Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-01-18
two designations R. R. REGULATION
The STATE OF Washington IS
ON RECORD In The MATTER.
a Resolution Passed by the Last
Legislature Clearing the Senti.
ment Of This State. Senator
Ankeny'S Reasons for Opposing
Such LEGISLATION.

| The fight for the regulation of the rail.
roads is now in earnest in the national
senate. There is no doubt as to how the
people OF this state stand on this cues.
tion. Regardless of party lines they
favor the policy OF regulation advocated
by President Roosevelt. Their attitude
was clearly expressed in Senate Joint
Resolution No. l, passed by the last
legislature, which reads:
Whereas, President Theodore Roose.
welt is making a praiseworthy effort to
induce the national congress to enlarge
and strengthen the powers OF the inter-
state commerce commission to the end
that railroads and other common car riers
may be brought under proper control,
and
"Whereas. The people of our state are
in hearty sympathy with the efforts OF
the president, therefore
"Resolved. By the senate, the house
concurring, that we earnstly urgue upon
our senators and congressman 20 assist
President Roosevelt in every legitimate
way in bringing about the desired legis-
lation y"
Senator Ankeny is not assisting the
president in his fight for railroad regula-
ton. On the contrary he is opposing
him and is endeavoring to misrepresent
the sentiments OF his constituents. He
gave out an interview last week in which
he is quoted as saying:
"You may read all of the cook books
on earth, and follow their suggestions,
the first thing to do in every instance is
to catch the rabbit. Without that the
receipt books cant teach you to make
hare pie.
This illustrates everything practical
in life, and in every walk OF life. 1t is
particularly applicable to the present
com motion concerning railroad rate legis.
lation. as concerns the people OF the
states west OF the Missouri river. In the
Dakotas. Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Washington and over all OF the hills and
valleys of the undeveloped empire our
people are more anxious to catch the
railroads than they are to cook them or
to roast tnem.''
Continuing he said that the people of
this state want more railroads, but that
"We can not expect them, however, if
we 60 at them hammer and toDgs. with
threats of all sorts.'
He then told how his great and good
friend, Jim Hill, once SAID to him that
when the people furnished more freight
they would get better rates. lie said
that he gave the message to the people,
they furnished more freight and were
granted l,wer rates by the railroads.
The purpose OF this interview cannot
be misunderstood. Senator Ankeny is
trying to help the railroads in their fight
against the presidents policy. He is
deaf to the voice of his constituents, bnt
consistent in loyalty to the railroads, to
whom he owes his election rs senator.
Washington is not surprised at his
attitude. 1t is in line with his past re.
cord. He was the railroad candidate tor
senator and has always used his influence
against effective railroad legislation in
this state. He opposed the railroad COM
mission on the same grounds that he
opposes Roosevelt's policy. His loyalty
to the interests which secured his elec.
ton as senator was to be expected.
But he has no right to misrepresent
the attitude of his constituents. He has
no right to give out the impression that
the people OF this state are opposed to
railroad regulation. He has no right to
assert that lower freight rates in Wash.
ington were granted voluntarily by the
railroads and that nothing has been gain.
ed by the long and hard fight made by
the shippers.
Unless Mr.. Ankeny is deaf, he must
have heard the demands of his consti-
tuents. Ii he. is deaf, the people adj
vises him to read Senate Joint Resolu.
tion No. /.
While his attitude must be CALLING and
humliating to the Roosevelt republicans
of this county they have only themselves
to blame. BY their votes they helped to
tmake his election possible, with the full
knowlenge that he was railroad SYM
pathizer; wearing the railroad collar
and supported by the railroad lobby.
They were deaf to all appeals and can.