The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-11-01
WEDNESDAY, NOV. /, 1905.
RATE REGULATORS AT WAR,

4uS press OlSpdtCucS VI tuS past lew
days have devoted considerable space
to the convention of a so-called Inter-
state Commerce Law association, which
met in Chicago to consider the matter
OF railroad rate regulation. The con-
vention was called by one E. P. Ba-
con, Of Milwaukee, who is said to be
chairman of the associations execu-
tive committee.
The existence of such an organized
body as the Interstate Commerce Law
association will be news to most of
the reading public: they have never
before heard Of the outfit. Its name Is
almost sufficient to condemn it in the
eyes Of honest citizenship, as it indi-
rectly suggests that it is closely allied
with an important department Of gov
ornamental affairs. Mr.. Bacon, of
Milw aukee, who appears to be the
chief push of the organization. is not
widely known as a man prominent in
public affairs, but that does not dis.
qualify him in any undertaking that
il for the general good.
The methods Of Mr.. Bacon and his
associates. however, are open to criti.
cism. They claimed that their organi-
cation is composed Of members repre-.
eenting commercial associations in all
parts OF the country, and a call was
issued to these representative business
men to assemble in Chicago, as mem.
bers OF the so-called Interstate Com
merce Law association, to take action
In the matterIof securing railroad rate
legislation. LThrough the medium of
q newspaper:interview, Mr.. Bacon an
bounced that only those members of
his association who were in accord
with a certain plan of rate legislation
would be admitted as delegates to this
convention.
This;.is a most remarkable method
Of ascertaining the prevailing senti.
ment among members of an organized
body of citizens. 1t prevents free dis
cussion OF the matter at issue, and by
thus packing the convention with del.
egates who had pledged themselves in
advance to q certain line OF action,
Mr.. Bacon calculated that his asso-
citation with q pompous and impress
sive name would endorse his views by
unanimous vote.
But there were many members OF the
so-called Interstate Commerce Law
association who declined to take the
oath Of allegiance demanded by Mr..
Bacon, and who, as accredited repre-.
s~entatives Of their constituencies,
claimed the right to seats in onven
ton Of an association In which they
had certificates of membership. This
right vas denied by the Bacon coutin.
gent, and %thereupon the independent
advocates Of free speech and freedom
OF action organized IA convention OF
their own. The result was two con.
ventions of business men, each advo.
eating different methods OF rate regu.
lation, and each denouncing the other
as a sham and q fraud.
The bitterness resulting from Mr.,
Bacon's ILL., advised action Is cause fol
regret. He is probably honest and
sincere in the belief that his plan o
railroad rate regulation is better thar
any other that could be devised, bu'
he cannot convince congress and the
public to that effect by resolutions
emanating from a packed convention
An attempt to influence public seuti.
ment by such methods will be resented
by every fair.minded American citizen,
and create prejudice against the re.
form which it is proposed to secure.