The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-12
RAPS BELL COMPANY.
Independent Meeting Passes ResoIu-
tions About Competitor.

The business meeting of the indie
pendent Telephone companies of the
state is being held behind closed doors
today, or at any rate man is kept at
each entrance who closely inspects ev-
! cry one who enters for fear that he
| may be spy from the camp of the
rival company. The fact that this feel
ing exists was demonstrated at the
meeting yesterday when L. Harper,
representative of the Western Electric
company, was excluded from the room
where the meeting was being held.
1T is claimed that this company is
one of the manufacturing concerns own
ed by the Bell Telephone company
they have been hostile to our organiza-
ton since it's inception and we do not
care for a further acquaintance with
their representatives. However, Mr.
meeting as has been stated for he with
drew when the discussion came up and
as far as he is concerned no reflection
was intended as he has conducted him
self in a gentlemanly way at all times.
I'VE could not purchase supplies from
the Western Electric company when
we needed them and it has been only
few months since they seemed to
care for our business and now we do
not need them. We look upon the COM
pany as a competitor just as we do on
the Bell Telephone company for We
feel that if it is not owned by that
company
"Our outlook was never SO bright
as it is at the present time and dur
ing the past year We have added near
ly fifty exchanges to our association
and have not lost one which is re-
markable record. The Independent
service is growing everywhere and we
will have cur own connection with
the west as soon as the exchange or
the Independent company in Denver
is completed. AS it is now We are in
fine shape to handle Independent bust
ness to Colorado and intermediate
points. as* 4
There are over two hundred INDIE
pendent companies doing business in
capital owned by more than $4,000 |
Kansas investors. Nearly every ex-
change in the state is due to local
capital from half a dozen to so men in
each community owning the local ex-d
change. None of the money invested /
in Independent plants sina Kansas be-
longs to eastern capitalists l
Among other matters discussed at /
the meeting today is the installation |
of a uniform system of bookkeeping |
for as the matter stands at the pres |
ent time every local exchange has its |
own system and this hampers check |
ing up accounts when toll line charges |
are to be considered.
The following resolution introduced |
at the meeting this afternoon indi- !
Gates in a measure the feeling which |
exists between the Independent dele |
gates and the Bell Telephone company: |
Whereas, This convention has been |
I endered the free use of tho toll line of |
I he Bell com any while we are meeting /
in the city, and
whereas The Independent toll lines |
now thoroughly cover territory much |
"A reer than the territory covered by the |
BeD lives. and
whereas. This generosity on the part
of the Eel company is thought to be !
intended to influence this convention to |
act favora bly, on their apoHeatfon for |
r11eiras4e rship which we understand they |
are about to file.
Therefore be II resolved. That mas |
much rs in former years before the
toll lines We're DEVELOPED |
when sucH generosity on the part of |
the Bell company would have been OF |
real value to US and was not rendered |
that we do not avail ourselves OF their |
generosity on this late day.
The election OF officers for the ensuing
wear will not he reached until late this |
evening and this will bring to close |
the most successful meeting in the his !
tory of the Independent Telephone as i
ISOLATION Arrangements have been
made for an elegant spread at the |
Throop hotel this evening.