The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
LONGS DELAY.
Action of the Senator in With-
holding His Views
Until This Week Is Defended
From Washington.
RATE REGULATIO ON.
Claims His Position Taken in
Kansas SIX Weeks Ago
Was the Logical and Consistent
One for Him.

washington. December 2S.-Even IN
Washington it is noticed there has
been a decided change manifest in the
sentiment toward Senator Long in the
attitude he took some weeks ago IN
Kansas in respect to the railroad
question.
It will be recalled that at Newton
at the Harvey County Republican
club banquet, the night of November
10. after J. L. Bristow, W. R. Stubs
and Mr. Murdoch. incidentally, had
touched IN the railroad rate question
and had got the assembled Republ-
cans in a fervor over the matter, MI
Long in an easy, Off-hand, converse
tional way, but tremendously IN
earnest, had faced the club ana SAID,
in substance, that While ne Favored
the general proposition of the govern
ment assuming more of its power IN
respect of rates, he, for one-nor the
others. for that matter-did not know
yet how this question would come up;
what the presidents recommendation
would be; what the committee on in
terstate commerce would report 10
the senate; and that the railroads, 1t
must be remembered, would contest
everything that was done; that they
must be treated fairly, but at the same
time the programme for legislation
must be absolutely mapped out ahead,
that there might be no disastrous or
ill-conceived legislation.
It is interesting to recall a few of
the violent type of Wichita agitators
on the railroad rate question, in view
of recent events, and see what has
happened to them to show their incOn-
sistency.
First there was II. L. Resing, sec
rotary of the Wichita Commercial
club. His testimony before the state
rd of ~af1Vn1d commissioners 9hnnf
a month ago was so palpably full Of
error that the board gave him time
to amend his testimony; yet, in the
hearing on at that time, Mr.. Resing
was supposed to be the star witness.
His Inconsistencies were commented
upon not alone by a Few newspapers
/ of Kansas and Kansas City, who were
! taking mild notice of the railroad rate
question. but by those who were lead
/ ing in the fight.
Later came ]. G. Maxwell. Of Nc
/ PhersOn, another expert" who has
/ been bombarding Senator Long with
4 petitions and severely cr1ticising the
senator's course, who admitted in the
I recent grain rate hearing at Topeka
/ that he could not name a single in
/ stance where a shipper mas not been
! accorded the same privilege as those
! buying for the railroads.
/ Perhaps the most striking case of
all is that of ]. r. Howard. the Wich-
/ ing consultations and much CORE
/ spOndence for years with Senator
/ Long on the rate question. Senator
/ Long has written him many letters
stating time and again how he stood
/ on the general proposition of relief;
vet at the recent chamber of com
i merce meeting at Wichita MT
! Toward severely and violently criti-
! cised and interrupted Senator Long.
! and fatty denied that he had ever in
: all their 4,
1 placing Mr.. Long on record Mr.
Howard has been unusually active in
j the rate question. And vet. in the
/ newspapers of last, Saturday TELLING
of the grand jury indictments at Kan
saS City against railroads and mack
ers for rebates received ana granted
the dispatch carried this significant
/ statement.
Tile specific charge against the
! chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul rail
VA way IS that It granted rebates to the
howard Mills company of Wichita
| rms road was one that was IN
| dlcted; and the statement that Mr.
Howard is involved, after all his nro-
testations and zeal. Is most remark
able. n
The attitude of Senator Long in
ms speech Friday night at the Knife
and Fork club of Kansas CSitv on
/ proposed railroad Rate LEGISLATION 81
SET Iorth his position ana entities him
70 a position as one of the leaders IN
the effort for relief in CONGRESS- tl,is
winter But he still maintains his he
lief that the only wise and nroner
course as member of the senate. for
MN 10 take six weeks ago, when there
was no recommendation of the 77rasi
/ dent, no official declaration Of v-I,a,
the president stood for. and no Hi
or DIS introduced in congress wa
| that he then took
R. H. FAXON.