The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-31
Kansas Federation of CONNER
eial Interests Awake.
Will Raise $4,000 to Carry
War Into Africa.
THERE is NO WATERING
To Insist Upon Satisfactory
Railroad Board.
Expect to Endorse Two Candi-
dates For the Positions.
THERE is NO WATERING

The Kansas Federation of CONNER
cial Interests proposes to raise at
least $4,000 to carry on its campaign
for the election of a state board of
railroad commissioners that will not
be dominated by railroad interests,
and to secure the passage of legisla-
ton by the next legislature giving the
railroad board power to control the
railroads instead of just giving them
advice.
The ways and means committee Of
the fedration will call upon the differ
ent commercial bodies comprising the
federation to make subscriptions to
the fund. The business men of To-
peka have subscribed $500, of which
$265 has already been paid, and the
Wichita business men have subscribed
a like amount.
The purpose of the fund, as stated
on the subscription lists, is as follows:
For the purpose of aiding the
Kansas Federation of Commercial In
terests in carrying on its work of Sc
curing the passage of a suitable law
regulating railroad traffic in the state
of Kansas, selecting competent and
capable men on our state railroad
board, and to further such other leg
1slatton as the business men of the
state may deem necessary to its best
interests and development
The meeting of the federation,
which is in session today, is made up
of men who are railroad shippers, of
all political parties and factions.
Colonel Bill Fisher of HOltOn the
bitter enemy of Railroad Commits
sfOner A. D. Walker, sits near A. A
GODDARD former attorney general, who
is a personal friend of Mr.. Walker. J.
e. Evans of EmpOria, prominent
Republican of Lyon county and mem
Der OF the legislature, takes a lead
ing part in the federation while its
president is Senator Harry Mcmillan
OF Ottawa county.
The federation will probably en-
dorse a list of names this afternoon
and ask the Democrats to choose their
candidates for railroad commissioners
from the list. The federation did this
with the Republicans but the Repub-
Ncans nominated only one man out
OF the seven endorsed by the fedora
ton. That one was J. w. Robson of
FL Dorado. The federation will sun
port MI Robson, but if the Demo-
crats follow Its recommendation it
VIII probably support Democrats for
tne other two places on the board
Among those who are talked of for
the Democratic recommendation arc
Lot Ravenscraft of Clark county M
W. ferguson of Wellington Senator
Harry Mcmillan Of Ottawa county. w.
ID. kuhen of HOlton,-F H Chase Of
Hoyt, David Over1nyer of ToDel,s
ana G. A. Cooper of Lyons
a Aelter was read from George z
tucker OF Eureka, stating that the
Greenwood County Cattlener's associ
alton on May IA unanfrnousIv a1Joyead
EaVenscraft and Ferguson among the
democrats, and also endorsed 7 w
Hopison, the Republican nominee who
is Favored by the federation Mr. Tuck
er, who was acting secretary Of tho
meeting, is the Republican candidate
trict ~ "a us
Secretary Reising reported that about
ia
Guiding commercial clubs have al 71ia-
ted with the federation
j. E Howard, of Wichita. made an
INFORMAL report for the committee on
national legislation, in which he stated
LhaL an EFFORT was made during the re-
cent session of congress to pet the
committee on interstate commerce to
listen TO the complaints of sbiDDare
concerning railroad matters, but a ma
Jor1ty OF the committee could not he
secured at one time to vote to hear
the complaints. Mr.. Howard highly
commended President Roosevelt for.
his fight against trusts.
me following committees were ap-
pointed at the morning session:
Credentials. E Howard of Wichi-
"a. 9. II. RidgWay of Kansas Citv
Kan, F. W. F'rasfus, of Wichita
Revolutionary. H. Campbell of Ash
land, II. Taylor of Lyons and 7. F Nv
ans of Emporia.
Proeedure-C. G. Cohn of Wichita. 7.
Nv. Bergman of Kingman, and William
Fisher of Holton.
President NIcNEiIlan's Address.
President Mcmillan made an address
at the opening of the meeting today in
winch he insisted that the charges of
some pOltlclans and news papers that the
federation is becoming a POLITICAL or
ganlzation is not true. He said:
This meeting is called in accordance
WIN me request of many of its mem
Ders for the cOnsiderati ton of various
questions, not only OF great interest
and Importance to the members of this
federation, but, as the federation
deems of still greater Importance to all
the people of this great state. If I am
not greatly mistaken and have grea tlv
misunderstood the movement which
tnis federation represents, while desir-
ing conditions and improved laws.
which shall benefit them indivfduallv
they as good citizens. not merely as
selfish parusans. are above any mere
personal considerations laboring to
achieve results, which shall be of per
manent and lasting benefit to all the
people of this commonwealth While
certain partisan and railroad newspa-
pers are endeaVoring to make out to
the contrary, this association is and
always has been in every sense of the
political.
LAS an association we do not con
denim any political party, nor is the
cause Of any political party advocated
Outside of the bearing that politics and
political parties necessarily have on the
great question of transportation. the
greatest question before the people of
this state as well as the nation this
federation never has and never viii all
wise any political preference. What this
federation does stand for is that on
this great question of TRANSFORMATION
the people must have relief and they
Should support those candidates by
which they can best secure it.
while other questions will be con-
sidered. the two questions which the
federation deems of supreme impor.
lance and for the discussion and con.
alteration of which they are gathered
in convention at this time are the
recommendation to the fusion party