The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-11

have talked so much. I believe that
i Roosevelt is in sympathy with the
/ tariff revision idea.
In fact there is a good deal of De
mocracy permeating through the ranks
+ of the Republican party. The people
are finding out that Democracy repre-
i sents the modern ideas. w r. Stubs,
one of the biggest men in the Republi-
+ can party, has shown himself to be in
/ sympathy with tariff revision
His Railroad Record.
tSome of the newspapers out here
! have printed my record in the state
+ senate, continued Senator Harris.
They have endeavOred to show that
+ opposed a great many bills directed at
/ the railroads / have not examined into
/ these criticisms to any extent and don't
4 know whether or not they are founded
on the records. But have observed
that they viii not say anything about
the part which I took in the fight for
4 the passage of the anti-Dass bill while
/ was in the senate. This bill was
+ introduced and faVorably reported by
my committee. made a hard fight for
1t on the floor of the senate, but it was
+ beaten. I am now and always have
been opposed to the free pass. I be-
lieve # is as much Of an evil as free
! postage stamps to certain government
faVOrites would be. For the railroad
j companies are public servants, and
therefore to a certain extent govern
ment institutions. believe IN iequita-
/ Bile laws for the regulations of rail-
roads and I believe that the govern
ment has the right to control the roads.
/ think that many railroads are in
! favor of equitable government Superyis-
1 ion. and the abolition of free passes.
! Railroads are often put III a hostile re-
4 lation with the public by stupid Off
+ Gals Somebody has said that most
+ OF the trouble Of railroad companies are
/ due to thick-headed presidents and hot
/ headed superintendents, and I believe
/ that is true
Believes in Law Enforcement.
If it should happen that I should
! be chosen to occupy the office of COVER
nor OF the state of Kansas, L would
insist upon this one thing above all
/ others; that laws should be enforced
absolutely and impartially as between
i different kinds of malefactOrs- I care
4 not whether it is a railroad company
/ or rum-seller, the laws should be
/ enforced That is platform upon
which every citizen Of the state can
stand, with absolute assurance. It is
an impregnable position.
j want to see the assessment and
taxation laws equitably enforced. A
man who pays on his farm or his
bunch of cattle should pay on the
same scale as the man who Oa-ns 4
/ railroad Notice this about tho rgi]-
road companies: when Il comes to as
sessment, they contend that their line
! is all run down. and Is worth but
a few thousand dollars a mile. But
when the state talks about reducing
! the freight and passenger rates, the
railroads contend that If rates are re-
duced they could not pay the interest
on the bonds and stock which repre-
sent the value of the property.
What this state needs is not more
law, but a better enforcement of the
laws which we already have. I think
the next legislature viii do the best
service for the state If it contents
itself with a few new laws. and dexotes
most of It's energy to perfectina the
operation Of laws already on the stat
ute books. 7 believe that the assess
ment law is all right. but It needs to be
better enforced.