Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-22

SHOWING THEIR HANDS roo E4RL1
In pursuance Of the resolution adopted
by the Interstate Commerce Law as
ISOLATION at its convention held at st.
Louis last year. call has been issued
for convention of delegates repre-
| sentlng the various trades, industrial
| and producing interests of the country,
to be held at Chicago next Thursday.
The object of the convention, as ex-
pressly defined i'm the call, is Ito inn
press upon congress the extent and per-
! sistent demands of the American peo-
pie for the legislation outlined i'm Presi-
dent Roosevelt's last annual message in
the following language
The Interstate Commerce commission
! should be vested with the power, where a
given rate has been challenged and after
/ fun hearing found to be unreasonable, to
decide, subject to judicial review, what
| shall be a reasonable rate TO take Its place;
| and the ruling of the commission tn take
effect Immediately, and to obtain unless
and until Il is reversed by the court OF
| review.
The PRONUNCIATION of this call was
promptly followed by counter move
ment on the part Of the railroads. with
a view Of either capturing or breaking
up the convention by main force. With
this end in view their mercantile and
merchantable allies were lined UP and
n counter call was issued signed by
high officials of lumber and coal com
bines, and two or three subservient
TRUSTEES that bold executive positions
with commercial bodies, urging them to
appoint the number of delegates to
which they would be entitled under the
/ original call, with a view to a full and
free expression of their views at the
forthcoming Interstate Commerce Law
convention.
This counter call also plainly intl-
mates that in case the stool pigeons of
the railroads are denied the privilege
of participation in the proceedings of
the interstate commerce regulation con-
vention they are to secede and con-
vene in another place, there TO give
expression to their views and have them
properly presented to congress at its
forthcoming session.
The most amazing effrOntery of the
counter movement is the peremptory de-
mand for IAN absolutely free and full
discussion of the whole railroad issue. -
What would be thought of the attempted
intrusion of free traders in the pro.
ceedings of a republican convention and
their demand for a free discussion in
order to convince its members that the
protective policy is wrong? What would
be thought of the attempt of Protestant
clergymen to break into a Roman Cath
Ollie conclave to discuss articles of Chris
tian faith, in order that both sides may
an attempt Of homeopaths, osteopaths
and eclectic doctors to take part in the
proceedings of regular medical so
ciety, or an attempt of trades uniOnists
to take part in the deliberations of the
employers association?
What right have those who are op
, posed to railroad regulation, as recon
mended by President Roosevelt, to par
ticipate in a convention or conference
expressly called for the purpose of en-
dorsing President Roosevelts plan
} What right have they to demand tina
convention called for the purpose o.
strengthening the presidents hands
: shall entertain any proposition tina
would thwart the object for which 1
, was convened?
The American people like fair play
They believe in full and free discus
1 sion of every issue affecting their vel
fare. but they have no sympathy for tn
+ suppression Of any movement designed
!. to promote reforms by mObs organized
un1"r the guise OF delegates or spec
t tators. We feel sure that II the IN
D American program of the antlregula
= ton combine is carried out ii will reac
Y severely against the railroads in tn
high court of public Ouinion.