Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Platform Expresses the Issue in Terms o
Plain Language.
oUARE DEAL ASKED FOR EVERYBODY
Corporations to Be Treated as Other
Citizens Before the Law.
NEBRASKA INTERESTED IN THE OUTCOME
Conditions I'm This state the same as
In Kansas and Public senti-
ment Taking the same
Trend.

The Wichita freight rate convention, at.
tended by representative farmers and hus-
ness men from all parts of the state OF
Kansas. took the Initiative in the formation
OF what is to be known as the Kansas
Civic Federation and promulgated the fol-
lowing platform:
Resolved. That 1t is the sense Of this
convention that congress should confer
upon the Interstate Commerce commission.
upon their own motion or upon Complaint
power and authority to alter. change or
or classification established by any rail-
ROAD company found to be unjust, un-
reasonable or discriminative; the same To
pe eHecuVe within a reasonable time, sub
Ject to review OF the supreme court and
that the president of the United STATES he
authorized to appoint an assistant attorney
general, whose duty 1t shall be 10 inaks
ana prosecute complaints before the Inter
state Commerce commission.
Resolved, That whereas passenger trans
portation has been determined py the
supreme court to be property: and whereas
the railroad companies give away this
amount of great many thousands OF dol
lars every year, IL is the sense of this con-
Sentlon that the intention Of the railroad
with these gifts and that 1t partakes of
all the essentials OF bribe; that II Is the
passes are among the most insidious, insin-
uating and dangerous influences in the
sinuating and dangerous influences in the
mend that law be enacted which will
make it crime for a railroad company
70 70 give any person or persons, except bona
hde railway employees, any form whatever
of passenger transportation free.
II the above resolution is enacted, we
favor the reduction OF passenger rates to
Resolved. That we favor a uniform sys-
tenn OF railway bookkeeping, established
by the Interstate Commerce commission
under the supervision of the government.
similar to the national banking system.
Resolved. That it is the sense OF this
convention that congress should appoint a
commission to make the same sort %. an
investigation of all railroad expenses and
as fhs ina. nave ave recently 5een made
and we hereby recommend that our delega-
ton In congress Introduce and support a
measure calling for such investigation.
Resolved, That we favor the enactment
in this state OF the law known as the
Massachusetts, Texas Minnesota law, t.ela-
L Whereas, We. a. Ind u uals, N ouls NOT
employ or Trust our cases In law or equity
huence or domination of those opposed to
us; therefore we condemn the practice of
political parties nominating and tlecting
| representatives to make laws for the gov
ernment or control of corporations Woo are
either the paid attorneys of such corpora :
| tions or are parties who are known 10 be
under the influence of such corporations
and that we urge upon all conventions of
! delegates to carefully scrutinize the ante
! cedents OF every candidate coming before
| them, with the view of ascertalning their
relations to corporations who have been
dominating the politics OF Kansas.
teT Whch nrnHides Me for aVSr irpr Sys
nomination OF all delegates and officers, in
| Guiding United States senators, and would
| urge that all primaries be held by all par
| ties on the same day.
| Resolved, That we favor a modification
Of the tariff by its friends so as TO enlarge
our markets and at the same time pre-
vent. the control OF all commodities by
/ trusts.
Platform Expresses the Case.
This platform fairly hits the nail on the
head far the relations between the
railroads and the people of the great agri-
cultural empire OF which Kansas and Ne
braska are part are concerned. Whatever
! applies to Kansas in this regard applies
with equal force TO Nebraska. In neither
state is there disposition to deal unjustly
/ or unfairly with the great corporations
! but in both the demand for a square deal
| is growing more and more insistent every
day. The people have made up their minds
| that their interests must be consulted as
/ we'll as those of the holders OF the inflated
stocks OF the railroad corporations con
/ cerned. In many ways docs the movement
differ from the Farmers Alliance uprising
OF seventeen years ago. While many OF
the same men who were then In revolt
against existing conditions are interested
. In the present movement, others who wer,
not then concerned have Joined in ths
fight. No vagarious ideas are put forth
and no experiments in government are pro
posed. 1t is simply intended to end tn,
domination OF the affairs Of the state b,
the great corporations Railroad companie.
are to be put on the basis of citizens, anC
made secure In their just and legitimat.
rights and privileges, but not allowed I,
infict extortionate rates on communities
for the sole purpose Of paying dividends OF
enormous overcapitalization. Other evil
that now from corporate control or domin
alton OF local politics will be eradicated
and the business OF the country will be pu
on the basis Of legitimate and natural com
petition.
Character of the Convention.
The correspondent Of the Kansas Cit,
Star, in reporting the proceedings OF IN
Wichita convention. wrote as follows:
1t is almost impossible for anyone. how
ever farseeing he may be, TO estimat
the political Importance of the freight ra I
convention which ended here tonight wit
a banquet TO the delegates. Those of III
machine end Of the republican party. re
Gently referred to as '.'tlhe regular army,
| VINO only q rev Gays ago laughed at an
belittled the movement started today, ar
topight admitting that this convention wi
more than probably turn the entire Npo
litical situation in Kansas from it's pres
| ent railroad rule to a condition deyoI
OF political bosses. In other words IN
militia" seems to be in fair way I
stampede the regulars" for II has b
far the largest number OF soldiers an
| their drill masters were appointed TO on
/ them In shape for battle.
As anticipated in the Star of this morn
ing a plan Of organization similar TO IN
Chicago Municipal league was adopted an
provides for the naming of an executiy
| Committee OF sixteen. two from each cor
gressionaI district. which in turn seieC
an executive committee at large OF nv
to pass upon and report the acoeptabiIit
. OF all candidates. This plan theoreticall
, | Is an ideal one.
This committee. selected today follow.
! Edwin Snyder; Second district. John i
/ Wood and Colonel 4: T: Atchison; Thir
son; Fourth district, George Plumb an
I Benjamin Heilburn; Fifth district d. "
: Cowden and Harry McMillen; Sixth di,
triet f. i. Madden and ID. w herr,
Seventh district. J. s, George and d. u