The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-30
ACT AS ONE.
Organization in Kansas to Sc
cure Lower Freight Rates.
Plan Is to Form Local Clubs or
Lodges.
CIRCULARS SENT OUT.
Central Union to Be Made in
Each County.
Called Farmers and Merchants
Freight Association.

the avowed purpose of bringing about
lower freight rates in the state, and for
this purpose alone.
Circulars are being sent out over the
state to those interested in a reduction
of rates urging the formation of local
clubs along this line. No names are
signed to this circular to indicate who
is behind the movement, but the South
western Grain Dealers Journal of Wich-
ita is aiding in their distribution. Indi-
vidual shippers do not like to make an
open fight against the railroads for fear
of becoming the objects of secret dis
elimination and this may be the reason
why no names are signed to the circu-
lar.
A number of local clubs are said to
have been already organized, and these
form the nucleus around which the state
organization is to be made 1t is to be
called the Farmers and Merchants
Freight association of Kansas. The cir
cular setting forth the plan reads as
follows:
The people of Kansas are agreed that
railroad freights in the state are too
high and that transportation companies
| should be controlled. Every loyal Kan
san is also aware of the fact that in
Kansas it has been impossible to enact
laws for the control of railroads through
means of political parties and party leg
| islation; this has been amply demon
strated for the last quarter of a century.
When with brazen effrontery. Mr.. NJ. A.
Low stood up in public and declared,
that he, one of the attorneys for the
railroads to be controlled helped to
make the law for it's control and in the
same sentence declared the law to be
no good and will not control, is it not
about time the people frame the railroad
bills outside of the state capitol and not
take chances on a railway bill con-
structed by railroad attorneys and then
given to the legislature to be enacted
| into law?
The people are getting tired of the
kind of legislation that controls the peo-
pie, instead of the corporations. They
are all agreed that they need relief and
that they need it bad Republicans,
/ are all of one mind, and all of them are
right upon the subject! There is only
one side to it.
The railroads discovered long ago
that it pays to stand together, and
merged their interests; east, west, noITn
and south lines. all work together for d
common purpose towit: To get all the
traffic will bear up to the confiscation
point Then why should the people be
divided? No election will be held for
year to command party fealty. Why
not stand together and resist the cor
porations by presenting a solid front
for the best interests of the state and
those that may come after us?
ITO do this is easy. Here is a peoples
plan: Let all persons who favor re-
deeming Kansas from corporate rule
agitate and organize, township or city
clubs, for the single purpose of being
relieved from the unjust and discrimi-
mating freight rates and the apomin-
able freight service under which we are
/ - -lr11ae
competent delegates to organize county
clubs With the same object in view
organize district clubs and ere long the
state will be organized.
After this is accomplished a commit
tee of competent farmers, merchants,
millers, manufacturers. miners, cattle
men, in fact shippers of all classes
should be selected from these CLUBS 10
meet at some central location and pre-
pare a railroad bill.
/ You may rest assured the newspa-
perS of the state will give such move
ment prominent notice and this railroad
bill when prepared. by the committee
will probably be printed in every Kan
sas paper. Every citizen will have
chance to read it. every club will take
it UP for discussion and finally a bill
can be framed ina general delegate con-
vention that will suit all the people
and every part of the state.
"A movement which has the endorse
ment of thousands of the best men of
business men, will not be ignored by the
politicians"
The constitution which has been
adopted by the local clubs already or
ganized is as follows:
Section This voluntary association
shall be known as the Farmers and Mer-
chants Freight Association of Kansas.
Sec. 2-The object of the association is to
bring about lower freight rates for Kan
sas as follows
a. Better export rates on grain TO gulf
ports.
b. Better freight rates on coal, grain
and other merchandise in Kansas.
c. Better freight rates ON lumber, grain
and other merchandise on interstate traf-
fic.
ton shall be vested in a president, vice
president and board of directors. also
secretary and treasurer. who may be
elected at an annual meeting and hold
their term of office for7--
Sec. At shall be the duty of the presi-
dent to preside at the meetings of the
board of directors, to call special meetings
of the board of directors and of the asso-.
citation when in his Judgment the inter-
so requested in writing by three directors
five other members.
Sec. SIT shall be the duty of the vice
president to perform the duties of the
president in case of his absence or dis
Sec. cit shall be the duty of the seere-
tary to act as general executive officer
of the association and under the direction
and control of the board of directors 20
keep journal of the proceedings of said
board and of the association, to keep the
books and accounts of. the association 70
collect and pay over to the treasurer all
money due the association, and to take
charge of the papers ana personal prop
erty belonging to the association He
shall furnish the chairman of every spe-
cial committee a copy of the resolutions
whereby said committees shall have been
created. give notice of the meetings of
the board of directors and of the associa-
ton, read such records and papers as the
presiding officer shall direct. conducf the
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