The Globe-republican., 1908-10-29

the pledge. Ihe following ID lrom VI
"Every intelligent man knows that
the Office Of Representative Is not a
lucrative one, that as a matter OF fact a
Representatives. expenses exceed the
pay derived from the Office; there can
therefore be no impelling motive for a
man to serve In our State Legislature
Except that he may so serve the people
Of bis district and State that he may
make reputation for himself and be
honored by such service. l assure you
that II I aGa elected to the office OF Re-
preventative from this county, | shall
use every power that possess to SO
serve my district and the State at large
that when the session is over ! can return
home and have my constituents say to
me: swell done".
1t is but fair to my constituents, how
ever, for me to declare myself at this
time with reference to my position upon
certain things in the event that there
shall be any attempted legislation re-
garding them. First: 1t has been re-
ported that I am IN favor Of a division of
this county, or rather Of the formation
of new county out of portion OF the
south part of this county and a portion
of the north part Of Clark county. l
want to brand that report as an absolute
untruth; want to say to you that this
county will remain intact and shall not
be diminished by one inch, If any effort
of mine is required to cut off any part
thereof. Second: stand squarely
upon the Republican Platform with
reference to the Direct Primary Law,
and believe that the same should be
maintained at least until 1t has been fully
And fairly tried, and, as set forth In the
Republican Platform, only such amend
ments should be made thereto as will
simplify Its operation and broaden Its
scope.
In reference to Railroad Legislation ::
I have not given the matter the consider
alton that shall give to it In the event
of my election, but think we all agree
upon the proposition that in this Western
country the question Of equitable freight
rates Is one OF great Importance. have
heretofore, and have no reason now to
change my views, been in favor Of allow.
ing the Railroad Commissioners to
establish rates, for the reason that they
have ample time to study and consider
the question as to what is equitable and
right as between the people and the
Railroads.
Last spring the Board of Railroad
Commissioners established schedule Of
rates, rates which believe it is generally
conceded were fair and equitable, both
to the people and the Roads; but the
Railroads refused to put the rate into
effect and have brought suit to eDjoin the
enforcement thereof on the ground that
the Commission had no power to
fix the same. Now, my friends, / feel
this way about 1t: The Legislature has
the power to establish rates and, If
elected, shall vote for bill which will
establish the schedule fixed by the Com
mission. do not believe that the Rail-
roads will fight such law, and the
establishment of such rate will mean a
great saving to the people OF Kansas. l
lam not, however, in any way inimical to
jshe Railroads, believe In giving them
q fair show, In other words, want to
treat them in the same spirit of fairness
as would treat an individual. Again l
am In favor Of vesting the power In the
Railroad Commission to make physical
valuation of the Railroads Of the State as
basis for equitable freight rates,
instead OF permitting them to make such
rates as will pay the interest on exhorDit-
ant issues OF watered stock. / believe
the rates.tixed should give the Railroads
q fair return on the actual investment
made and no more. We should not,
however, In legislating against the Rail-
roads lose sight Of the fact that they are
as necessary to us as we are to them;
chat they have been great and potent
factors In the development and upbuild-
Ing Of our Commonwealth, and that
large numbers Of working men are en-
ployed by them whose prosperity is vital
to the State. Nothing sheuld be done
that would diminish the ability OF the
Railroads to maintain their road-beds
and eqIpment, and to pay just and fair
wages to their employees
ITue platform Of the Republican party
adopted at Topeka on the 2tth day OF
i1t August has this to say with reference
to Railroads, "We demand that the
Interstate Commerce Commission, If u
already had not such power, shall at all