The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-30
BRlST0W IN THE SIXTH.
says That His Contest With Long Is
Not Personal.

Mankato. July 30.-J. L. Bristow
sdio IN his speech here:
me question before the people of
KANSAS In this senatorial contest is:
stanos Tor. as shown by his record.
more nearly in harmony with the
sentiments Of the people of Kan
man are the things which am adj
Vocatlng. This is in no sense a per-
sonar controversy though Senator
such: l know Of nothing against the
senator's personal character that
makes him unworthy to serve the
people of Kansas in the senate II they
are satisfied with the things that he
With the exception of two or
.nree d1shonorable acts that he has
peen guilty of during this campaign,
Wnicn attribute to the stress of
political excitement under which. he
IS Iaoorfng, his life seems to have
peen that of an exemplary citizen.
BUT since his. elevation to the senate,
IN my judgment. he has stood for
lungs tnat are wrong and against
the interests of the people of this
state. His record, upon which he is
auegins to be making this race. shows
tnat ne Is against the limiting of the
capitalization of public service cor
poratlons; and he is opposed to CIV
Ing the Interstate Commerce COM
mission authority. and means to as
certain the value of railroads; that he
Is opposed to giving the commission
power to nix rates upon its own initia-
tive; that he is opposed to amending
tne constitution so as to make
United States senators elected by the
people, and that he is~opposed to pub
l1cfty Of campaign contributions and
expenses. 1 hold that every one of
these things that. the senator opposed
sno0ld have been enacted into law.
why does the senator refuse to
discuss these questions. If he is still
SO, and defend the record that he has
made or IL he Is not now opposed to
them why should he not explain to
the people when and why he
changed his views. Let him get out
in the open and stand by the things
he voted for. or II he has charged his
mind state why. 1t seems to me that
these are fair and pertinent questions
which the senator should not dodge or
evade. They certainly are questions
IN which the people are interested
At Downs Mr. Bristow discussed
the Taft lettertsof acceptance. He
said: i-15rs
Secretary Taft in his letter of ac-
ceptance SAYS: lG1
TIT is clear that the sum of all
rates and receipts of a railroad. less
proper expenses. should be limited to
fair profit upon the reasonable value
of its property, and that if the sum
exceeds this value, it ought to be re-
duced.' = ~ 49, q
Continuing the secretary says:
The interstate commerce commits
sion has now the power to ascertain
the physical value of the railroad pro-
perty If necessary in determining the
reasonableness of rates. If the neces-
sary machinery for doing so is not ada
quate, as is probable. it should be
Senator Long has been quoting Sec
rotary Taft for sofAe. months as hold
ing that the Hepburn bill made pro-
vision for the valuation OF railroads.
However, it will be observed from the
remarks of the secretary that If the
commission has such power machine
ry' for carrying out the provision has
not been provided and the senator has
voted against giving the commission
such means.
1.-The president in two messages to
the last congress and the interstate
commerce commission in it's last an
nual report recommended that physi-
cal valuation Of the railroads be pro
vided for and now Secretary Taft con-
firms these recommendations. Yet.
Senator Long has three times voted
against this provision since he has
been in the senate, and voted against
a resolution in favor of such a policy
The senator will probably now by
vague, indefinite and evasive state
ments undertake to convey the idea to
the people of Kansas that he Is really
for physical valuation. He said at
Wichita that he was for physical val
uation IL made for the proper purpose.
Does he suppose that the interstate
commerce commission would use such
valuation for an improper purpose or
that the president and the commission
have asked for such valuation for an
improper purpose. Did the senator vote
against the measures providing for
such valuation because he thought that
IL was wanted for other than proper
purposes. would like to have the
senator explain what he means by the
improper purposes.