People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-06-03
North and South Railroad.

IU6 Uull ana interstate IrdlSp0r-
tatiOn committee which has been Or
gained and will undertake the task
OF assisting Gov. Leedy to build the
north and south railroad, has
issued manifesto or an address to
the people Of the west and south call
Ing upon them to organize and pro-
tect themselves against the ercroach-
mentS of corporations, particularly
the railroads, which the circular says
'are owned principally in the east and
are so manipulated as to build up
great centerS Of commerce in the east
and prevent the building of similar
enterprises in the west, leaving in the
main, these great sections Of our
country TO procure the raw materials
for the factories and the cheap food
necessary to supply the densely popu-
lated eastern centers."
The circular further declares "that
this, In the judgment Of the commit
tee, Is wrong and works a great Injury
to the country as whole by forcing
unnatural conditions upon the people
and the time has come when the
American people should adopt lib
eral and just policy, by recognizing
the United States as great family,
with all the sections OF our country
enjoying equal protection and equal
advantages in trade, commerce and
manufacture"
"The greatest good to the greatest
number is the true national policy OF
great people" continues the letter.
Under present conditions there are
no certain investments in the west
and south. The investor visits the
western town and finds it prosperous;
perhaps it has the shops or division
offices Of some great railway company
and enjoys advantages in freight rates
not possessed by its neighbors. He
invests his money and assists in build.
ing the town, but the company re.
moves after time the division to
some other point and raises the rates
against the city, lowering them TO
some other point. Property drops, as
result, 80 per cent In value, and the
man who was considered wealthy yes.
terday is the bankrupt Of today"
In regard to the distance tariff the
circular says:
"Is there any reason why, in sparse
ly settled districts, the individual
should pay higher freight rates upon
his products than he should pay a
greater postage upon his letters?
Then why this discrimination?
When a mail route is established and
it does not pay the operating ex-
penses, the difference is met by an DIP.
preparation from the United States
treasury, and why not exercise the
same good judgment with reference
with freight rates?
"Why punish the individual who Is
trying to reclaim nature, build a home
or make city on the western plains
or mountain districts, by charging ex.
Orbitant freight rates on his products:
Should he not, as an incentive to act
ion, have as cheap rates as any other
individual and the loss, If any, be
paid as in the postal service? II this
policy is proper in the postal service
Is it not proper in the freight service
aud if not, why?"
The manifesto further announces
that the committee is purely bust
ness organization to discuss all econo
mic questions and revive business II
all parts OF the country and In accorC
with natural conditions. The grea'
mining interests of the country mus
be developed. The cotton fields o.
the south must be provided with fac
tories and the great grain producin,
regions Of this commonwealth mus
. be guarded aud market found for III
wheat and corn at greatly enhanced
prices, and this can be accomplished
by building up trade centers, which
, will result from uniform freight rate
and by marketing our export product
! through the gulf instead Of wasting
t energy in transporting our surplus b,
way Of Chicago to New York, a dis
lance nearly three times as great, ye
> the freight charges are less by reasoI
of the discrimination in the interes
Of eastern cities and eastern ports a
against western cities and southern
. ports"