The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-08-09

llb IdtS VI 1 cent n hhlc. AhO ihADt
state commerce calls It discrimination
and unjust We admit discrimination
but It is all in your interest.
You may be surprised. but tell
you, you are favored in the matter Of
transportation. Grain rates from
Western Iowa to Chicago are as high,
as a rule, as for the same distance in
the state of Washington. The iowa
rates have been tried in the courts,
and declared just.
You might as well try to set a
broken arm by statutes as to adjust
rates by statutes.
You can legalize until the hinges
of the farm doors rust off, but you
can't legisate rates. We are here to
help you to adjust your burdens if you
have any; we are here as your part
ners, and are disposed to deal fairly
with you When we get through our
conference, we will try to do some
thing to show you we are acting in
good faith, and will do something you
will remember as fair and just"
In his concluding remarks, Presi-
dent Hill said with considerable feel
ing:
1 am getting to be an old man. |
have not many years to live. II ] ac-
complish all have set out to do
things must move with celerity."
Mellen Promises Lower Rates.
President Mellen of the Northern
Pacific was next introduced. He
showed how the Northern Pacific was
handling products at this point at a
disadvantage, by a back.haul of $50
miles to go to market.
I'VE are" he said, going to do
away with this, and have decided
since coming here to build this road
on from Coulee City to Adrian on the
Great Northern. (Cheers)
I'VE are going to do this at an eX-
pense of $35OOOO. This money would
be spent in your vicinity. We are
going to give you the benefit of the
saving we will make by the building
of this road, Just what this saving
will be we cannot promise definitely
now. Rates are like house Of cards.
II you disturb them here, you will
disturb them in the Palouse country.
Il cannot say how much of reduc-
tion you will get, but II IL is not salts.
factory it will be because we cant
understand the situation.
Mellen's Dig at Politicians.
we are all bound to gain something
by the spirit that called this confer
ence. You are coming to us not by
neutrality-suspicious. who work
you and then try to work us--but you
are working with us as allies, and
thus freeze out the middlemen."
Jack Rabbit Garden Of Eden.
President Mohler spoke briefly,
saying that when he was Mr. Hill's
general manager, this was a jack rab.
bit garden of Eden. A railroad com.
pany, he said, was justified in hand
ling its traffic at the lowest possible
cost. This is fact, ana IL is our bust
ness, but | know you don't believe IT,
! Uaughter) We railroad men have
seen hard times. We don't always
take the public into our confidence.
You are better of than you realize,
and yet you don't believe II. We are
here without horns or contagion. You
will believe any street corner loafer
but you will not believe anything a
railroad president tells you"
Voice. in audience-"You are mis-
taken Mr.. Mohler."
To Mr. Hill-"Mr. Inn there is hope
for us. We are here to do what II
fair, II you will give us a chance"
An informal dinner and reception
was then announced.
The Secret Conference.
After the adjournment of the morn
ing meeting and the farmers dinner
70 the magnates, interest centered in
the more important, so far as results
are concerned, secret conference be
tween Messrs. Mellen and Hill. and
the duly elected delegates. At this
meeting the formal demands were tc
be made and concessions made OF
taken under adyisement.
Fakirs Even In Ranks Of Science.