The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1908-05-28

that specialists might describe as wall
st Ieetitis, the cry was raised that the sem
iOr senator from Kansas dill rot repre-
sent the people of his state.
At first the charge was made that Long
did not stand with Roosevelt, especially
on the Hepburn rate bill. Kansas has
always thought that The state was dis
criminated against by the common car
RE. e, that Kansas City, Chicago and st.
Louis have had unfair advantage over
Hutchinson, Wichita and Sallna, and that
the producers aud consumers OF Kansas
were charged excessive rates, going and
coming. OF course, tie enemies said,
Long Is with Roosevelt In other things.
He was champion Of Cuban reciproci-
ty when lot of his beet sugar constitu-
ents felt that such measure would hurt
them, theory that afterwards proved to
be wrong. Long is with the president
on the PHILIPPINE policy, the Panama
canal, deep water improvements, the
money'questiOn, irrigation experiments,
the preservation of forests, and all the
other measures Roosevelt go vigorously
advocated. All Of this had to be granted
and it was. But he had declined to say
In advance Of the preparation Of the rail-
road rate bill that he would support any
measure that the prt sident proposed
And when the bill was under consider
alton, Ia spite of the fact that Long had
worked and spoken and labored day and
n!ghl for the measure, be had voted
against lots Of amendments, some de-
signed to. kill the bill, and others that
would have had that effect, amendments
introduced by Senator La Toilette, For
aker and others, actuated by diverse mo-
tives. With this much evidence against
him his political enemies in Kansas pro-
ceeded TO try, condemn and hang him on
the indictment OF mot standing by the
president. Unfortunately for the self
constituted prosecutors and judges,
Roosevelt himself, with that way he has
of statingsconditions, clearly and strong
ly, took the stand in Longs behalf. This
Is what he wrote to Senator Long:
II entirely agree with your position
on the rate bill. l wish also to
state my cordial agreement with your
position in declining to say you would
be 10 favor Of what, | recommended un-
til you knew what ] did recommend.
My position now is exactly yours. II
the extremists should have their way
they would completely block all chance
for rate, legislation at all. 1t is useless
to expect any legislation will satisfy
those who desire the impossible. But
the Hepburn Dolliver bill will mark
real and substantial advance In dealing
with the question by doing away with
abuses and benefttiDg the people as u
whole. tls, In. my judgment, as fer as
we could with Wisdom 60 at this time,
and those who are opposing the measure
are 10 reality doing all they can to pre-
vent any substantial relief being afforded.
(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT
or course this settled that question and
the able and talented editor OF the Clar-
ion might keep repeating until the cows
came home that Long was against the
president on the rate bill, but when
Roosevelt spoke for himself the State Of
Kansas simply laughed at the self-ap-
pointed champion 4 Kansas is a Roose-
velt state. Kansas Republicans are for
Taft. And so 1t is eyedent In the breezy
phrase of short grass writer, "Lopg Is
ace high with Roosevelt and Taft and
that suits Kansas."
The sentiment that has developed 20
strongly In favor Of Senator Long in rec
ent weeks IL due to two Kansas charac-
teristics which are not included In the
"what's the matter with Kansas" theory.
They are "Fair play and keep posted
up to date" The people Of Kansas are
great newspaper readers. In every house
there are dailles and weeklies. And, IN.
fortunately for Senator Long, be has
had the editorial opposition Of many Of
the big. newspapers. But the people Of
Kansas, large majority Of them, get
their. information from the news columns