The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-11
COL. CAMPBELL TALKS
REORGANIZATION
Says Nothing Unreasonable
Was Declared.
IN RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
About Federation of Com
merciaI Interests,

Col. Is. II. Campbell of this city, who is
q member and an enthusiastic worker OF
the Federation Of Commercial Interests
has the following TO say concerning that
organization and the result Of its attempt
to have a hearing in the matter Of secur-
ing a position on the state board Of rail
road commissioners:
There are sixty business organizations
In Kansas under the various names OF
Chambers Of Commerce. Boards of Trade
or Commercial clubs. having for their
objects the industrial interests OF their
respective localities Through the untir-
ing efforts of Mr.. II. /. Resting, secre-
tary of the Wichita Commercial club,
these various clubs have formed con
federation thus greatly charging The
scope of their work and giving greater
effect to their influence. OF this Il dera-
ton Mr.. Resting was made secretary and
he ami other prominent members, realiz-
ing the urgent need of reform in our
Transportation service. suggested to the
various clubs the wisdom OF holding a
delegate meeting in Wichita during The
session OF the Republican state conven-
ton just closed All the clubs of the
state We're represented and all believed
that much good would bc accomplished
After a careful discussion Of the ques-
ton Of transportation ard The great dis
advantage under which Kansas labors,
being surrounded by states which have
more or less esta blished c0atrul Of trans
portation within their respective limits,
Fl was thought best to ask the conven-
ton to adopt a series Of resolutions de-
ClarinE the attitude Of the Republican
party upon the railroad question. II was
also decided to ask the convention TO al
low the commercial interests of the state
10 name the nominees Of the party to
serve as railroad commissioners. The
resolutions passed for this purpose We're
as follows
Resolved. That We hereby declare that
the regulation of commerce Is function
OF government and that
Whereas. the states Of Iowa. Missouri,
Arkansas and Texas, surrounding our
state. have enacted laws fixing trans
portation rates. while Kansas Is left TO
the discretion Of the railroads to collect
deficit created by legislative restrictions
in surrounding states.
'.Wc therefore demand the enactment
Of such laws i'm this behalf as shall give
TO our state railroad commission ALSO
lutte power to fix maximum rates upon
all transportation within the limits OF
our states.
And we further demand that our re-
personalities in congress and our sena-
tors shall urge such national legislation
rs shall give our Interstate commerce
commission absolute power according to
the intent Of our constitution 10 fix trans
portation rates for all common carriers"
There seems 20 be nothing startling
and certainly nothing unreasonable. in
these declarations The frst. and per-
haps most important because it is the
charter upon which the foundation Of
commerce is 20 rest is plainly set ont in
our federal constitution and is too short
and simple TO he misunderstood II sim
PLY says that congress shall have the
power to regulate commerce; ana this
resolution declares that the regulation OF
commerce is a function Of government.
Whatever power the congress may have
over interstate commerce. the state may
have over commerce within its own
limits What the states have done i'm
nediately surrounding Us to regulate the
conduct Of common carriers is too well
known To need discussion. and what
Kansas has suffered by discriminating
rates and discriminating service is known
20 all who have had any interest in the
transportation question.
The federation is uon-partisan i'm poll
tics. They presented their cause To this
convention because it was the dominant
party of The state. HAVING control Of The
legislative and executive branches of the
state government When these earnest
men were celebrating as to The best way
to present their cause if a member had
suggested that the great Republican
party would actually refuse them a hear
ing he would have been Missed. After
the convention had finished its work. not
one. but every man would be heard 10
declare his conviction 10 he that if the
voice Of commerce was TO be heard il
must be by a mass convention of the
people. and not d railroad convention.
These men who represented che wealth
of the state leaving out corporate wealth
these men engaged in all The Industrial
activities that --ad made our Young state
the rival of her older sisters-to refuse
even "a hearing 20 such body of men
because it would consume the time al
lotted To exploiting the new machine and
showing its advantages over the ola in
dividing the spoils which TO the victor
belong" would s;gsest revolt And this
is the Reform Party, The great and
good Willing t. sacrifice the Iarty pro-
fesSodly 20 purify II and administer the
government in the interests ~ III the
people. Yet refused 10 even near the sup
plication~ of IN, producing class for p.o-
lection against lcealized greed is Is pos
siblo that the voice of monopoly is strong .
e. with the great Republican party than
the voice Of tho people,
The mortifyiug fact Is that the rail
roads have secured the control ing in
fiuence in every department Of our gov
eminent
There Is not "a session % any legislature .
In any state in the union. in which there