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MR. W. J. BRYAN.
(From the Missouri World.)
It has been quite a while since
we have referred to the Honorable
Mr. W. J. Bryan in our editorial
columns. But we will have to break
the silence this week, as we find in
Mr. Bryan’s last issue of his paper
a copy of an article he wrote to the
Wall Street Journal in response to
an inquiry from that paper, in which
he makes some statements that will
no doubt be interesting to the advo
cates of government, ownership of
railroads. In his letter to the Wall
Street paper Mr. Bryan, among other
things, says:
“If you will carefully read my
Madison Square Garden speech (the
speech he made on his return from
Europe) yon will find I do not dis
cuss government ownership as an im
mediate issue, but as an ultimate so
lution of the controversy.
“My first public expression on this
subject was after the national con
vention of 1904. Two reasons led
me to discuss the subject at that
time. First, the triumph of the re
actionary element at St. Louis dis
couraged the more radical members
of our party. Feeling sure, from
contact with the rank and file of
our organization, that the ascenden
cy of the so-called conservative lead
ers would be temporary. I appealed
to the radical democrats to remain
with the party, secure control of the
organization and make the party an
effective instrument in securing need
ed reforms. To encourage these
progressive democrats to remain with
the party, I announced the conclu
sion which I had reached in regard
to the final necessity for government
ownership.
“If it was thought best the gov
ernment could do as France did; au
thorize lins, guaranteeing fair divi
dends and contributions to a sink
ing fund, which, at the end of a term
of years, would give the government
the title to the roads.”
What does Mr. Bryan say in sub
stance?
He says that he came out f'>r gov
ernment ownership in 1904, not for
the sake of government ownership,
but to keep the Democrats from leav
ing the party. In other words, his
object was to keep the people’s
party down—keep the radical Dem
ocrats from voting for Watson and
induce them to vote for Parker. He
says: “To encourage these progres-
sive Democrats to remain with the
party,” etc.
He says he docs not favor having
government railroads now, but some
time in the future. To quote his
exact language: “As an ultimate
solution of the controversy.” Re
ferring to Webster’s dictionary we
find the meaning of “ultimate” de
fined as follows: “Farthest; most
remote in space or time; extreme;
last: final.”
“If it was thought best,” says
Mr. Bryan in his letter to the Wall
Street Journal, “the government
could do as France did.” Well,
Fiance, in 1859, made a deal with
the railroad companies by which the
government would become owner in
ninety-nine years. In 1883 another
arrangement was made for more
lines, the government to become
owner in 74 years.
So Mr. BryAn may be said to fa
vor the government becoming owner
of the roads at a time So distant
that no man now living will ever see
a government road in this country.
Mr. Bryan can be put down as
not a genuine advocate of govern
ment railroads. He confesses that
when he first came out for govern
ment ownership it was for the pur
pose of holding the progressive Dem
ocrats to the party. In his speech
at New York upon his return from
Europe, Mr. Bryan declared that the
money question was settled, and that
the Wall Street wing and the silver
wing of his party could now “pre
sent a solid front.” And his
letter to the Wall Street Journal it
is plain that the “solid front” is
unbroken.
About a dozen states have pass
ed the two-cent fare laws. These
laws went through the legislatures
by overwhelming majorities—almost
unanimous in some cases. Just why
the railroads were unable to muster
any considerable number of legisla
tors in opposition to the reduction
now, when wages and prices are con
siderably higher than a few years
ago. and were so successful a few
years ago when waees and prices
were lower, in defeating two-cent
and even two and one-half-cent bil’s,
it would be hard to guess. Possib’y
the railroads concluded to let the
reduction be made and then ‘make
up the loss by increasing firelight
rates. Passenger fares are like a
direct tax—those who pay them
realize that the money is coming out
We Commenced Selling' Good
Clothing' Sixteen Years Ago
Wfc improve our Manufacturing facilities with every season’s advent. We can’t
possibly see where there’s any room for improving our Clothing. We know there’s no
room to improve prices. But they have always been very reasonable.
