The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-10-05
WAS HARRIS GUILTY?
OFFICIAL CONDUCT QUESTIONED BY
THE KANSAS CITY STAR.
Harris Railroad Law Of 1897 Declared
Worthless and the Motive Of the
Senator In Forcing Its Pas
sage lmpuened.

In a statement, just issued, Chair
man drummer, of the Republican
State Committee shows how the Kan
sas City Star denounced Col. w. A.
Harris and his railroad record in 1897.
The statement follows
THE most damaging charges lodged
against Col. w. A. Harris by the Re-
publicans this year in regard to his
sell out to the railroads in the 1897
session of the legislature are extreme
ly mild compared to the charges lodg-
ed against him in 1897 by the Kansas
City Star, now his chief exponent and
hacker. One of the Stars choicest jabs
at Col. Harris was in an editorial
which virtually accused him of crook
edness in connection with the passage
of his railroad bill. 1t follows:
at is Just such a bill as the railroad
companies themselves might have pushed
through the legislature by corrupt means
to enable them to escape a readjustment
OF rates which the state legislature ought
to force them to make in the interests OF
the people OF Kansas. There is no proof
that corrupt methods were used to force
the bin through the legislature. and yet it
Is difficult to attribute its passage to pure
stupidity. for Senator Harris Is far from
being duh man."
THAT charge was made by the Star
when the railroad fight and its result
was fresh in its memory.
THE Star evidently has forgotten
what it said at that time, or hoped
that the people had. But they had
not. l want to call the attention of
Kansas people to some of the Stars
editorial utterances against Harris in
1897.
at will be remembered that Harris
had just been elected as state senator
on a Populist platform declaring for a
maximum freight rate law. The Popu-
lists were in absolute control of all
branches of the state government at
that time. Harris was named as
chairman of the railroad committee in
the senate. In return for railroad sup
port for United States Senator he abb
solutely sold out his party on it's plat
form promises concerning railroad leg
islation and forced through the Harris
bill. This measure was prepared by a
railroad attorney and after Harris had
showed it through the legislature Gov
ernor Leedy vetoed it, claiming that it
was so rotten that it SUNK" So
much for the history of that sell out
Now as to what the Kansas City
Star thought Of that bill and Col. H ar
ris who forced it's passage In order
to show that the Star, itself, held HI ar
Els responsible for the measure the toll
lowing di.orial printed in the StarI of
February 8. 1897, is here given: J.
"kansas Railroad Legislation"
THE bill for the reduction of railrdad
rates which has been adopted by the rd IL
road committee of the Kansas Senate dan
be put on the statute books and enforced
without very materially reducing the
revenues Of tie railroads, &C. ia .aa$on
that the proposed law does not make my
lower , rates than han, are actually collected at
The Senate committee showed good jutg-
ment in not Incorporating provision
for two cent passenger rate. There
passenger rates at the present time.
When Kansas becomes more populous and
travel grows greater, a two cent rate may
be demanded, but at the present time
railroads cannot be Justly called upon to
reduce passenger rates. The Senate com
mittee has really shown a good deal Of
conservatism In constructing this bill and
the credit, II seems. Is due to Senator
Harris"
"The above editorial shows three i'm
portant facts: First, That the Harris
bill made no lower rates than collect
ed by the roads at that time; Second,
That Harris cut a two-cent passenger
rate clause out of the measure and
was applauded by the Star for so do
ing; Third That the star gave Harris
full credit for the construction of the
hill.
THAT editorial, as stated, was print
ed the day after the Harris bill was
reported by his committee. Harris
fought for the bill like a Trojan. The
records show that he opposed every
amendment that was offered to make
the bill conform to Populist promises.
The bill was finally passed by the sem
ate under Harris's whip on February
"a
About that time the Star evidently
had scented a niger in the wood
ing the bill In the Star of February IS,
The editorial reads:
"a Worthless Railroad BIH.~
The railroad bill passed by the Kansas
Senate yesterday is much ike a bee with
out sting. The maximum rate clause
was stricken out and the railroad COM
and to enforce their ruling. It IL not
probable that Kansas ever will have
railroad commissioners who will be able
" WlNiiStdto the arguments ana Otner IN
huences Of the smart attorneys repre-
senting the railroad companies and so II
Is doubtful whether this law will AFFORD
any relief whatever to Kansas shippers.
1t Is a long statute with gfeat many
sections and embodying some apparently
strict regulations, but which, In fact do
not In any material degree change the
present status. It Is a measure intended
to make the people of Kansas believe
that something has been done for them
but which is in fact a much more favora-
Bile bill for these railroads than they had
any reason to expec from legislature OF
professed reformerA 1t is just the sort
OF a law which former legislatures in
Kansas have had the reputation Of MAX
ing under railroad influence"
"As will be remembered Governor
Leedy vetoed the Harris bill. He said
1t did not meet Populist promises; that
it was evidently drawn by the railroad
lobby and that 1t was so rotten that it
stunk. An official of the Leedy ad-
ministration who stood close to the
Governor said at the time that Leedy
was offered $4,000 cash by the rail-
roads to sign 1t.
ION March 10th the Kansas City Star
contained another editorial ripping