The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-01
PICK Their men.
Federation Of Commercial In
terests Makes Nominations.
Endorses Five Men for Railroad
Commissioners.
TWO ARE TO BE NAMED.
and Democrats Asked
to Nominate From List.
Resolutions Set Forth Necessity
for NOn-Partisan Board.

w NJ. Ferguson. of wellington.
Democrat.
G. A. Cooper, of Lyons. Populist.
Frank H. Chase, of Hoyt, Populist.
David Overmyer. of Topeka, Demo-
crat.
Lot Ravenscraft, of Ashland. Popu-
list.
These are the men recommended by
the State Federation of Commercial
Interests to the fusionists as candi-
dates for railroad commissioner. The
federation wants the fusionists to
nominate two of these and leave the
third place vacant. 1t will support J.
W. Robson, one of the Republican
candidates, for one place on the rail-
road board, and any two of the candi-
dates named above on the fusion
ticket for the other two places.
Senator Harry Mcmillan refused to
be a candidate. When his name was
suggested in the meeting of the fed
Grafton Tuesday afternoon, he said his
position as president of the federation
would be embarrassing and give the
opponents of the federation an oppOr-
tunity to criticise it and claim that he
was using his position to further his
own interests. c. H. Ridgeway sug-
gested that Mcmillan be drafted, but
he still refused. Mcmillan proposes
to run for state senator again in the
Ottawa Saline district. McA1illans re-
fusal to run for railroad commissioner
reduces the number of candidates to
five.
There is a strong disposition in the
southwest to nominate Ravenscraft. He
has served a term or two in the legis-
Iature from Clark county and is consid-
cred invincible down there. The Repub-
Iicans want him to run for railroad
commissioner to keep him out of the
race for state senator against T. A.
Noftzger, or for representative in Clark
county.
The federation proposes to employ
some able attorneys to aid in its fight
for just railroad rates and to draw up
the new railroad law which 1t proposes
to ask the next Legislature to pass. This
is one thing it is raising a big fund for.
The following resolutions were pass
ed by the federation
Resolved. By the Confederation OF
Commercial Clubs of Kansas that the
control of commerce is a function of
the legislative branch of our govern
ment.
That while the exercise of the right
of eminent domain has been delegated
to CORPORATIONS called railroad COM
panies such power has been granted by
the people with the plain understand
ing that it should be used for the bene-
fit CT the people to provide enlarged IA
ciIities for commerce and to contribute
to the social and material prosperity of
the state. We assume that railroads
are modern highways and the control of
their use belongs to the public as much
as do the roads of the country or the
streets of the city.
have been gradually ignored until we
have reached condition where the
railroads have assumed absolute own
ership and control of such rights as the
constitution and common law formerly
regarded as sacred to the public.
''That the people, worn out with
repeated attempts to get redress by
petition and supplicatiOn to the rail-
road companies, at last have assoc1at-
ed themselves together to secure by
means of nomination and election,
a representative and partial board of
railroad commissioners to administer
the law and such members of the Leg
islature as will pledge themselves to
vote for the enactment of railroad
law in line with that already suggested
by this federation, which will give the
board of railroad commissioners the
power to classify and make such max
imum freight rates for Kansas as are
justified by the tonnage conditions,
and based upon an equality with like
existing rates in adjoining states. To
this end this commercial body went
before the Republican convention,
which saw fit to give US only one of
the three members recommended by
this body for membership on this
board.
1--WE now, in further prosecution of
our purpose to secure such a railroad
board as will be representative and
impartial and non-partisan in the peO-
pies interest, recommend that this
body agree upon such additional mem
bers for position upon this railroad
board of Democratic and Populistic
utilization, for whom we can go be-
fore the Democratic convention and
ask their endorsement. and for whom
we can go before the people and ask
for their election from a non-partisan
standpoint.
1--WE also further recommend that
this body confer with the local COM
unercial interests in every county in
the state, that all candidates for leg
islative positions of all parties be
pledged to the enactment of just,
effective and equitable railroad law as
will restore to the people the control
of railroad rates and classification in
this state.
soThat we proceed to frame rail-
road law in line with the bill already
suggested and for this purpose obtain
help of the best legal talent to be had
in the state with a view of demanding
the passage of said law by the next
legislature
resolved further, That we, the
Federation of Commercial Interests,
hereby endorse J. G. Robson, the
nominee on the Republican ticket for
railroad commissioner, as one good
suitable candidate for such Office
The next meeting of the federation
will be held in Topeka on August 2
the day before the Democrats and
PopuIists hold their state convention.
SS,OOO,OO DAILY.