The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-09-07
Concerning Railroad Legislation.

Bent Murdoch, OF the ElDorado Re-
publican, has a theory that the men
who really use the railroads are not
the ones who are clamoring for rail-
road legislation, and he gives his rea-
sons in an article which, whether one
agrees with it or not, is certainly
original and entertaining Mr.. Muir
dock says:
1--WE have insisted ever since the first
so-called railway commissioner law
was put upon the statutes, that the
men who own the farms, the bushes |
men, stock men and railway shippers |
generally are not in favor of any sort
of legislation looking to State control
of railway traffic. The tax payers are
not in favor of maximum rates and
have no interest, direct or indirect in
any sort of court or commission to
hold up the corporations. We have
said this hundred times, in the last
twenty years; and now we have the
positive proof of the truthfulness of
everything we have written upon this
subject. Mr.. Robson, an old citizen
of this county, and quite a shipper,
secure a readiustment, or lowering of
freight schedules in this State: and he
has been as honest as persistent in his
efforts to accomplish something in
too % Aa 60 A
short while ago he was put at the head
of the State organization which has no
other object but to cut down, or re-
adjust railway tariff rates. Believing
the farmers were behind him, and feel
ing assured that they would stand by
him, he announced himselfas candi-
date for the State Senate from this
county. He made his campaign solely
on that issue. He said he had done
something for the farmers, as private
citizen, and believed be could do much
more as a member of the State Sem
ate. Robson has no political ambi-
ton, while the men know him best are
positive his only desire to go to the
Senate was to secure legislation that
to his mind would help the farmers.
But he was turned down-turned down
| by the farmers. The defeat of Mr..
Robson, on the railway issue, and by
the very men who it has all along been
claimed are demanding legislative
control of railways, is proof, to our
mind, that there is practically no such
demand. In other words. the farmers
and shippers prefer to let the railway
managers run their lines without leg
islative interference There is no
other conclusion to be reached, after
the verdict in this county. Nj,
| Robson is not professional agita-
tor, is not political yawper who goes
about the county pumping wind. He
was aggressive in his campaign and
thoroughly sincere; but the voters
said they preferred that he remain a
home. There is not now line upon
the Kansas statutes in relation TO rail-
way control the State has no commits
sion or railway court of any kind and
it ought not to have. Railway people
are like others. They want business
and are unremitting in their efforts to
get it. They are polite and accommo-
dating to the public. Competition
cuts rates as well as regulates them.
Railway managers must earn the
money to meet the demands of the
stock holders, or lose their Jobs.
Kansas has more miles of railway,
twice over than is required. But the
people hired, cajoled or bull-dozed
eastern men into constructing these
lines and now that we have them we
ought to stand by them. Besides no
state has better built, finer equipped
or better managed lines. These roads
pay an outrageously unjust proper
tion of the taxes, are shown no mercy
in the courts, while great number of
people insist that they shall be legis-
lated out OF existence. However, the
people of this county are not in favor
of anything of the kind, as was fairly
| expressed at the convention a short
time ago. State control of, or legis-
lative Interference with the railways
of this State is not demanded by the
men who own the property, pay the
taxes and who furnish the bulk of the
shipments If this matter was submit
ted to the voters of the other counties
in the State, as it was in this, the
yerd let would be the same. There is
nothing in 1T.