Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-03-09
THE REAL ISSUE
The Investigation into Shippers Association of
Educational Consequence.


by LYNN HAINEs,
One need only to watch the "cab-
Z. inet'' to determine which legislative
events are of commanding conse-
sequence. What the combine crowd
demands, the people might always
safely oppose and the same
rule, what the representative of the
special interests seek to prevent, by
fair means or foul, would usually ad-
vance the interests of the common
citizenship of the whole state.
The superhuman attempt of the
vested interests to discredit the Min
nesota Shippers and Receiver Asso-
citation and belittle the influence of
that organization is the most import
ant event of the past week. 1t is i'm
portant because it reveals both the
animus and the issue in this attack by
the combine upon the only organized
influence in the state today.
1t will be remembered that Repre-
sentative s. d. Peterson of New Ulm
introduced resolution i'm the House
calling for an investigation of the
shippers association and that this
move was not opposed by the friends
of the organization. The committee
appointed to carry out the unfriendly
intentions of the enemies of reform
was composed of Messrs. Peterson,
Lennon. Bills, Bouck and Hollister.
These gentleman began their inquisi-
torial labors early in the week with a
hearing at the Metropolitan hotel.
Two other sessions were called during
the week. The result of these meet
ings of the committee justifies our
statement that the Investigation was
not entered into in good faith and that
it is not being conducted in fairness or
justice.
The genius and moving spirit of the
shippers association is George S. Lof-
tus. it's commissioner. AS the execu
tive head of the association he has
manifested very commend~ble ac-
tivity in state politics, always with
view to placing men in authority who
would honestly endeavor to better
commercial conditions. In this work
of reform the corporations, particular
ly the railroads, have seen their mon
opolistic privileges menaced and the
result is an almost unanimous COM
bine desire to see the LOTUS influence
destroyed. Hence it is only natural
that the ''investigation" is not aimed
at the shippers association, but its
commissioner. The inquiry is not an
honest attempt to discover anything
wrong about the Minnesota Shippers
and Receivers Association; it is an at
tack upon an individual who crime is
1ese majesty, the corporations being
the royal objects offended.
At the first meeting of this Peterson
committeeyMr. LOTUS was the only
witness. Altho there was desperate
endeavor tosdiscover something ques-
tionable, the....committee was put to
route. Again ..on Thursday afternoon
the attack upon lMr. LOTUS was re-
newed, with the same result that the
purpose of the investigation became
more apparent and at the same
time more impossible. The committee
then adjourned until the following
afternoon whenyMr. Lofthus appeared
only to see the committee seek safety
in another adjournment until March
seventh.
The two sessions of this committee
established nothing which could pos
sibly be urged as an excuse for the
existence of such a legislative auxili-
ary and there would likewise be no
reason for this article were it not for
the fact that the @eabinet," backed by
the railroads and the subsidized city
dailies, is trying to make something
out of nothing. 1t has developed into
a desperate fight in which the corpor-
ations realize that they must make
some showing or else be overwhelmed
by the wave of public sentiment which
would certainly follow if the real issue
is not kept concealed.