New-York tribune., 1920-10-24
Coolidge Calls
Rail Ownership
Public Menace
Political Manipulation. Ex-
cessive Costs and Ineffi-
cicnt Service Under
Democratic Management
Charges Wilson Waste
Two Years Appropriations
Said to Represent Tax of
$3.50 on Each Family
From Stag Correspondent

FREDERICK, Md, Oct. 23-Govern-
ment ownership as practced by the
Wilson Administration in its control
of the railroads proved to be "a dan
gerous attack on liberty" Governor
Calvin Coolidge declared in a speech in
this city tonight at the conclusion of
his 2,l00mile campaign through the
South. He charged that Democratic
management of the railroads had been
attended by political manipulation, ex-
cessive costs and inefficient service
The Republican party, the Governor
said, was pledged to support industrial
freedom in opposition to any general
policy of government ownership. "By
Federal ownership the government
would finally own the people, he
added
Referring to what he called waste
full, unnecessary and overlapping" esti-
mates for government expenditures
since the ending of the war, the Gov
ernor charged that the Adminlstra
had called for appropriations # more
than SIT ,000000,000 in the last two
years. which would amount to as mucn
as would be realized by exacting $3.50
in taxes from every family of five in the
United States. He said vast waste had
been curtailed by a Republican Con
gress
Chcered at Wilson's Birthplace
The Governors campaign through
Virginia and Maryland to-day was cele-
brated by the playing of bands and the
blowing Of factory whistles. Staunton,
Va. the birthplace Of president Wilson,
received the Republican nominee with
a hearty welcome. Several thousand
persons, including cadets from a mill
tary academy, escorted him to the steps
Of the courthouse.
AS the Governor mounted the steps
the crowd cheered vociferously. He
referred only indirectly to the Presi-
dent when he said: Someone asked
for a solemn referendum of the people
on the issues of this campaign. That
referendum began last month in Maine.'
The Governor voiced q demand for a
tariff 20 protect American work kers
against the competition of foreign low
priced labor To the people who knew
President Wilson in his youth he as
serted that the tariff devised by the
Wilson Administration not only had
failed to reduce the cost of living as
1T had promised, but "actually has re-
duced the opportunity of earning a
living"
Immigrants are coming to our
shores, and we welcome those who want
to live according to American ideals, ,"
said the Governor. "The products of
other countries also are coming in We
want TO afford protection to our work
ers against competition of goods pro-
duced under standard of wages and
working conditions which the Ameri-
can wage Garner would never tolerate' -
Predicts Break in South
Summing up the results of his six
days trip through Kentucky, Tennes-
see, North Carolina, Virginia. West
Virginia and Maryland, the Governor
said he was convinced that districts
of the South heretofore considered as
traditionally Democratic were going to
swing into the Republican ranks.
The reason is plain" he said. ut
is manifested every time the crowds
cheer when the high cost of living and
extravaganza of government arc con-
demncd. The people are tired of op-
presslvc government. They are inpa-
tient at the Administrations delay in
getting back to peace time conditions.
They resent as un-American the con-
tlnuance of war measures and prodigal
war eXtravaganccs two years after the
war has ended
Associates Of Governor Coolidge, in
cluding Governor Morrow of Kentucky.
Governor Lowden of Illinois and Job
L. Hedges, Of New York, said they
were much gratifed over the recep-
tions given to the Republican nominee
in the SODth