The Washington times., 1905-08-19
Reported on Good Au-
thority to Be in Per-
feet Control.
BUSINESS MEN WILLING
Arguments That Will Give
Congress Excuse for In
action or Delay.

Railroad rate legislation, If the rail-
roads are correct III their present dag
rosis of the situation. is as dead as
Pharaoh. so far as the next Congress
is concerned.
Not only do the railroad managers and
politicians believe that the public de-
Inand for legislation giving the Inter
state Commerce Commission power to
make rates has lost most of its force.
but they are now of the opinion that
they have effected a coup which will
line up the pr>nonderance OF business
interests squareIy against the proposal
a sensation has been caused in Wash
iagton by the recent discovery that the
railroad managers are making an as
sauIt on the very citadel of rate legis-
lation strength, the interstate commerce
law convention, at the head OF which
Is Z. p. Bacon. of Milwaukee.
Not only this, but there is a strong evi-
dence that they have carried the outer
works and effected series of danger
Gus breaches in the inner walls.
Worked for Months.
For many months the railroads have
been at work. with influence and ample
means, to organize their forces for the
showing Of strength in Congress. The
interstate. commerce law convention WIS
the most potent organizat ton represent
ing the demand for rate-mal1ing power
IN The hands Of the commission.
AT its last convention, in st. Louis, it
was composed of accredited representa-
uNeS OF 3l9 commercial bodies, boards
OF trade, chambers of commerce. busi-
ness leagues etc, in all parts OF the
country. Speaking for these, and yigor-
ously demanding legislation TO strength
en- the hands of the commission this
ofganIZaIion commanded the respectful
attention Of Congress, and impressed
the country deeply.
Bu4 it is now claimed that the ma
Jority of these same commercial bodies
have been won over TO the other side
OF the question, and that they viii not
only withdraw their support from the
Bacon movement. but even go farther
and unite III a protesting convention, TO
be held probably in Washington in De
bers and so representative in character
as utterly 10 dwarf The Bacon gather
ing which has been called, or is soon
ue be called unless plans change. to
meet in Chicago in October
Bacon Uneasy.
The probability of the Baconiaus los
ing control Of their own convention Is
regarded even by Mr. Bacon and his
close associates as 50 serious that
some of them have strongly advised him
not 10 call another session of his con
NS4t4pA ai LlliS tlA1er ana 10 pOSIp pDne
the call until thorough canvass Of
the situation can be made and means
can be devised 10 offset the inroads the
railroads have made on The pro-reguIa-
Jton strength.
The railroad plan Is To make the de
feat OF the Bacon forces Just as spec
tacular az possible.
First, II there Is another meeting of
the Bacon convention The effort VIII be
10 capture it, turn out Bacon and his
associates in the leadership. register a
view IN opposition TO radical legislation.
and. IN snort. clip very short the wings
OF this organization.
Following this, the next step will be to
have the protesting forces within this
old organization call a new convention,
TO be held in Washington, invite the
commercial bodies of the country, and
huenua1 business men the country ever
saw. 10 protest against any change in
present conditions as TO rates.
A Clever Blow.
This protesting convention is planned
TO be held just at the psychological
crisis, and in Washington in order that
Il may have the largest influence or
Congress. It is already giving deep con
Germ 10 advocates of regulation. who ad-
nit that they have been losing Grouno
very fast this summer. and who fear
they will be unable TO make showing
in comparison with that OF the railroad
side of the issue
The railroad people have done Troilr
work 10 get their case so well in hand
FThev have established literary bureaus
in many leading cities, sent their argu-
ments 20 all sorts of organizations, news
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