Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-18
SLASON THOMPSON ON RATES
Chicago Man Comes to Dsfenre Of th,
Nebraska Railroads.
DEDUCTION FROM ROOSEVELT VOTE
Argues that NebraslSans Are Content
with the situation Because
They Gave President
Big Majority.

CHICAGO. June 12.-To the Editor Of
The Bee l hope you will permit the
courtesy of your columns in reply 20
the clear and excellent presentation made
by MIR. Rosewater Of The Bee, on the
railway rate question in the Chicago
Record-Herald last week
There are two difficulties in the way Of
putting forth a satisfactory answer to Mr..
Rosewater's statement, both of which
think he appreciated when placing his
ideas on paper:
First-His generalizations.
second-His personal familiarity with
Nebraska politics and conditions gives him
an advantage in the discussion which
no outsider can overcome.
Mr.. Rosewater's generalizations how
ever, can be traversed by congratulations
and impeached by some broad facts.
He says that with the possible exception
of railway officials, their commercial
beneficiaries and political retainers. the
people of Nebraska are practically a unit
in favor of President Roosevet's program
of railway regulation"
In this think Mr.. Rosewater confuses
popular approval Of the presidents .
declaration that, above ell else, we must
strive to keep the highways Of commerce
open to all on equal terms, and to do
this, It is necessary to put a complete
stop to all rebates" with the cure which
he proposes, and which does not touch the
disease, namely that the Interstate Com
merce commission shall have power to
determine what shall be a reasonable rate
this rate ito take effect Immediately and
to obtain, unless and until reversed by a
court of review"
As to the presidents declaration in re-
gard to the abuses of rebates and other
forms Of unjust determinations, railway
officials agree with the popular sentiment
of Nebraska that remedy should be
found. but they insist, and 1 think Mr..
Rosewater will admit they are right in
insisting, that the remedy shall At the
evil and not impair their ability to pro-
vide ever increasing transportation facili-
ties to the people and commerce of the
United States.
POpuIism ms n Protest.
Mr. Rosewater says that "the populistic
uprising, of which Nebraska was the cy-
clone CENTER was chiefly a poular protest
against unjust discrimination. exorbitant
rate charges and political railroad domina-
ton"
OF this there is absolutely no evidence.
The popullstic cyclone which swept Ne
braska and other western states from their
moorings of sound finance and sense was
the result OF the microbe or dtscontenl
asslduously cultivated by social and
political agtators. They seized upon any
temporary subject of complaint to propo-
gate their theories that all the ills OF
humanity are durable by legislation. The
populistic movement was alternately fos
tered by poor crops and by big crops.
have not the figures for Nebraska by me
but the following statement OF the fiuctua.
tion of the crops and prices of corn from
1890 to 1903, accounts for the rise and fall
of the cyclone which Mr. Rosewater at
tributes to railway abuses:
CORN CROP AND PRICE-1S90-1S97.
From Reports of the Department of Agri
culturel