Evening star., 1925-03-22

w YHO can remember the time
N when the favorite indoor
wv sport of legislators and
politicians was to harass
the railroads? Ono does
not have to bark back upon the trail
OF memory very far to locate the
campfire ashes of the demagogues
who leaped joyously into the on
slaught on the railroads as soon as
they came into the limelight or TO a
favorable scene of action.
Now 1t is all the other way. To
help and facilitate the railroads is the
approved order OF the day among
legislators. Men are taking advanced
position on remedial efforts, which
would have been deemed impossible a
few years ago. Recognizing that the
prosperity of the railroads constitutes
a material and necessary element in
national prosperity, they are seeking
now to help by practical legislation,
rather than to hinder by demagogical
and fallacious restriction.
AS Congress folded its tents, and,
like the Arab, silently stole away, one
promise for the next session bulk ed
large in the congressional program
when the two houses shall meet
again. The prospect seems now as
sured that favorable action will be
lation authorizing the consolidation OF
railroads Just a few years ago the
very mention of this proposition
would have caused the anti-railroad
politicians in Congress to foam at
the mouth. 1t was as the sight OF
water to a victim Of hydrophobia.
Consolidation Sentiment Strong.
Why, sentiment on the subject OF
. Hlrr-. Il =
TO the point where il is now sug-
sested to practically make railway
merger compulsory Friction between
the railroads and objections by Ger
tain state railroad commissions exist
against some features of plans pro-
posed, but there will be time before
Ia king up the subject in the next
Congress to iron out these features
President Coolidge. Chairman Wat
son OF the Senate committee on in
terstate commerce and the Inter
state Commerce Commission itself
are all deeply interested in the sub
ject and are expected to give it close
attention during the congressional
recess The hopeful feature of the
outlook for the future and of the
expectation of omething constructive
being accomplished lies in the
changed attitude OF the public and
the politicians toward railways.
i. Politics Adjournedf
Speaking OF politics. it was fire.
auently said after the country had
taken the hurdle OF the national cleo
ton and Congress had gotten away
that politics is adjourned" Well
has II now? Here comes Charles W
Bryan. the Democratic candidate fol-
Vice President in the last campaign
after long tour by automobile
through the South following a visit
to some Western States. with some
new ideas for the rehabilitation OF
the Democratic party. He does not
warm up to the suggestions OF
Franklin D. Roosevelt for an early
"get-together" conference to prepare
for solid Democratic front in 1928
Mr.. Bryan thinks that the future OF
the Democratic party rests with the
progressives OF the West workins g
with the solid democracy of the
South, regarding the future of the
democracy of the East as practically
a lost cause.
Mr.. Bryan cannot see a Democratic
party In the East being set up which
would command the support of the
Democrats OF the West and South
In the West the Democratic party