The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-11
DO THEY DISCRIMINATE?
Senator Fred Dunlont Smith Discusses
Railroads and the Farmers.

Do the railroads discriminate against
the farmers elevator companies in the
matter of elevator sites? The charge
is frequently made that they do, but
the railroad officials invariably deny
that such is the case. and they are
usually able to produce apparently
valid reasons for the seeming discrim-
ination.
The Kinsley Mercury, published by
Senator Fred Dumont Smith, presents
an instance where there was apparently
an inexcuSable discrimination against
the farmers. It says:
IF we could get the Santa Fe officials
on the stand we would like to ask a
few questions. 1t is reported that the
new Farmers Cooperative society just
formed here, wished to build an eleVa-
tor on the Santa Fe right of way, and
was refused a. site. They were compell-
ed TO buy the elevator of Moses Bros
at an exorbitant price, about four times
what Moses Bros. paid for ii, and as
soon as Moses Bros. sold out they Sc
cured site and have begun building a
new elevator. That Moses Bros. sold
for a huge price, and Immediately be
gan constructing new one; tnat they
had no trouble in obtaining a site, and
that in fact an old customer of the road
is being elbowed out of the way to give
them a site is undoubted-
Now the question is, why does the
Santa Fe refuse site to an association
of farmers, but grant it instantly to a
member of the elevator combine. That
such a combine exists, that it is taking
three or four cents q buShel above a
fair profit from the wheat growers of
Kansas is undoubted, open and no
torious. It is numerously charged that
Wnen an association of farmers seeks
to beat the combine with an elevator
of their own, they are denied a site.
They are forced to buy one of the COM
bine elevators and the combine is inn
medfately granted a site that was re-
fused to the farmers, and build a new
elevator.
This in the face of the fact that the
elevator combine and the Miller trust
is fighting the railroads, tooth and nail,
mas a state organization for the sole
purpose of fighting the railroads and
is making the railroads more trouble
and causing more agitation than all the
wheat growers in the state
What mysterious, secret, under
ground, connection is there between the
elevator combine and the railroads? y?
There can be none. Their interests are
too divergent. The connection if it ex-
lists is with some official OF the santa
Fe, some officials of other lines What
is the connection? Why is it that the
elevator combine while fighting the
railroads and making them all kinds OF
trouble can continue to secure faVorS
that are denied to the individual wheat
grower who seeks to escape from the
extortion of the combine?
THE general public is interested in
the matter.
IF there is room for Moses Bros. to
erect an elevator, why was the Coop
erative association denied the right to
do it. Why where they forced to pay
four times the value of the old eleva-
tor to secure room to do business. Why
does the Santa F'e play into the hands
of Moses Bros, and against the men
who make the business for the ROAD.
IF there is any reason, sense or equi-
ty in this proceeding, the Mercury
would be glad to know what it is and
where it is. We grant the railroads of
the state an easement over our lands.
They are public servants. If the rail-
roads are to use this, to build up one
class of men, and tear down another,
it is time we should know it. 1t is no
torious that the Standard Oil company
built up its vast and oppressive mon
opoly, crushed all competition and ruin
ed thousands of small ref1ners by rail-
road discrimination. We will not stand
for that kind of methods in Kansas If
that sort of thing is being done here
in the grain business we want to know
it and we will find a remedy for it."