New Spring Suits for Men p -50j slO ,\ l2gOr sls , S2O $25
Boys’ and Children’s Suitesl.so, $ 2 . $3 $4 S(J g 0
‘ ,e “ “ ’’“ ntß 52. 52-50. $3, $4, $5. $6.50, $7.50.
Everything that’s right in Hats and Furnishings.
Mail Orders:—Samples of Suits or Pants will be sent to any address. But always ~ive
size and price goods wanted.
THE GLOBE CLOTHING COMPANY
89-91 WHITEHALL ST., ATLANTA, QA.
WATSON’S WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN.
of their pockets. A county of twen
ty-five thousand population collects
from taxes on land and personal
property probably one hundred thou
sand dollars a year. There is much
complaint of these taxes being bur
densome. From the Same county,
however, the national governihent
collects indirectly probably two hun
dred thousand dollars annually, and
there is little complaint, in fact few
people seem to realize that they pay
any national taxes. Freight charges
are paid as a rule indirectly. Th*
merchant adds this freight to the.
price of his goods. The farmer,
when he buys a machine from his
local dealer, pays considerable of a
freight bill, but it docs not occur to
him that such is the case, at least,
he dofis not show sufficient interest
in the freight part of the cost to as
certain the rate. People who build
houses with shipped in lumber
bought at the local yards complain
of the high price of lumber, but are
apparently unconscious of the fact
that included in the purchase price
is quite a sum of freight charges.
Os course, there are some who ship
their own grain, live stock, etc., or
in moving to a distant point ship
their household goods, etc., who pay
freight charges directly to the rail
road, and thus realize what it is to
pay them, but the bulk of the over
sixteen hundred million dollars paid
by the people in freight last year,
was paid indirectly by them upon
whom the cost finally fell. For pas
senger fares the people paid the
railroads last year $600,000,009 in
round numbers, being a thousand
million less than they paid for
freight rates. So the freight rates are
of much greater importance to the
railroads than passenger fares. The
reduction to two cents will not re
duce the receipts from passenger
fares one-third, because much of the
long distance travel has been at le s
than two cents for years. If all
the states pass two-cent laws it wi’l
probably reduce the gross receipts
from travel a hundred million dol
lars, on the basis of last year's bus
iness. An increase of one-tenth in
freight rates would add $160,009.-
000 to the receipts on the basis of
last year’s busmess. Some freight
rates have been increased recentlv.
The rates on grain from Chicago to
New York were increased four cents
on the hundred a month or two ago.
The railroads will be wise if they
give the people cheap fares for trav
el, which are paid directly, and
“sock it to ’em” on freight, which is
paid indirectly.
THE BRIDE OF JUNE.
(New York Sun.)
tlere’s to the June bride,
Blushing and fair,
Treading sedately
The wedding march fate.
Cheeks like the lilies,
Lips like the rose,
Blessings upon her,
Wherever she goes!
Here’s to the June bride,
Smiling her face,
Gentle her mien is,
Alluring her grace,
Fairest of maidens,
Queen of today.
May no grim shadows
Darken her way.
Here’s to the June bride,
Lovely and sweet,
Ihctutesque flower;
Dainty and neat.
What of the bridegroom?
Nothing to say.
He gets the sweetest
Boquets today.
Life of Napoleon
Large volume: illustrated.
By Thos. E. Watsoii.
Will be mailed, postpaid
To any. one sending us 5 subscrib
ers
At the regular price of one dollar
each.
The Story of France
Two Large Volumes.
Contains full history of Chivalry,
the Crusades, Joan of Arc, the Refor
mation, the Old Regime, and the
French Revolution.
Will be sent postage prepaid, to
any one sending 8 subscribers at the
regular price of one dollar each. Ad
dress,
WATSON’S WEEKLY JEFFERSO
NIAN, Atlanta, Ga.
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