The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-10

Can Win the Fight.
You can win this fight if you are de-
termined. You have the power in your
own hands In our country the people
rule No man should go to congress or
sit in legislative bodies who does not
vote right on questions affecting the
welfare of the state. Not only hold
meetings but attend the primaries of
your party, and see that honest and
efficient men are chosen to represent
you. Afterward go to the polls and
vote. Do your utmost to eliminate the
ward heeler, the caucus manipulation and
the party boss; relegate to the rear the
man with a political pull and let eff
cheney be the only test for public office
Your legislature should pass primary
election laws giving the people an OPP
portunity to nominate United States
senators as well as all other officials by
direct primaries.
AS to the transportation question Il
effects every man, women and child IN
the nation One of the difficulties IN
dealing with it is the unfairness of the
railroads. 1t is not true, as they per
sistently state that the friends of rate
regulation desire to have the interstate
commerce commission arbitrarily fix all
rates. We stand exactly with President
Roosevelt and only want power given
the commission after & rate has been
challenged and found to be unreason-
able, to name one, have it go into erect
Immediately and remain in force until
reviewed by the courts
'+The railroads now can do as they
| please, as there is no power to enforce
the DEGREES of the commission. All we
ask is to have the power delegated that
congress failed to grant formerly. Either
give the commission that authority or
abolish the law entirely Give us this
just measure, stop rebates and similar
determinations, let all private car ship
ments cease and marked progress Will
I hax n settlement
vexed transportation.
Time to Call Halt.
7 am no alarmist, but it is time to call
/ halt. We are building up a class OF
individuals in our country by special
+ transportation facilities that menace
our free institutions.
No one can estimate the damage
wrought by the pernicious system Of
faVoritism. It and it alone enabled John
D. Rockefeller to successfully crush eV-
| ery competitor and establish the most
gigantic monopoly on earth. 1t is en-
| abIing every man who enjoys it to des-
/ troy his rivals and plunder the people.
| This man, with the railway magnates
/ together with the insurance scoundreIs
who have used the sacred funds entrust-
/ ed to their care, have cOrnered the mar
/ kets, and whether prices have gone up
or down have reaped rich harvest.
In the enforcement of the law rests
/ the safety of the nation. We have rea-
son to be encouraged, Indictments have
/ been returned against railroad On1cials
and shippers. Take courage. Our cause
| is Just, and we have a fearless leader IN
! Theodore Roosevelt and inspiration to
/ every man who loves fair play ana
wants a square deal. Let US do our duty
/ Is he is doing his, and we win have both
equality before the law and equality of
/ opportunity a heritage that is due every
American citizen"
Hoch Not Present
| Governor Hoch explained his absence
4 in the following: Il regret that con-
/ tinued illness rendered it unwise for me
/ to leave home to attend the great Wich-
ita meeting with the purposes OF con-
ventiOn to stop railroad rebates dis
/ ordinations and extOtrions, ] am in
hearty sympathy and viii do all I can
I personally and officially to help this
/ cause along. I send you copy of my
speech BY special delivery which you
may read if you wish.
Letter From NIurdock.
A letter was read from Congress
man Murdock outlining his views on
what was essential in a railroad
measure.
The bill I want to see passed
should include the following pro-
u. Giving power to the interstate
/ commerce commission to amend rate
! and make the amendment operative.
]
force uniformity in railroad books.
% That full access shall be given
inspectors to all railroad books and
/ accounts
a That in case of Injunction pro
| ceedings against the findings of the
commission the findings of the com
mission shall be prima facie evidence
before the courts of the facts
-. Providing for some revival with
in constitutional lines of the old long
and short haul principle.
ssIf congress will pass such bill the
/ railroads can be controlled and rate
/ discrimination prevented absolutely
William Allen White, who was un-
able to be present on account of the
death of his uncle at Colorado Springs.
was billed for a speech today. He has
a panacea and presents to the publc
/ Whites ready regulator OF the RAN
| road system"
In the following telegram to Chair
4 man Davidson: 81 suggest the fOrma-
/ ton a Kansas voters league 1ge the
4 Chicago voters league, pledge TO vote
4 fer men. not parties, and that the
/ league have representatives, IN every
! county to furnish information to state
/ ORGANIZATIONS covering the past record
I of all candidates for the legislature
I congress Judges. railroad commission
/ ers and that before primaries these
i records be published blood-raW ana
! that after nominations the party can
/ didafes be similarly diSsected under the
/ auspices of the league. / suggest this
organization be perfected as far as
possible through existing commercial
/ clubs of the state by having each club
I appoint local bipartisan committee
! of five to furnish politicians records
to the state committee.
The chairman announced that Mr.
Whites telegram and the executive
i committees report on organization
/ would be referred to the proper COM
mittees. After naming the committee
+ on resolutions, with w. R. Stubbs as
/ chairman, the convention adjourned
until o'clock.
Mr.. IlenrOOt's Speech.
/ The principal speech this afternoon
was that of I. L. LenroOt, speaker of
/ the Wisconsin house of representatives
/ a warm friend of Senator Lafollette and
] close TO his in his views on railway Y