Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-05-02

fend their every right and redress their every
| wrong. Yet. we cannot shut our eyes to
plain facts nor submit to the rule of the state
| and nation by railroad influence.
We therefore demand of the board of rail-
road com missioners an honest and earnest
enforcement of all provisions of existing laws
against rebates and all manner of discrimi-
| nations; and Of the legislature intelligent,
fair supplementary legislation to the end
| that both the railroads and the public may
have Justice.
OF all the evils of railroad discrimination
| none is SO insiduous. SO constant and so pow
erful for evil as the free and complimentary
pass 1t muzzles the press silences discus
sion. STILES and perverts legislation. corrupts
justice, dominates and directs public conven-
! tional opinion. determines business and social
success. and in great measure controls pub
lie affairs. In principle it is as unjust as un-
equal taxation and in practice much more
unjust and it is affiliated with every other
economic evil of the age. 1t is estimated
that more than one third of the passenger
mileage upon railroads III Kansas is now free.
so that at the rate OF cents per mile the rail-
roads now realize upon their total mileage
less than cents per mile. We therefore de-
mand the immediate abolition of the free
pass and all other like devices. and the es-
tablishment of passenger rate of cents per
mile for adults. with proportionate reduc-
tions for children. as now.
The action of the convention
not only meets with the hearty en-
dorsement of the democratic party
but what remains of the populist
party approves it and there is no
likelihood Of a Populist ticket.
The independent voter also finds
an opportunity presented to vote
for better state government.
Republican politicians admit
that the ticket is a good one but
they rely on the natural republican
majority to pull the present miser-
able administration through.
Senator Harris has served two
years as congressman at large, four
years in the state senate and six
years in the United States senate.
During his entire official career his
record has been spotless and his
every deed has been on the side
Of the people, SO that he stands to-
day in the eyes of all the people,
regardless of party prejudice, pre-
emniently the most honored and
trusted public man in the state.
When he retired from the U. S.
senate he was promised a place on
the Panama canal commission by
the national administration. He
sold his farm and effects at Lin
wood preparatory to assume his
new duties but on account of base
duplicity SO common to present
day gutter politics the promise was
broken. Mr.. Harris's qualifications
for the place were excellent. He
is civil engineer of national rep
utation and a man we'll versed in
public affairs and this was the rea-
son given by the president for Sc
lecting him. But at the last mo-
ment the ever alert politicians ap-
peared on the scene of action and
for political reasons did not want
such an honest and able man as
Mr.. Harris on the commission and
to their will the appointing power
bowed.
1t is now ub to the people of
Kansas to say whether or not they
want such a man in the governor S
chair.
SHOT In THE HAND.