The Topeka state journal., 1905-11-22
A DEFENSE.

Ihere are a few newspapers IN Ran
sas that are defending the non-com-
initial attitude of Senator Long on the
railroad rate proposition and still few
er that are defending Congressman
Calderhead's position on the side of
the railroads and against the people.
Some of these papers are probably sin
cere in their utterancess but otherwise
are very palpably only railroad or
gans. It is a noticeable fact that some
of those papers that have been very
unfriendIy to Senator Long in the past
are now praisng him for his refusal
to line up for the presidents railroad
rate programme.
Perhaps as good a defense for Long
and CaIderhead as could be made is
set forth in the Abilene Reflector in
the following.
Senator Long and Congressman
CaIderhead seem to be in the most in
tellfgent position Of any of the Kansas
congressional delegation on the rail-
road rate question. Both have refused
to pledge themselves in advance to
something not yet defined and with
no possibility Of definition until con-
gress meets No railway bill is before
congress and beyond favoring a square
deal for people and railways alike no
congressman with a proper respect FOR
lAiE 4Lci lci 4A4AAAAO4A HEORA0 AAI Pc
sents is called upon to give pledges.
Mr.. Calderhead in all his years in con-
gress has never failed to vote for the
best interests of his constituents. He
has shown good sense in his advocacy
of measures and it will be found that
his position in this matter will be JUS
tilted. He goes to Washington pre-
pared to support or oppose the mea-
sures that come before congress un-
hampered by indefinite pledges. We
and Cal
derhead have more respect from Pres
ident Roosevelt today than any of the
rabbits"
The trouble with the Rehector's de-
tense is that it rests on false premises.
1t is true that there is no bill before
congress, but the issues are already
pretty we'll defined. President Roose-
Welt has set forth his ideas, and it is
known that the railroad leaders in the
United States senate wiz formulate
some other plan of regulation that will
not regulate but by which it will be
sought to head off the presidents plan.
One or the other of these viii be
successful. There will be a straight
fight between the president and the
railroad senators. This has been rec
ognized for months. 1t is a question
whether a senator will stand with the
president and people against the rail-
roads, or with the railroads and
against the president and people. It
is very easy matter for a member of
congress to take sides. Calderhead has
virtually taken the side of the rail-
roads thus far, but Senator Long has
been non -committal. This, however,
throws his influence against the presi-
dent in the preliminary skirmishing.
President Roosevelt thoroughly in
vestgated this matter before he out
lined his policy. Months ago he Sc
cured an opinion from Attorney Cen
eraI Moody as to the rights of congress
to regulate freight rates and he is
following that opinion.
If the question of tariff revision were
coming up in this session of congress
as the railroad rate question is, the
Reflector and all the other papers
that are now praising Senator Long
would be demanding to know where
he stands on the proposition to change
the tariff, and every member of con-
gress would be lined up long before
any definite measure could come before
eo7e-raee