The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-21
EAGLE CAME DOWN
Wichita Paper Apologies to
Commercial Federation.
Admits Article Was Only q
Political Screed.
SHIPPERS TO THE FORE
Wichita Wholesalers Give Mr..
Murdoch Their Position.
Only Hope Of Relief Strong In
dependent Action.

| The Wichita members of the State
| Federation of Commercial Interests
and the Wichita Eagle have got to-
! gether It was accomplished by the
Eagle apologizing for some statements
it had made and assuring the fedora
| ton that it is in favor with the objects
for which the federation is working
| A few days ago the Eagle, inspired
| by some of the statements the railroad
| boss buster Republican organs are pub
| fishing in order to keep A. d. Walker
| on the board of railroad commission
ers, and in order TO prevent any new
railroad legislation by the next legis-
lature,-inspired by some of these
statements the Eagle published an edi-
torial severely criticisfng the federation
/ because it is opposing TWO OF the Re-
publican candidates for railroad COM
missioners. Thereupon a number OF
prominent Wichita business men who
are members of the federation called
on the editor of the Eagle and present.
| ed to him protest signed by u OIL the
| leading wholesale and shipping firms
| of Wichita, protesting against the tone
| of the editorial. In his Tuesdays issue
| Colonel Murdoch not only prints the
protest but he also publishes an edi-
torial apologizing for the former one.
He says:
1T is due to ourself and but just to
these shippers to say that the editorial
referred to was intended as political
screed and that it was written without
any thought of Wichita's shippers, or
even knowledge that such a number of
the city's most substantial men were
members of such federation.
The protest of the Wichita business
men sets forth the position of the Fed
Grafton of Commercial Interests, and
it shows that the Wichita business
interests are behind the federation.
For this reason the protest is of in
terest to the people of Kansas. 1t
is as follows:
ITO the Editor of The. Eagle:
Dear Sir: We have carefully read
the editorial in The Eagle on Friday
morning, the 10th, and are surprised
at the sentiment expressed therein.
From the reading of the article it
must have been inspired from read
ing an article that appeared few
days ago in the Kansas City Journal.
which was false from start to finish,
insofar that it had reference to the
Federation of Commercial Interests
and those individuals or firms that are
pushing it.
I'VE, as business men, have worked
long and earnestly and spent our
money freely for the upbuiIding of
Wichita and the southwest Kansas,
and having lost faith somewhat in be-
ing able to get RELIEF through either
one of the old parties acting inside
of party lines, we have been favorable
to the Federation of Commercial In
terestS, acting along independent lines
parties to bring about such legislation
as would be beneficial to this part of
the state, and we wish to say, emphat-
ically, that anything that benefits the
shipping interests will surely benefit
the producing interests of Kansas.
I'VE disclaim and deny having made
any efforts or intending to make any
efforts for the benefit of any certain
interests, to the exclusion of other in
terests and that we hope through our
efforts to be the means of benefiting
the entire state by brin ging about
lower freight rates in some instances
and remove determinations in others. /
and by so doing build up the manufac- |
turing and commercial interests of
Kansas. We are not asking for office |
or seeking to push railroads for wrongs !
either real or imaginary in the past, |
but we believe firmly that we have |
rights in the matter which are not |
protected. and we seek to protect |
them under the law.
I'VE find on investigating the sub |
ject that certain remedial legislation |
would protect our interests and allow /
all interior jobbing towns to grow and |
become centers and valuable aids to |
the upbuilding of the commercial in
terestS of the state.
"A board of railroad commissioners,
that same power as given to Texas
board of railroad commissioners right
ly exerted, would be a great benefit
and we band ourselves together in Il
movement for the pur
pose of upbuilding the. whole state and
the undersigned especially working for
the southern portion of the state and
in particular.
I'VE are panied to read an editorial
in the Eagle that classes US as demo-
gogues or soreheads, seeking to benefit
to the exclusion of any other
class of citizens, and we hope on re-
Election you Will see your way clear to r
investigate the facts which inspired
your editorial, and if you do, perhaps l.
you can take the sting out of that
article. Yours very truly, Wichita Ice
& Cold Storage Co, JOhnston-Larimer
Dry Goods Co, Cox-J ohnston-Diam
Co, the Western Furniture & Mfg Co,
the Hockaday Hardware Co., Wallen-
stein & Cohn Dry Goods Co, the How
ard Mills Co, w. r. Tucker. Western
Union, the Nevling EIeva- Il
tor Co, W. NJ. Pond & Co, Jacob Dold
Packing Co, Fred Dold, manager,
John Cudahy Co, by VIM, Browne,
manager, Lehmann-Higgins Grocer
Co., Jet & Wood, the c. E. Potts Drug
Co., the AyleSbury Mercantile Co, the
Wichita Wholesale Grocer Co., South
ward & johnson. the Peruvian Zandt
Implement Co, Robert Williams, Ross
Brothers, Clarence F.. Payne, J. H.
Turner, the Schwartz Lumber & Coal
Co., Davidson & Case Lumber CO..
The Republican convention in the
Eighth legislative district, the south
district of Leavenworth county, Tues
lay afternoon nominated J. NJ. Phene-
lie for representative on the eighty
bird ballot. Phenecie is an anti-Cur-
is man. H. G. Parker and Rye Hill
we're candidates against him. Phene-
les nomination was accomplished by
he six votes from the Soldiers home
going to him. Phenecie is an old SOL
Jsor- fIv-la