The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-24
Shipping Interests Will See
About Railroad Board.
Quietly Perfseting Organiza.
tion to Defeat Politicians.
NEW CANDIDATE OUT
He Is j. s. George, of Rene
County.
Members of Present Board Will
All Meet Opposition.

The shipping interests of the state
are quietly proceeding with their prepa-
rations to take a hand in the nomina-
ton of candidates for railroad COM
missioaers in the state conventions
next year 1t is the plan of these in
terests TO see that the nominees of all
parties are favorable TO their interests
and rot dictated by the railroads
There is a regular organization which
is looking after this matter for the
business interests of the state. 1t is
called the Kansas Federation Of Com
mercial Interests II is made up of the
various millers organizations of the
state, the grain dealers associations.
the cattlemen's association. the whole
sale and johbing associations. the COM
mercial clubs, and other organizations
of business and shipping interests
Herbert Hackney, president of the To
peka Milling company, IS president of
the federation. and H. L Resting. of
Wichita. is secretary Its membership
is made up of all shades of political be-
lief. but II proposes to take a hand IN
political matters where its business IN
teresrs are directly affected
1t was this federation which was
largely responsible last winter for the
passage of the law making the railroad
commissioners elective by the people in
stead of by the executive council y
lobby was maintained in Topeka druing
part of the legislature for this special
purpose. Last spring when a railroad
commissioner was to be elected by the
executive council a number of TepreSen-
natives of the federation appeared 10
work in the interest Of some represen-
tarive business men, but when they
found that political deal was fixed uD
and that business interests would not be
regarded they gave UP trying to 90 any
thing but c. II. Ridgeway, formerly
assistant superintendent Of insurance.
gave il out that the business interests
would take a hand in the election of the
board next year.
The rganization Of the federation has
been quietly pushed during the past few
months. and now the leaders IN L are
casting about for candidates in both po-
litical parties for railroad commission
ers 1t is doubtful If they VIII indorse
any of the present members Herbert
Hackney, of Topeka. president or The
federation. is talked Of for one of the
places on the Republican ticket, but II
is not known whether he would consent
n make the race. J. s George, Of
Hutchinson. is also mentioned he Is q
wholesale grocer and is said TO be thor
oughIy equipped for the place but ne
would have political complications on
his hands before he could get even 10
the state convention. He would be OPP
pcsed by J. C O. Morse one OF the
nrasent commissioners. and possibly by
state Superintendent DayhofT, both OF
whom are from Reno county J. w Rob
ison of FL Dorado, president OF the cal
tlemen's association is another who has
beer. suggested but il is said he is not
entirely satisfactory TO all interests.
The federation is having still more
trouble in picking out candidates for
the three places on the Democratic
ticket. Among those who have been
suggested are Senator Harry McMn-
lar Of Ottawa county. David Overnyer
Of Topeka. J. y. Eike Of Colby and Col
Biz Sop Of Galena- Mcmillan says
he mould rot accept the domination.
and there would be strenuous objection
to both FIke and Sapp. as IL is be-
lieved they would be under the donll-
nation Of the railroads Fike was the
Democratic member of the old board.
and some Of the sinners assert that
he vas named BY the Rock Island in
tereSts-
II Is not at all Improbable that J. s.
George the Hutchinson wholesale gro
Ger. viii be decided upon for one OF
the places on the Republican ticket. il
race This sort of move viii have
the announcement of the anu-Bailey
faction of the party in order TO make
trouble for j. c. o. Morse, who belongs
to the Leland wing of the party. Mr.
Georges candidacy. however, may de-
pend upon whether there is a fight on
the denomination of Supt- Dayhof- He
has told Dayhoff that he will in no case
be a candidate If 1t will conflict with
Davrof-s interests. If there is a fight
Daxhoff will want a Reno county dele
CATION which he can handle entirely in
his own interests. There has been some
talk that a fight would develop in Reno
countv between Dayhof and Morse for
the control of the Reno delegation as
Morse viii certainly need II. but Day