The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1906-05-17
FROM TOM McNEAL
Mail & Breeze Editors Ideas on Dem.
ocratic Nominee for Governor.

Mail & Breeze Editors Ideas on Dem.
ocratic Nominee for Governor.
The Democrats are going to make as
much capital as possible ont Of the plankt
in their platform declaring In favor Of Z
2-cent fare and the abolshment Of passes.
They will try to rally the people round
about Senator Harris as the leader OF
these reforms. We will venture the as
sertion right now that nearly or quite a.
large proportion Of the delegates to the
Democratic convention was riding on
passes as OF the delegates to the Repub-
lIcan convention. One Of the delegates
from the western part Of the state q
former PspuIlst, called on us the day be-
fore the convention. He frankly con-
feEsd that he yas riding on pass, as
were the rest Of the delegates from bis
section Of the state. he said that he
hardly thought 1t was right to ride on
passes, but that as oil the rest Of the del
egates were riding that way he conclud.
cd that he might as well have the same
privilege. So far az Senator Harris is
concerned, he has record on the subject
Of fares and passes. He was member
Of the last Popullst senate and chairman
Of the committee on railroads. As chair.
man ofthat committee he reported against
bill abollshing passes. he reported
against a bill reducing the passenger
fares. He reported against bill redus-
Ing the rates on sleeping cars, which
everybody knows are unreasonable and
extortIonate. He was one Of the leaders
in the opposition to the maximum rate
bill which passed the lower house and
supported the bill which the Populists
declared had been written by q railroad
attorney, the Hon. Baltic Waggener, and
which was vetoed by Governor Leedy on
the ground that 1t would not afford the
relief demanded and promised. All
these adverse reports we're made by Col
opel Harris as chairman Of the railroad
committee after he had been elected TO
the United States senate. II will be
remembered that be was elected Ct the
beginning Of the Legislative session, but
did not have to 20 to Washington to DO
sworn In until the fourth Of March, or
Just al the close Of the legislative session.
We remember well that some Of the Pop
ulIst leaders were exceedingly bitter at
Senator Harris. They did moi hesitate to
call him q traitor to bis party and say that
be was the tool Of the railroads. We
think their criticisms were unjust We
believe that Colonel Harris was honest Ia
bis opposition to the radical Popullss
's,sasures. We arc willing to conceds
that be was honest In oppoaing the max.
mum rate bill and the Accent fare bill
and the antipass bill, though we de- not
now knew what bic rsasons wsre for his
opposition to these measures; but Of one
thing shers Ii 4 reasonable certainly: |
The failure 10 enact railroad law that
session was responsible more than any
one other thing FOR the breaking up Of
The Pop party, II never rallied from
The blow and Senator Harris was largely |
responsible for u demise. Maybe he'll
entitled to thanks for shat action. Wsl
Ire nos discussing that question now.
We are just referring % little recorded
history. II would occur % n, however,
that the old.tIne Populist, whose soul
was whipped up 10 The hepe shat his
party would bring about the longsd-ior
reforms, AZ ~ fingers by the grave q his
leys md remembers how ssna.
s. I<HI q t' tzlf'f n