The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-29
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Square Deal Movement Seems
Strong in West.
Senator Brewer Seems to Be
Without Constituency.
RAILROADS CHAFING.
Don't Like Provisions Of Their
New Law.
Bale Waggener Talks Situation
Over With HOch.

| central portions of the state, the
! Square Deal sentiment is getting
strong hold in those quarters, and the
people are waiting for an opportunity
! to rebuke the action of the senate
/ lodge" at the last session of the legis-
| Iature.
| OF course the majority of the poll
| ticians of the state are inclined to
deprecate the Square Deal strength,
and say that while people are in favor
! of square deal principles, and honest
officials, they are not in favor of the
Square Deal movement, because they
believe it is in the interests of
clique of self-seeking politicians.
One of the best known politicians in
the state, and friend of the square
deal idea, who was in Topeka few
days ago, after a visit of several days
in Dickinson county, said:
II was amazed to find the strength
of the Square Deal sentiment in that
county. There is going to be a great
overturning of the old gang at the
next election. The condition of Sem
ator ]. E. Brewer is really pitiful. 1t
seems as though he has no following
| at all. The people in the country are
simply waiting for a chance to take
crack at him, and if he ever runs for
reelection he will be showed under.
Brewers record IN the senate was eli
tirely too satisfactory to the railroads
to be satisfactory to the people
There is not much talk about the
possible candidates for governor, but
the sentiment is for a man represent
ing the square deal issues,
1T is generally reported in the
Sixth district that 1. d. Young OF
Mitchell county is planning to be
Young is getting out making speeches,
and getting things started for his cam
paign. 1 do not anticipate that he and
Ham will injure each other. They
viii be inclined to work together, and
help each other if it becomes neces-
sary. They both stand for the same
principles
Republicans throughout the state
are receiving letters from Grant
Hornaday urging them to line up for
him for governor. One Republican
state senator received a letter from
Hornaday. pleading and beseeching
him to turn in and help in the fight.
The Republican senator declined
Some of the most radical machine
) the tail of the Hornaday kite, unless
they happen to be from Hornaday 8
5 district. The machine crowd may
t want Hornaday for governor, but they
realize that there is no show for him.
They will try to find some candidate
/. who is satisfactory to many people
4 outside of the machine ranks.
t restraint of the new railroad law, and
i Bale Waggener attorney for the Mis-
D souri, Pacific, is threa tening to make ar
| attack upon the validity of the law anc
e the authority of the board of railroad
commissioners, in the Madison branch
case which is to come before the SUI
preme court next week.
. Mr. Waggener thinks that the law is
| unconstitutional and that the board OF
railroad commissioners, in spite of th=
= efforts to get in on a right basis, is ar
unlawful organization. The railroads
have threatened to attack the board OF
! this ground before, but the matter ha:
;. never come to a test.
d The supreme court in Washington
+ held yesterday in a case appealed from
lower federal courts, that the inter
state commerce commission has full
n power to investigate railway rates ant
e order changes as it sees fit. The Law
a authorizing such action by the boar'
q had been attacked on the ground tina
} congress mad no right to clothe the com
A mission with such authority because
r was of an executive as well as 1udicia
nature. The decision of the suprem
court was made in the face of argu
ments of a nature similar to those out
. lined by Mr.. Waggener-
Mr. Waggener called upon Governo
Hoch yesterday, and talked 60 MIR
|, about the railroad situation in this coun
trv. He declared that things hav
reached a place where the railroads ca
no longer endure the interference of tn
:, state In his speech before the boar
> of railroad commissioners Tuesday, NJ
- Waggener said:
.0The trouble with the railroads |
- :, Kansas is that they are just 25 yeal
- behind the state in their developmen
- The wealth and products of Kanss
- have multiplied many times during tt
mast 25 years, while there has been
: cornnaratfVe small amount of new raj
= road construction. There has been a
= insufficient amount of sidetrack builC
= ing terminal building, and doub
"a +rscking- Railroads are swamped wit
- business. They can't handle all that
nt ..Now the only way to relieve tn
q condition is to improve facilities. b
"a "a the state is not only requiring us
=. - Improve facilities, but it is requirir
~ Us to cut down receipts The ra1lros
assessors have raised our assessmel
over s.. .OoO, 900. The legislature is Gu
ling down on freight rates, and tn
hoard is talking of compelling US
DSI+ in a 2-cent fare, and build ne
terminals. You are burning the cal
Jp dIa at both ends, and it can't last.
Every act of the legislature al
every act of this board has tended
bniId up Kansas City, Mo-, at the e
H. | nense of other towns of Kansas. tt
n. rraiIroads themselves have discrimin
er Ted against all Kansas towns, in fav
It of Kansas City, Mo-"
he can YOU help us stop that?" ask
ed one of the members of the board
ay IT can't. I'm poWerless, said
he wageener. 1T is a condition viii
ng can not be controlled by me. But
f. YOU are going to order in lot of te
n TninaI facilities for Kansas City,
ce want some in Atchison. too Eve
IN town has q right to more termlna
This law is broad enough to take the