The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-18
Prospects of a Merry Time at
Convention on Rate Question.
Prominent Shippers Fear Gag
Rule viii Be Applied.
BACON RESPONSIBLE.
Wants to Limit Discussion to
Presidents Idea on Subject.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Chicago. Oct. 1s.-Fearing gag rule
in the coming convention Of the inter-
state commerce law association, which
I is to be held at the Auditorium hotel on
October 26, presidents of the national
/ business and shipping organizations
took action yesterday to counteract the
influence Of the muzzling OF free speech.
Almost seventy-five per cent of taeship-
ping interests of the country were repre-
I scented at the meeting.
The gathering was the result of a
/ telegram received by one of the nation
| al presidents Of business and shipping
interests from E. P. Bacon. chairman
of the executive committee. in which he
intimated that delegates not in sym
pathy with the purpose of the conven-
ton would not be eligible. It caused
| CONSERVATION in the ranks of the ma
tional organizations, as its contents
were soon communicated to all other or
CARNATIONS, with the result that a hur-
ried conference was planned to coun-
teract the influence of the telegram in
discoura ging national organizations
from sending delegates to the conven-
I ton
It was decided to send a call to all
national organizations urging them to
send delegates to the convention, and if
free speech should be restrained that
steps would be taken inmediatel to
find q. place where the delegates could
express their views fully and freely.
The convention to be held at the
Auditorium was called by 3. P. Bacon
of the Law association, who notified
all national organizations to send dele
gates. stating the number of dele
gates which each association should
be allowed The object of the cOnven-
ton, as stated in the call, was Ito inn
press upon congress the extent and
persistence of the demands of the peo-
pie of all parts of the country for
legislation outlined in the presidents
last annual message to congress-, in
which he advocated placing the power
of changing railroad rates which had
been challenged into the hands of the
interstate commerce commission.
In response to Mr.. Bacon's tele-
gram in which he called the conven-
ton a telegram was sent to him con-
corning the senders eligibility in ac-
cOrdance with the conditions expressed
in the call. It was Mr.. BacOn'S re-
Spouse to this telegram, sent by Nell
son W. Mcleod, who acted as chair
man of yesterdays meeting, which
raised the question of restraint of free
speech at the convention. Mr.. Bacon
closing his message with the sentence,
Doubt the eligibility of delegate not
in sympathy with purpose stated
The result of the conference was g
circular letter, which was sent to
every national organization in the
United States as well as to other or
CARNATIONS interested in shipping
rates. In this the call and the tele-
grams are given in full and a warn
| ing is sounded.
at being manifest from the forego-
| ing tfe circular declares that an
attempt will be made to prevent free
speech or any discussion or action IN
the convention that does not reflect Mr..
/ Bacon's personal view, regardless of
the will of the delegates to the conven-
I ton, we believe it imperative that &C
/ ton should be taken to prevent gag
rule, in view of the fact that action
on this subject may be taken at the
next session of congress.
ITO this end you are urgently re-
/ quested to appoint the number of dele
gates to which your organization is en-
! titled under the call quoted, regardless
of what the views of the organization
on the subject may be, and have your
delegation in Chicago on the morning
/ of October 26.
IF we are refused free speech and
/ if Mr.. Bacon sees fit to shut off any
portion of the business interests of the
country from an expression of opin-
| ion on this vital question, steps will be
/ Immediately taken so that the dele
gates may have an opTs rtunity else
where to give a full and free express
/ sion of their views
The signers of the circular are: Nell
son w. Mcleod, president of the Ma
tional Lumber Manufacturers associa-
! ton, chairman; William G. Perry, pres
1 ident of the Southwestern Coal Oper-
ators' association; r. A. Long, presi-
dent of the Southern Lumber Manu-
I facturers' association; David NJ. Par
! ry, president of the National Associa-
I ton of Manufacturers; Albert L. Car
| penter. president of the Mississippi
! Valley Lumber Manufacturers asso-
/ citation; J. c Birge, president of the
/ National Hardware and Manufacturers
! association; c. c. Yawkey, president of
/ the Wisconsin Valley Lumber Manu-
4 fl of11rars' association