The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-25
FOR LOW CATTLE RATES
secret Meeting Is being Held in Kan
sas City, Mo.

Kansas City. Mo, July 25.-A secret
meeting of about twenty-five promi-
nent representatives of the Western
Cattlemen's association is in session
at the Baltimore hoJei. Unauthor-
lied intimations are given out that a
fight is being planned against existing
( live stock railroad freight rates.
The meeting began on Monday and
Will probably be continued for two
days more. Cattlemen from Kansas,
Nebraska. Colorado, Indian Territory
Oklahoma and Texas are in attend
ance S. H. Cowan, of Fort Worth,
Tex, the attorney for the association,
is among those here Carr Taylor, at
torney for the board of railroad COM
missioners Of Kansas, was also in the
city yesterday and had a long con-
ference with Mr.. Cowan.
It is said that a complaint is to be
filed before the interstate commerce
commission. Mr.. Cowan was asked
about that and he replied:
I We have not SO far decided to do
What is being done ,"
THAT cannot say" he replied
'eThere is absolutely nothing that I
am at liberty to divulge at this time
I do not know that I can give out any
thing at all by the time our meeting
Is over, which may yet last COUPE
of days Further than that, none of
the cattlemen in the meeting can give
out anything. None of them will do
so"
Are you considering freight rates
on live stock? Is not that the purpose
of your meeting % was asked.
i cannot say what the purpose isl
he replied. But we are considering
rates some. of course
What is your complaint against
the rates?"
81 have not a single word to saw.
q ms he
again into the room. in which were
/ seated some twenty or more big
/ bronzed men, in shirt sleeves and
| clouds Of tobacco smoke.
number of those at the meeting
were asked about what was being done
! But MI Cowan's statement that they
would not cough up anything held
good. We are not at liberty to talk -
was their general answer.
Carr Taylor says that he is in the
dark as to what is going on
But you had long conference with
Mr.. Cowan. was pointed out.
Yes, [ did, he replied. But Cowan
! told me that his association was doing
nothing in which was concerned.
The Kansas railroad board attorney
was steadfast in his denial that he was
possessed of any information on the
matter. Honest, now he said It
don't know a thing about it. You know.
i Mr.. Cowan is associated with me to
make the cattle freight rate fight gen
eral in Kansas We talked about that .
Upon the fourth floor of the Balti-
more, J. r. Koontz. general freight
agent of the Atchison. Topeka. & Santa
/ Fe railroad was meeting with num-
Der Of his rate men yesterday, checking
up things
He was apprised Of the cattlenen's
meeting, and showed considerable in
terest at once. But he could throw no
light on the possible proceedings.
There is at the present time a gem
4 I'M
i Colorado Indian Territory and Texas.
according to Carr Taylor. against the
existing freight rates. He says that
4 the cattlemen do not think the rates
/ have been sufficiently reduced The con
ditions are by him described as similar
to those In Kansas, against which a
fight is now being waged. Mr.. TAYLOR
points out that in Kansas bigger
freight charge is now being made to
haul cattle than there was a number
of years ago. with the Increased ship
ping facilities ard the greater amount
Of business" he says, there is no ne
cessity for this The complaint of the
Western Cattlemen's association in
these different states IS of the same or
De-