The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-23

The people Of Cincinnati had been PROM |
1sed q joint hesrhag On the Rogers bfll |
before ths Hamilton cSUnty delegation |
It turned out afterward that the street /
railway people bad theirs tlest
Then the people demanded one day al |
90 Shemselves-the same courtezE which |
hadbee given ne street railway COM |
pany. and they were prOu=ised Il. Delesa-
land. the Cincinnati delegation headed by
Alfred Bettingsr and Judge Gab'e.
And the first man they met In Columbus |
was Foraker.
The newly eleted but not yet seated |
United States senator heard on the street !
Of the delegation of citizens which was
going TO Columbus. He was only an Eat |
torney," but he did not lack initiative.
He sent one man to the railway ticket
ONCE to buy twenty or thirty tickets to
Columbus. and then he hustled into the
streets in person to drum up rival dele
cation.
The hearing at Columbus was before the
Hamilton county delegation. Its chair
man was Senator Shuttuc nav congress
man He was put there by George B.
Cox and by Foraker, and knew what he
was there Tor.
From Cleveland and Cincinnati and
other cities there was delegations num-
bering hundreds in the aggregate. Schat-
tue showed them e little committee-room
about twelve feet square. Mr.. Bittinger
protested. He wanted the senate cham
Der which was then in use.
In the Cincinnati delegation were some
of the most influential men OF that city.
They were outspoken in their demand for
fair treatment. and worried Shattuc.
"wel.. this is the ROOM he said. look
ing appealingly around for help. and es-
pecially trying TO catch Foraker's eye.
land 1 guess you'll have to be heard
here
Eyes, by God. this Is the ROOM" said
Foraker, the newly elected United States
senator and representative Of the peo-
pie. This is the room. and yeu'H talk
here or not at ALL"
That was the truculent manner Of the
mere attorney" as it IS remembered to
| this day. The Cincinnatians did not like
| it. and said so.
Mr.. Bettinger finally observed that II
the citizens could not get fair treatment
| from the members OF the legislature they
! preferred TO go home without speaking.
John w. Warrington and Edmund W.
Klttredge interposed at this point. They
were the real attorneys for the street
| railway company and acting in that ca
pacity. On their suggestion adjournment
was taken TO the senate chamber.
This is related to show the difference
between the actions Of attorneys and Of
lobbyists incorporating as attorneys"
The hearing was had. Every city spoke
it's mind. The combination which had
been made 70 pass the Rogers bill quaked
in its boots. Men who had promised TO
vote for il sought the leaders and begged
10 he let on The power of the protest
| simply overbore the conspiracy. The dele
| cations OF citizens went home.
| 1--WE are licked" said Attorney For
aer to a friend as the last OF the delega-
ton departed, clicked out Of our boots"
But the faithful attorney stuck 10
his post. He remained there three DAYS
| Rolling I'D his sleeves. he took Ibis own
legislature in hand. He was busy at the
Nell house, in the state house corners
and on the floors Of both chambers. He
passed the Rogers bill.
Senator Foraker says he advocated the
| 4A'EtIS bitl bilis ~ d4a thtAptA's ~ W.
not paid. ne says. anything but his regu-
lar salary. How about the men who
voted for II against their conscieaces and
the will OF their constituents? Were they
acting simply a. attorneys" or did
they. as the blind tools Of the ''attor-
ney" who owned that Legislature, do his
bidding AMI sacrifice, many OF them, their
political futures?
That is question that cannot be ans
wered In connection with this or any other
bill until the bought and paid for legis-
| lative cattle and the men who buy them
boast openly of their crimes and invite
penitentiary sentences.
But this IS a fact: The reek Of Doodle
In connection with the Rogers bill has not
passed from Columbus TO this day. The
| faint OF II has not passed from men who
voted 70 rthe Rogers bill.
At the very next session Of the lcEisla-
ture the people showed their opinion Of
the whole transaction. as IN the case Of
Illinois Allen law. by wiping It OF the
books.
All the harm possible under u has been
! accomplished IN Cincinnati by the passage
| OF fifty year franchises hut the people
nevertheless demanded its repeal and It
was repealed. Only two bills were passed
before this repeater and they were ap-
preparation bills for which there was i'm
mediate demand.
That Is what Ohio thought ~ the Rog-
| ers law What about the newly elected
| United States senator who. ~ "attorney.
forced i's iniquitious front through his
own legislature?
Senator Fo-aker's action IN this In
| stance IL only a sample ~ what h. has
done over and over again. Whenever
| franchise grabbers and schemers have
sought 10 opprezs or 70 milk the pe0pl"
| Of his own state and city. Senator For
aker and his political influence have been
| arrayed against the public interest for the
! usual attorney fees
In what has been said. the Times-Her-
| aid has mercy sought ~ lay the fOunSa-
! ton for series ~ articles leading 10 70
cornpre hensivs knowledge % this lobbying
1 senator's methods. Before the week f.
! ended. he will 10 k-oTn for wha; he j.
in the United States as Eel las f. Gin
! cinnau