Mexico Missouri message., 1906-10-18
Replies to Gen. HadIey.
Shows That Republican Member Of
Board is Responsible for Fall
uFe 10 Reduce Railroad
Rates.
PRESENTS The RECORDS OF CAN
DIDATE FLENTGE and TIE
PRESENT REPUBLICAN MEM
Der OF TIE BOARD.

TROY, MO-, Oct. 16.-Railroad and
Warehouse Commissioner Jonn A.
Knott addressed the voters OF TINS
CITY tonight at the opera House, TAX
ing as his theme "State Regulation
of Railroads" He spoke, in part as
follows: ,
MIR. KNOTT'S ADDRESS.
You have heard that the Democratic
marty is all split up the back, divided
into hostile, warning factions ana thaC
inevitable defeat awaits the Demo
cratic ticket in this state next month";
If YOU have not heard this, then
YOU have not read the Globe-Democrat.
It's editorial page teens with that
sort of stuff day after day.
Governor Folk and Senator stone
nave been designated by the st. LOUIS
Republican organ as the leaders OF
these alleged warning factions, anu
vet they sat side by side at the great
BRYAN meeting in Kansas City, spoke
from the same platform and eacn
declared that the only rivalry De-
tween them was which would be able
to do the most in putting Missouri
back into the Democratic column next
month-and back to stay.
Governor Folk, than whom no state
ever had a stronger or Drawer CHIEF
executive. is travelling about this state
now. speaking day and night in the
interest of his party, rallying the for
ces of Democracy-doing everything
in his power to bring success to every
Democratic candidate, state, district,
county and township.
And Senator Stone, the peer OF any
man occupying seat in the greatest
legislative body on earth, always a
friend of the people and always dread
ed by the foes of Democracy, is rails
ing his voice throughout the common
wealth in defense of his party-the
party that has made Missouri great.
The scheme of the Globe-Democrat
to factionize the Democratic party
in Missouri has failed. 1t has worked
overtime to accomplish its end-but
the purpose was too apparent-eYen
to blind Democrats.
I come to you tonight, my friends
with tidings of great joy. l have
travelled over the state considerably
during the past few months and have
met and talked with Democrats from
almost every county, and l am OF
the honest opinion that the party
never was, in it's long history, in bet
ter fighting shape. You may think
me optimistic but it is my judgment
that the Democratic state nominees
. will receive at least $4,000 more votes,
than the Republican state nominees.
Democrats are aroused and the
$4,000 who remained away from the
polls two years ago-are now the
most anxious to repair the damage
done. Don't you find that the case
in your own county?
My friends | am not going into
general discussion of either state or
national issues. am here to deliver
a special message and l fear l will
tire your patience with that. But 1
ask you to hear me-both Republi-
cans and Democrats-for 1t is a mat
ter that vitality concerns you.
There is no question of greater i'm
portance to the people of this state
than the regulation of railroads.
This has been attempted by the
United States government in the
matter of interstate traffic. do
not believe that the bill pass
ed by the last congress will give
the relief its friends claim for it.
nothing short Of giving the commits
sion power to make rates and enforce
them until reversed by the courts will
even approach solution of the pro-
blem in my opinion.
Sen. Dickinson introduced a bill
in the last Missouri legislature seek
ing to strengthen the State Commits
sion by incorporating a provision of
that kind, but it was introduced late
in the session and was not reached.
Under the present statutes the COM
mission is compelled to go into court
to enforce it's orders II resisted by
the railroads. This should be rever-
sed--the railroads should be compel
led to obey the orders of the commits
sion until the courts declare them UNI
just II Is no greater hardship on the
railroads TO submit than it is for the
people to await the slow process of
the courts for relief
Take for instance the stock pass
law. The commission passed on that
matter. year or more ago. The
Supreme Court has not yet reached II
and IN the meantime, the people are
paying the bills. | believe that the
law and the decision Of the commits
sion will be sustained, but the rail-
roads are collecting the tolls and viii
continue to do so until the decision
Is handed down
Under the present statutes the rail.
roada can wear tho people out IA the
courts