Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-05-26
TWENTY-SECOND YEAR.

tion to American labor as exemplified
in the Dingley law.
We commend in highest terms the
wise and satisfactory administration
of Governor w. E. Stanley and his as
sociates in the state government. We
/ have noted with approval his efforts
along the line of economy, his close
personal attentionto the great institu-
tions under his charge, and we con-
gratulate him upon the success with
which his administration has met
the expectations of the people and
the pledges of the party.
We endorse the record at Washing
ton of our United States senator and
members of congress and commend
them heartily for their faithful ser
vices.
For ten years, the fusion forces Of
Kansas have made their campaigns
upon the issues of railroad legislation.
In 1897, they gained control of the
executive, judicial legislative branch
es of the state government. They
failed to enact any railroad legisla
tion whatever. After their defeat at
the polls. special session of the leg
islature was called which wiped out
every vestige of legal control of the
railroads, and substituted a law so
manifestly a piece of jobbery, that
the action of the federal and state
courts in removing it from the stat
ute books is approved by all citizens
without respect to party. This leaves
us without railroad law, and makes
the question of railroad legislation
an important one in the cemifig state
campaign. The Republican party
pledges itself to the work of securing
to the people such legislation. found
ed in common justice and business
sense, and will provide adequate pro-
lection against the greed of the cor
porations without crippling them
with unjust exactions. We favor the
re-establishment of the board of rail-
road commissioners with such addi-
tiOnal powers as shall render their
work effective and with power to fix
and enforce just rates and recommend
board by the people.
1t having been found that the fed
eral act known as the Interstate Com
merce act is adequate to control rates
of Interstate transportation, and is
inQuitable and tends to foster trusts
by legalizing advantages growing out
of the natural and artificial condi-
tions more available and useful to
trusts and combines than to the
smaller and weaker interior jobbers,
manufacturers and shippers, and we
urge upon our members in congress
the amendment of the interstate
commerce act in such manner that it
will compel compliance with and en-
forcement of just and equitable |
freight rates.
We are heartily in sympathy with |
generous pension legislation, and an
administration of the pension depart
ment which will give the veterans of
the civil war the benefit of a liberal |
Interpretation of the laws. We OBJ |
ject to any forced or technical ruling |
by which the pensioner is derived of |
the full benefit of such laws as con-
gress has passed in his behalf.
We favor law which will enable
men who are necessarily en-
gagged in running their trains upon
day to cast their votes. The
operation of trains often makes it i'm
possible under our present voting sys-
tenn for conductors and members of
train crews to cast their votes, and
their inability to find time from their
work to go to the polls thus deprives
several thousand people of the state,
each year, of their right of suffrage.
We pledge ourselves to some measure
which will make it possible for these
men to enjoy suffrage without embar-
rassment to their work.