The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-11

~ NJ. GLOVER, a real estate
dealer of Newton. Kansas,
wrote two letters to the
II Topeka morning paper in
answer to the square
dear agitation. Mr.. GLOW
er claims that the paper has refused
and has failed to print the letters In
the first letter he says:
August 4th, 1906.
Have noticed the square deal'' cou-
pom which you have been printing for
some time, and it strikes me that what
one man may call square deal, an
other might not think one at all, be-
sides. one might be in favor of a por-
ton OF the matter contained in the
coupon, but not all of 1t, and as it is
customary for the public to be forninst
all corporations naturally a man will
sign the coupon and send it to you,
possibly not thinking of the injustice
that may be done some one.
I have often wondered how our
politicians would secure their great
regulations. If they did not have the
railroads, or some other corporation to
fight, they of course realize that this is
very gratifying to the average citizen,
who seems to delight in tearing down
what he has helped to build up: for
instance, on the start. the public can
not do enough to secure an electric
light plant, waterWorks, street railway
system or the like, to come their way
after they have secured it by promises
and inducements of various kinds, they
try to take it by the neck and strangle
II, BY insisting on their cutting down
their charges for service, etc.
There is no doubt that corpora tions
should be controlled in some way, so
had politicians. and if some device
could be arranged to keep the ordinary
politician from the throat of these
corporations, possibly their charges
could be reduced and thus benefit the
general public, for they would not be
compelled to retain hoard of LAWYERS
to protect them from the assaults of
these self same politicians, a great
many of whom are impecunious when
they enter the political arena, but
when they emerge from it, are we'll
fixed with this worlds goods. Reading
between the lines, it looks to me as if
the public by throttling the average
politician, might, in that indirect way,
secure a reduction in rates which cor
porations charge for service. This is a
large question and have already tres
passed on too much of your valuable
space. might say, in conclusion that
I own no railroad stock am EMPLOYED
by no railroad, and have never ridden
on pass, but have a limited amount
OF brains of my own, and do not like
to see Injustice done to an Individual
or corporation, which is very apt to be
the case when the general public be-
comes infiamed along certain lines.
G. M. GLOVER.
This is the second letter:
August 9.
Topeka Capital: Referring to your
recent editorial regarding the increase
] in the value of Santa Fe railroad
stock, as well as the surplus of the
road, would say: Eight years ago I
purchased a business property for
/ $1,000. for which I am now offered
/ $500. Also I would like to inquire
what stock in the Capital Publishing
/ company was worth eight years ago
and what it is worth today. Still ]
do not notice any reduction in the
| subscription price of the periodical
and you as well as myself as owner OF
the property which 1 have mentioned,
/ would consider it a great infringement
Of our rights if some politicians would
get up some sort of an excitement
that would practically confiscate the
advance which we have derived by the
increase in the value of our properties
brought about mainly by the increased
prosperity which has existed over this
state for the past several years. Re
! garding the surplus, many people have
grumbled at the surplus which numer-
GUS fire insurance companies have
| been accommodating, and advanced it