The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-16
Kansas Federation of CONNER
ciaI Interests to Roosevelt.
Commend His Position on Inter.
state Commerce.
j. L. GEORGE IS CHOSEN
Hutchinson Man Succeeds Mr..
Mcmillan as President.
Retiring Officer Makes Brief Re-
view Of Work Of Association.

AT meeting of the Federation OF
Commercial interests held Saturday
night at the Commercial club rooms.
Harry f. Mcmillan retired as president
OF the federation and ]. L. George. of
Hutchinson, was elected president.
The federation passed resolutions
commencing the action of President
Roosevelt in regard to the amending of
the interstate commerce law. The res
oiutions adopted were:
/ ITO the President.
THE Federation of Commercial In
terests of Kansas representing 60 or
ganizations of business men, heartily
commend you for the stand you have
taken in behalf of the proposed amend
ments to the interstate commerce law,
giving the commission power to fix
rates Kansas having been for years
the field for maximum interstate rates
from all seaboards, and after repeated
trials having found the present inter-
state commerce law inadequate to re-
move the Determinations against our
state the federation views with the
greatest approval your move in the di-
rection of more extended powers to the
commissioners and assure you of the
support of the business fraternity of
| Kansas.
The present system of rate making
for this section is entirely in the inter
est of the larger eastern distributing
points and has the effect of preventing
the development of the great section
| lying west of the Missouri river and
east of the Rocky Mountains and max
ing it tributary to the great centers re-
ferred to. We believe that it is against
public policy that such a condition
should exist, and that the more unde-
veloped sections OF the great west
should be given equal oppor-
tunity with their sister states of the
east.
I'VE assure you that this federation
will use every effort possible to secure
the hearty cooperation of the Kansas
delegation in congress with you in this
work.
Mr. Mcmillan, the retiring president
of the federation, in his last addresses,
as the head of the association, said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of
the Federation Of Comm ercial Inter
ests-It has been the custom, laudable
or otherwise, upon his retirement for
the president to address a few parting
words to the association.
lone year ago I was greatly hon
ored by being elected by this great as
sociation, representing as it does, the
great, the diversified and rapidly
growing business and agricultural in
terests of the state, as its president.
'sIn returning that commission to
you, I desire to express my sincere
thanks for the uniformly courteous
treatment I have received at the hands
of all its members, as its president. A
brief review of the work attempted
and accomplished by the federation
during the past year may not be out of
place.
''Time will not permit going into a
detailed analysis of the various pro-
jects undertaken by the federation.
Owing to the peculiar and exrraordi-
nary conditions of public affairs
caused by an exciting state and ma
tionaI campaign, the political issues of
the day, especially on state issues, |
were confused in the minds of many |
"a nP0 Sna0i7I lines
undertaken by the federation, and the |
results at first glance did not appear
very favorable to the contention on
certain lines made by the federation. |
The passage of an elective railroad
commission law in 1903 was largely |
through the labors and influence of |
the federation They endeavored in |
the late cam paign to secure the fruits |
of that victory for the business and |
agricultural interests of the state by /
securing the selection on the part of /
great political parties, of men fair and /
just not only to the railroads but also
to all the shippers and people of state
as well. In accordance with this
policy certain names were submitted |
by the federation to the state conven-
uons of the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties for their approval OF
the names submitted to the Repub-
Hcan convention only one, that of MI
Robinson, was indorsed by them.
1.-THE federation then went before
the Democratic state convention, pre-
sented the names of two candidates.
the nomination of Mr.. Robson, which 7
the convention did. While the only
candidate indorsed by the federation
was Mr.. Robson. an analysis of the
vote viii show that the work of the
federation affected the vote on certain
candidates for that office by many
thousands. A word personal. 1t has
been stated and advertised by certain
for
that am a Democrat and not in har-
mony politically with the dominant
party in this state has worked great
hardship on this association. Further
party in indorsing the candidates.
recommended by this association
greatly Drejudiced the majority of the
voters against the cause advocated by
TINS society. Personally I wish to say
to you that I care nothing for the
calumnies heaped upon me past and I
present by the subsidized railroad
press of this state. but 1 am here to
say to you that the action of the
Democratic party in state conventionl
assem- bled was In accordance with the
urgent request of this federation and
was actuated by the most patriotic
motives for the best and highest in
terests of the people of Kansas. and
/ would especially recommend to this
association that any effort that may
be made to give this association a
partisan bias or the representation of
any DoliticaI party be not encouraged,
because the irreDressible conflict be-
tween the rights of the people and the
interests of railroad corporations has
not yet been settled in this state in
the interests of the people, and II
would not be surprised if the IegisIa-
ton desired and asked for by thisl
federation for a more effective rail-
road law, you will require the assist
ance Of that Democratic minority. !