The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-14
Special Session Talk EngrOsses
All Attention.
Politicians Arraigned on Both
Sides of Question.
HOCH NOT SUSPICIOUS
Laughs at Talk That EmiSsar'
les Are Sent to Him.
Attorney General Jackson Up
posed to Extra Session.

'EAlissaries of the railroads are be-
ing sent to Governor Hoch, sald one
of the state employees today, for the
purpose of finding out what he is go
ing To do about special session. And
they are also putting in their woro
against the special session talk. If the
railroads find that Hoch is determln-
ed to call the special session, they will
probably back down; but they hope
by sending the right men to him, to
influence MIN to change his mind, and
leave it to the railroad commission to
fight it out for a 2-cent fare.
Just who the "emissaries' are that
are being sent to Governor Hoch
could not be ascertained, and Cover
nor Hoch was asked if he had dfscoV-
cred any of tnem-
Il am NOT inclined to be suspicious
of anybody" was his reply.
Z. B. Jewett of Wichita, ex-warden
Of the penitentiary, was in Topeka
Friday and refused to say what he
was here for. However, he called upon
Governor Hoch. In speaking of the
special session talk, Mr. Jewett said:
4 can't see how the governor can
escape calling a special session, unless
the railroads surrender. The COVER
nor has gone too far now to back
down. In fact, it would not surprise
me a bit to see Governor Hoch do
number of things between now and
the end of his term which will alter
the general opinion which some peO-
pie have of him. He is believed to be
changeable and easily Influenced. Per-
haps he will have a different reputa-
ton by the time he goes out of Of
fec
This opinion, however, is not shared
by some of the state officers, who be-
lieve that Governor Hoch would be glad
TO find some way to avoid calling a
special session. 1t is said that Attorney
General F. s. Jackson, who has gen.
orally been on the other side of the
fence from G. F. Grattan, attorney for
the railroad commission, thinks that a
special session is an unnecessary ex-
pense. and that all the results of a
special session can be secured by means
of q formal investigation of the 2-cent
fare situation. by the board of railroad
commissioners, and an order establish
ing the 2-cent fare on its merits, in
stead Of merely as an emergency rate
There are many others who agree
with General Jackson in this opinion. |
some of them being the politicians who |
are friendly to the railroad interests, |
ard some being those who are really |
convinced. as is Mr. Jackson, that the |
special session is an unnecessary lux |
ury. The Republican politicians fear |
the special session because of the ex-
pense to which it will put the state, !
and the railroads evidently believe that |
the influence of these politicians will be |
sufficient to avert the danger. The |
WINGED that Governor Hoch can be talk |
ed out of his notion of calling a special |
session
In speaking of the situation the Fort |
Scott Tribune gives these as the views
Of Grant Hornaday:
Grant HOrnaday, who has been out |
over the state much of late working |
on his political fences. stated this
morning that in his opinion the rail- |
roads were making a fatal error by |
not at once accepting the two-cent /
fare as general. His theory Is that in
he event they sulk or balk now the
next session of the legislature will |
pass such stringent laws as will make
Zach and every individual hair stand
)n end
But Mr. Hornaday does not have
much faith in the calling of a special
session of the legislature should the
members of the two houses
ion He says this might result in 4
heavy expense with but little favor
ible results The next session the
,itizens will be alive to the railroad
situation ard may send different men
IL to Topeka to battle against the cor
lorate powers and combines. Grant
believes that much of the trouble
,aused with Western roads lies in the
act that the executive head of the
lperating departments is in the East
opinion of what really constitutes the
vestern country. They seem to be of
he mind that anything can be palmed
n on this section of the world and
axe it for granted that the people will
tand for il. Unless the railroads
ONE across with the two-cent rate
5 has been urged everywhere. Mr..
Tornaday believes that the whole
hing tinges with that which means
doleful requiem for the roads"