The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-20
Convention of Commercial Or
ganizati0ns in st. Louis.
Meets to Formulate Plans For
Influencing Congress.
WANT EARLY ACTION
VIII Send a Strong Lobby to
Washington.
Much Opposition From Railroads
is Anticipated.

St Louis, Nov. 20.-The National As
sociation Of Industrial and Commercial
organizations met at the Planters hotel
today for the purpose OF discussing and
formulating plans 10 secure the early
passage by congress Of the Cullom bill
which seeks to amend the interstate
commerce law and extend the powers of
that body. This bill Is now on the cal
endar Of the senate and # Is the purpose
Of the gathering to create sentiment
strong enough to secure precedence for
the bill at the coming short session OF
congress-. so that it may be passed
ahead of the regular order. Great in
terest attaches to the meeting among
shippers throughout the country.
The meeting was called by President
z. P. Bacon Of Milwaukee.
Secretary Barry, speaking OF the pur-
pose of the meeting. said:
1.-The action Of the convention will be
simply in the line of giving evidence to
congress Of the strong demand through
out the country for the passage Of the
Cullom bill and to arrange for a dele
cation to go to Washington to labor in
the interest Of the bill. The opposition
to the new measure on the part Of the
railroads Is due to the fact that they
realize that the interstate commerce law
in its present form Is impotent-the
findings of the commission cannot be
put in force There is another reason for
the passage of the CullOm bill at THIS
session. If it goes over there Is
possibility of a repeal OF the existing
law, owing to its unsatisfactory working
in it's present condition. And IL 1t is
repealed an impetus viii be given to
the theory Of government control, which
is gaining friends under the present
unsatisfactory law.
I'VE an realize that there must be
government control Of comomn carriers,
but government ownership Is another
thing. Sentiment all over the country
is Overwhelmingly in favor or the pro-
posed amendments among shippers and
broad gauged railroad men as We'll"
E p. Bacon OF milwaukee, called the
convention to order and 10 a short ad-
dress stated the purpose OF the measure.
I He hoped there would be no ciergssiun
ard that the meeting would proceed simp-
ly with that object IN view. IT those
present representing the business men
of the country would make their voices
heard IN accents strong enough, ne WIS
sure that congress would not fail to put
the measure through
Ex-Governor z. o. Stanard OF st.
Louis was unanimously made presiding
officer Of the meeting with II. T. Douse-
man of Chicago as vice president. and
Frank Barry pf Milwaukee as secretary
In taking the chair Governor Stanard
said there was difference OF opinion ia
st. Louis as to the apparent necessity
for the interstate commerce commission
and he supposed that condition existed
elsewhere. What the people Of the coun-
try wants, he declared, is either an In
terstate commerce commission with tho
power to act or a repeal of the law by
which it came into being. He said that
under present conditions that the rail-
roads discriminating for instance in IA
vor of wheat to be shipped to Europe at
a tariff lower than flour, the millers OF
England and Germany can turn our
with our grain a product cheaper than
we can put ir the market there Cover
nor Stanard said the farmers in this
he al H11f hf tm
the interests OF thousands and tons ot
thousands OF manufacturers should also
be taken care Of too.
o. L. WhitelaW, president OF the Mer-
chants Exchange, delivered an address
of welcome at the conclusion OF which
committees on credentials, rules and
resolutions were appointed by the chair.
F. i. Bacon, of Milwaukee, was made
chairman Of the committee on resolu-
tiOns, which consisted Of 10 prominent
and representative men, A recess was
then taken until p. IN.
When the committee on resolutions
convened soon after recess had been ta-
ken by the main body, it developed that
there was some opposition to the pur-
pose for which the meeting WAS called.
Mr.. +. b. Thurber, president OF the ma
riOnal board of trade. a member Of the
committee II was known was against
the proposed amendments to the inter-
ests OF the interstate commerce COM
mission. When Chairman Bacon pre-
sented for adoption a memorial to con-
gress, urging the passage OF the Cullum
bill Mr.. =. c. Simmons, president OF the
Simmons Hardware company, OF this
city and one of the members OF the COM
mittee made a short address against
any such action. He declared he was
opposed TO the purpose Of the meeting.
Mr.. Simmons then withdrew from the
committee, saying he had misappre-
hended the purpose of the meeting. which
he supposed was to discuss IN a general
way the proposed amendments embOd-
led in the Cullom bin. and not TO urge
its passage. The memorial was then
adopted.