definition
OF protection, have strung It out into
several thousand words, but I haye
1alied to make 1t any clearer than
was my first thought on the oues-
ton"
You have been in politics for more
than twenty years?"
Yes. l was elected an alderman in
Sag1Eaw. back in 1895, and re-elected
In 1897. Then in 1898 I was nominate
ca Ior Congress and was successful
at the polls, although my opponent
was an orator. while l had never
made speech. The district was
democratic. but won by a plurality
or LOO votes. Since then have
been candidate ten times and INV
plurality At each election was larger
What other public question has
attracted your attention."
Government ownership Of public
utilities Is one OF the greatest prob-
lens Of the day. I am unalterabIy
opposed to the proposition. 1t would
the owning and operating by the gov
eminent OF any sort Of business
would be wasteful and danrerons
The government, IL Is enough to raw.
can't be economical. It can't be 81.
Two sister ships were built for
our Navy. They were alike In every
pa sia lar ooa contractor built one
the other at cost OF SCI, 600, 900. In
tsrest. taxes. insurance. drafting and
course. by the contractor. Not one
OF those items, however, was added
to the cost OF the ship built by the
government.
TT can be shown in every instance
that railroads owned and operated by
governments have failed to produce
good results. Invariably the people
have been taxed to meet the deficits
incurred in the operation OF the roads.
although the rates for carrying freight
were greatly increased over the rates
charged under tho system of private
ownership. The man who does not
travel Is taxed to pay the fare Of the
man who does.
Nov. II the government takes over
the railroads permanently, 1t will also
take over all the telegraph ana tele-
phone lines In thA.Gou2try. az we'll as
other interests. Last year 100000 per-
sons were employed in the different
civil branches of the government.
corporations and 100000 by water
transportation companies. Here we
have, all told, about three millions of
real and possible ofIlceholders under
the national government.
'Weak politicians In times of cam
paign excitement would yield to the
pressure of such an army of voters.
The army Of voters would, Of course,
repay the political party that made
the surrender, repay BY voting q can
didate into the White House and a
majority into Congress-.
"And the general public itself would
pay In money. either through direct
taxes or increased rates, the whole
cost Of the surrender. down to the
last cent"
(ospyrishs, 1914 By James B. MsrrswA