The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-30


remained unacted upon in the senate
until after his death and though urged
by his successor. President Roosevelt,
were allowed to die and the two year
tion of such treaties expired, and the
executive has had no authority since
that time to negotiate reciprocal
treaties, though foreign nations have
been anxious over and over again TO
establish fairer trade relations and 70
take greater quantities Of the products
of agriculture.
An Act of Bad Faith.
This was an amazing act of bad faith
on the part of the Republican represen-
tatives in the senate. The industries
obtaining these special privileges have
thus obtained 20 per cent more than was
considered they were entitled to by their
friends and now scream louder than
ever if any effort is made to reduce, in
the interest of agriculture, any of this
nlgotten advantage.
The late Republican convention of
Kansas says that the consideration OF
the protective tariff has resolved itself
merely into a controversy between the
revisionists and the standpatters. This
representative body Of the Republicans
of the state seems to have been unable
to form or express any opinion for IT.
self on this subject We do not know
whether they are on the side OF the
revisionists or of the stand -patters. The
convention was probably held too early
for them to have received their orders.
While the overwhelming sentiment or
the state regardless of party lines, as
sert, is undoubtedly IN favor of re-
vision of the tariff and of an amend
ment of our foreign relations in ac-
cord with the utterance of President
Mckinley. The representatives OF the
party have said over and over that
the tariff must be revised by its friends
and yet with every opportunity, with
conditions most favorable. they still
-+es-- -r.e11%T n
that end The bloated benefciaries now
threaten the nation with panic ana
disaster if the matter is even so much
as discussed, while in the meantime our
agricultural exports are gradually d.
minishing and foreign alliances are be
ing made which viii practically end in
an absolute exclusion of the enormous
surplus which we must send abroad.
Foreigners Pay Less.
Our foreign trade, it is true, in man
ufactured products, has increased by
virtue of the bulWark which has been
erected and which excludes all com
petition in the domestic market; We at
home are forced to pay higher prices
than these beneflciaries of our conSid-
GRAFTON are selling their manufactures
to the rest of the world This fact is
ind1sputable and has been demon
strated over and over
| invite the attention of all honest,
patriotic citizens TO this grave injustice
! C--~-A~
privilege
We have right to be proud of the
magnificent extent and efficiency of our
modern public highways and we claim
to be the friends of the people whose
money has built this magnificent in
strum entality, when we advocate great
er honesty in the operation of the
roads, greater consideration for the
general welfare and an honest observ-
ance of laws made for their regulation
and control. The public highways be-
long to the nation and while their
operation is permitted to corporations.
It must be done with the distinct un-
derstanding that they are allowed to
exist for the service of the public and.
while they are entitled to Just ana
reasonable compensation. they must
regard their service to the public s
first in Importance. It is notorious
fact that the law against rebates has
been violated from one end of the
country to the other. in spite of the
denials of prominent managers their
Investigation has demonstrated that
they have permitted themselv to be
the servants and tools of other corpor-
ations. seeking to monopolize certain
fields of industry. Rebating and graft
even in the most magnificent trans
portation companies has proven to be
rife and general The stockholders
interest has been lost sight of and as
Charles Francis Adams once said. the
dif7culties under which railroads labor
in their relations to the public are
largely attributive to "thick headed
presidents and smart superintendents
Would Punish Both Parties.
| should favor legislation which would
not only make the carriers giving re-
bates and accepting graft punishable
by fine and imprisonment but that the
dishonest benefciaries of rebates and
the distributors of graft should be
equally amena BILE to law. I have always
favored an abolition of free transporta-
ton It is a method Of favoritism and
special privilege that invariably WORKS
10 the injury of the honest investor and
the public. 1t is an efficient method OF
hacking. conventions and of filing the
Hobbies of legislature with the tools and
servants of selfish and meddlesome cor
porations. Our board OF railroad COM
nissioners should insist upon proper
enforcement of all provisions of the
law against rebates and all manner of
determinations and before additional
legislation may be needed the legisla-
ture should respond at once in enact
{ am highly gratffied and pleased by
the reference of the platform to the old
soldiers and sailors of the Republic
These men were willing to give their
lives if need be in order to maintain
the Union. and it has always been a
source of pride and pleasure to me to
be able to assist in any direction the
securing of proper recognition and
consideration for such men,
Prohibition, Of course. has taken an
active place in all of our political cam
paigns. and while the Democratic party
has not favored this method of meet
ing the evil with which We contend,
vet 1t is the law, and the parleying
and perversion upon this subject re-
ollires that it should receive special
mention With an honest reverence
for all law this would not be necessary.
No patriotic citizen or honest official
can separate one law from others for
his recognition and acceptance; as long
az 1t is the law it must be treated with
the reverence attaching to all law, and
faithful observance and an honest
discharge Of duty requires the same
efficiency and zeal in enforcing this as
all other laws. You charge. and justly
charge, our opponents with accepting
favors and campaign contributions Of
the lawbreakers with that gratitude
,s.hich is a lively sense OF favors to