The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-30
paper. Mr. Towards letter is as fol-

paper. Mr.. Towards letter is as fol-
lows:
ITO the Editor of the Eagle:
THE Kansas City journal is very ac-
tive in its work against the Federation
of Commercial interests in Kansas,
non-partisan organization organized by
citizens of Kansas, fully two-thirdS of
whom are and, always have been, Re
publican in politics, and all are engaged
in active business pursuits in this state.
If Wichita has taken more interest
in the mater than other cities or COM
munities. it is because it is the largest
interior city in the state, and it's bust
ness men. we'll organized. are alive to
the commercial necessity of fighting for
conditions which promise growth and
prosperity to Wichita and all the sur
rounding territory.
In plain language, the newspaper
correspondent or editor in Topeka or
Kansas City who controls the Kansas
City Journal and who impungs the
Federation with the motive of working
for cut rates. rebates or any other un-
lawful advantage over any citizen or
shipper of Kansas, IS making siren
uous effort to misstate the facts, and
defy him to produce any evidence to
support his allegations. That there may
be among several hundred citizens and
shippers affiliated with the Federation
some few individuals who have in the
past received favOrs from the railroads
is true and that some in the past and
more IN the future may De brought TO
see the railroad side of the question
in a more favorable light by that
subtle. silent influence, the railroad
pass. goes without saying. We deny
most emDha Cically that the Federation
movement is supported or controlled by
these Individuals or is being kept alive
and furnished with the sinews of war
by them or by anyone from any such
motive.
The railroad attorney who rushed
into print some time aP1 - the Kan
sas City Journal and vas called down
by those higher in authority, and who
afterward published a partial retrac-
ton of the falSehood, is raising more
trouble for the railroads in Kansas
politics than was ever laid at the door
of Mary Ellen Lease
1.-The people have the sovereign right
to control the railroads. This right
is undisDuted by Mr.. Paul Morton and
other prominent railroad men. The
only point in dispute by the people
who write and talk intelligently on the
railroad question is the extent of con-
troll that shall be surrendered by the
railroads and assumed by the state or
United States government. All the
courts in this country have held time
and time again that the people,
through the legislature, have the pow
er to make rates and classifications,
and that this power was supreme and
could not be questioned, unless it was
the extent to which it went was in
itself confiscatOry.
Just why there should be at this
time such a strenuous effort made by
some of the Republican papers in
Kansas to deprive the people of their
sovereign right is hard to be under
stood on any other grounds than that
the railroads have an undue influence
over certain individuals who are try
ing to control the Republican party
against it's best judgment.
THE Texas railroad law gives the
power inherent in the people to a
commission that governs and controls
the railroads. makes rates and CLASH
fications. The people of Kansas are
not clamOring for a maximum freight
bill to be made by the legislature They
are asking for a railroad law that
gives the commission power to make
rates and classifications. the same as is
done in Texas and other states.
That Texas rates in certain cases are
higher than those of Kansas may be
true. We admit that the schedule of
rates made public by the FL Dorado Re-