Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-11
FREIGHT RATE CONVENTION
Kansas Perfests Permanent Organization at
heeting Held in Wichita.
EX-GOVERNOR VAN SAINT MAKES SPEECH
He, with Governor Hoch, Says that
Commercial Life of Nation
Depends Upon Equitable
Railroad Charges.
EX-GOVERNOR VAN SAINT MAKES sPEECl

WICHITA, Kan, Jan. l0-A freight rate
mass convention made up of 800 delegates
representing commercial and farmers or
ganzations from all parts of Kansas was
held here today A permanent organize
ton for the purpose of pushing railway
rate legislation was perfected and resolu-
tons were adopted urging congress to give
railway rate commission power to con-
troll railroad rates. 1t also was decided to
perfect organizations in every county in the
state and to follow in the footsteps of Wis
consin in securing state bill to control
corporations. The convention was strictly
nonpartisan.
]. l.. Bristow of Salina, Kan, formerly
fourth assistant postmaster general. was
made permanent chairman. Speeches were
made by Chairman Bristow, s. r. Van
SAINT, former governor of Minnesota; ]. l..
Lenroot speaker of the Wisconsin house of
representatives; Governor L. w. Hoch of
Kansas and others.
Address by Van SAINT.
Ex-Governor Van SAINT was the first
speaker.
The eyes of the nation are turned toward
Kansas and the people of America are
deeply interested in your struggle of self
preservation l am with you in your fight
with the Standard OIL company and its
powerful head, John d. Rockefeller. DO
you know the power of corporate wealth ?
Do you fully realize the vast influence 1t
welds? Have you paused to consider how
mercilessly 1t Furnishes those who stand In
its way and oppose its will and how 1t
villifies, abuses and misrepresents every
man who does not cringe before it? III
any one of you is public official and has
had the temerity to do his sworn duty, are
you aware that you are the special object
pof its vengeance, and that every effort will
be made to crush you!
Money Is rapidly becoming all powerful
The W WALTZ OF aeh enemS is
than that of any man who ever lived IN
the tide of times.
You can win this fight If you are deter
mined. You have the power in your own
hands In our country the people rule.
No man should go TO congress or SIT IN
legislative bodies who does not vote right
on questions affecting the welfare of the
state. Not only hold meetings, but attend
honest and efficient men are chosen 70
represent you, Afterwards go TO the poils
and vote. DO your utmost 10 eliminate the
wardheeler, the caucus manipulation ana
the party boss; delegate to the rear the
man with a political pull and let efficiency
be the only test for public office ,..,.
election laws giving the people an oppor-
tunity to nominate United States senators
as well as all other officials by direct priin-
aries.
As to Transportation.
AS to the transportation question, II
affects every man. woman ana chll9 III
the nation. one OF the ulIlCultles III oSt
ing with 1t is the unfairness of the rail-
roads 1t is not true. as they persistently
state, that the friends of rate regulation
desire to have the Interstate Commerce
commission arbitrarily fix all rates we
stand exactly with President Roosevelt ana
only want power given the eommission;
after a rate has been challenged and round
to be unreasonable, to name one, have II
go into effect Immediately and remain In
force until review by the courts.
The railroads now can do as they please
as there is no power to enforce the de-
crees of the commission. All we ask Is to
have the power decreed that congress failed
to grant formerly. Either give the COM
mission that authority or abolish the
commission entirely, Give us just meas
ure stop rebates and similar discrimina-
tons. let all private car shipments cease
and marked progress Will have been MADE
in the settlement of the vexed transporta-
ton question.
/ am not an alarmist, but 1t is time to
call a halt We are building you up a
class of individuals in our country by spe-
cial transportation privileges that menace
our free institutions. No one can estimate
the damage wrought by the pernicious sys-
tenn of favori.ism. Ut. and 1t alone, falls
TO John d. Rockefeller to crush every COM