The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-17
LoNG ~ - FOII.E1,rE

lItt&4E On Ia FdDtIAllr
Some good friend Of Senator chester
I. Lonesome one in whose wisdom he
has conhdence-ought to take him apart
and tell him something Of the situation
In Kansas. It Is evident that he does
not realize it.
The trouble with Senator Long is that
he views Kansas from a Washington
standpoint instead Of viewing Washing
ton from Kansas standpoint. He IS
out Of harmony with the people whom
he is supposed to represent He has
become too much imbued with the COM
promising, eonciIiatory spirit that bows
before the shrine OF Aldrich ana asks
the Rhode Island boss to please let con-
gress do something. and If what con-
gress proposes to do doesn't suit Aid
rich, it is fixed up to meet his ap-
prevail.
This is said in all kindness towards
Senator Long When the senior sena-
tor was in the lower house Of congress
this paper was among his most ardent
admirers. Longs great fight for Cuban
reciprocity during his last term in the
lower house won for him the respect
and confidence OF the people of Kansas,
and great things We're expected of him
when he went to the senate. But If he
expects to represent the people Of kan
sas lie must have the Kansas spirit and
understand what Kansas wants. At
present he either MISUNDERSTANDING or else
he IS assuring the attitude that Con-
gresham Miller did last spring on the
statehood bill when he said he knew
better what the people of the Fourth
district wanted than they did them
selves.
But II Senator Long has misunder-
stood the attitude Of the people Of Kan
sss. the comments OF the Kansas press.
backed by the temper exhibited by the
audience that faced him last night
ought to get him right. For when Mr.
Long switched his address last night
from a speech in the interest of the Re
publican ticket to defense Of himself
and an attack on Senator La Toilette
the very atmosphere became oppressive
with opposition to the speaker.
The people Of Kansas had sufficient
confidence IN Senator Long that had he
explained his vote against the La Fol-
lette amendments on the ground that
while they were good ideas and were
what the Interstate Commerce COM
mission wantd, their incorporate in
mission wanted, their incorporation in.
the bill might have defeated the entire
measure. and that he deemed it wiser to
secure them after the original bill was
passed-had Senator Long made this
sort Of an explanation the people OF
Kansas would have been satisfied with
his course.
But instead OF that he has become 50
| imbued with the Washington idea that
La Toilette is a dangerous man and
must be ppressed-hazed-that he de-
nounces the Wisconsin senator as
falzir and intimates that he is making
his fight against the big corporate in
terests simply for the money there. is in
| it for him as lecturer.
Then Mr.. Long proceeds to prove La
Follette's case for him. The La Fol-
lette amendments, he says, would
amount to government management or
control. Well, that is exactly whae the
people supposed they were getting in
the Hepburn bill, but which La Toilette
says they are not getting in its present
form. Senator Long indicates that La
Toilette is right. Mr.. Long says he
favors government regulation and not
government management or control.
But regulation that regulates means
! government control, so far as freight
rates are concerned. and anything less
will not settle the freight rate problem.
If we have got regulation that does not
regulate, it is evident that the Hepburn
act is a gold brick. as La Toilette in
Inmates.
In defending his action in voting
against La Follette's proposition to
give the Interstate Commerce COM
mission power to determine the value
of the railways. Senator Long stated
that freight rates are not fixed on the
| cost of service but on the value Of the