The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-02
ANSWERS EN-
Tells What He Thinks of Demands OF
Square Deal Republicans.

u
( inquisitors. He expresses the opinion
that it is proper for a man who is a
candidate for public Office to state his
views on questions Of particular mo-
ment in the campaign.
He answers favorably all of the
questions contained in the square deal
petition with the exception of the two
cent fare proposition.
| Following is Mr. Bristow's letter:
SaIina, kas., July 81. 1905.
! Mr.. James A. Troutman, Topeka, Kas.:
Ny Dear Sir have yours of the
/ 21st requesting my views on certain
( questions. IN reply [ beg to state that
L feel that it Is perfectly proper for
man who asplreS to an office OF public
trust to be willing to state his opinions
on questions Of interest to the people
he seeks to serve. am pleased.
therefore, to give you my views on the
questions submitted.
First am in favor of a law re-
curing all parties to nominate officers
from United States senator down to
township trustee" by a primary cleo
ton, the primaries to be held on the
same day throughout the state and to
be subject to as rigid regulations as
the general November election with
the same penalties for the violation of
the law or fraud in connection there
with. I wish to state, however, that
in my judgment it is essential to the
successful operation of such primary
law that there be a provision for an
expression of second choice on the
ballot. A primary system by which
minority of first choice votes nomi-
mates can be manipulated as success
fully by those skilled in political ma
neuvers as can a county convention.
To illustrate, a number of candi-
dates can be brought out in the vicin-
ity where a prominent candidate may
be specially strong so as to reduce the
vote of that candidate and in this way
some other candidate might secure a
larger total number of votes than he
and be nominated though he may not
receive more than Is per cent. of the
votes cast. This danger can be obvi-
ated by an expression Of second choice
as outlined in the plan suggested by
Senator La Toilette as an amendment
to the Wisconsin law, whereby every
voter is required to express a FIRST and
second choice and in counting the
votes where there are a number Of
candidates the candidate having the
lowest number first choice votes IS
dropped and the second choice votes
of those who voted for him are added
to the first choice votes of the other
candidates and so on until a choice is
secured. This plan would secure as
nearly as possible the expression of the
choice of the people and primaries un-
der such a system would be infinitely
better than the convention system un-
der which we now nominate our can
didates.
Second-I am in favor of taxing rail-
roads upon the same basis as other
property and believe that a commission
should be provided for ascertaining the
actual value of the railroad property of
the state such valuation to be made the
basis for taxation and for the fixing of
/ freight and passenger rates. I am in
favor of an anti-pass law though I be-
4 lieve that d good primary election law
/ will remove large part of the evil which
1 now comes from the pass system. Rail
road passes, however, are an insidious
4 source of evil and the present system
should be completely broken up.
Third am not ready to state that
| would favor tWo-cent per mile rate for
/ passenger service in Kansas. The PEG
/ pie of our state are paying freight rates
far more excessive than they are pas
! senger rates. To illustrate. the rate on
wheat from Salina to Kansas City.
/ distance of 185 miles. is Is cents per
/ hundred pounds. while the rate from
Kansas City to Chicago. g distance Of
/ nearly 500 miles. is only eight cents per
/ hundred pounds. The export rate from
/ Salina to Galveston is 261s cents per
hundred while the expert rate from
. Kansas City to Galveston is only z11
! cents per hundred pounds Wheat shin
| ped from Salina to Galveston does not
go to Kansas City but directly south
! to Galveston and the distance is not as
! far as it is from Kansas City to Calves
ton. The wheat producers Of central
Kansas are therefore required to pay
! the freight from Salina to Kansas C,itv
though the service is never performed
1 The rates from Kansas City to Chicago
and Galveston frequently change. rang
ing, to Chicago, from ~ to 121z cents
! and to Galveston from 1115 to Is cents
/ but from Salina to Kansas City it re-
mains the same Is cents per hundred
The railroads claim that Kansas City
/ is basing point where trainloads of
! grain can be assembled and shipped but
/ there is about three times as much
wheat produced within a radius of fifty
miles of Salina as there Is within a
radius of fifty miles Of Kansas CITY
Why not, therefore, make Salina an as
sembling point as well as Kansas City
! and also Hutchinson, Wichita Newton
Concordia and other points in the great
wheat producing region where there are
railroad facilities south and east?
This wheat rate is simply an illustra-
| ton The same determinations and ex-
| cesses exist on almost every conmod-
ity that is shipped into Kansas and ev-
cry product that is shipped out.
It is, therefore, of greater Importance
that equitable freight rates be first Sc
cured. Every human being consumes
commodities such as sugar, cOnee, can
ned goods. dry goods and clothing and
almost the entire wealth of our state
comes from the production Of her farms.
The number of people, therefore. who
are imposed upon by excessive fr- -ght
rates is much larger than those who
pay passenger rates. Kansas is suffer
ing great injustice under the present
freight rate schedules and the correc-
ton of these wrongs should secure the
first attention of her public men.
In considering passenger rates We
should also consider the service that is
required for the convenience of the peo-
pie and the rates should not be reduced
to a point that would impair the eff
cheney of the service. However. If after
an investigation It should appear that
cents per mile is excessive then, OF
course. the rates should be reduced, but
I have not sufficient detailed informa-
ton to offer an opinion as to whether
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