The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-02
FOR A MESS OF POTTAGE
BY w. A. WHITE

tory. During the spring of that year
congress had adjourned without pass
ing a railroad rate bill the people
had demanded. Many plans were dis-
cussed. but speaking broadly me Is
sues were made in the public nina
for and against restoring to the In
terstate Commerce commission the
powers which had been taken from IL
by a supreme court years berore.
These powers permitted the inter
!. state Commerce commission to re-
y yise railroad rates upon proper com
piaint The people were stirred to
considerable depths of feeling. ana
Kansas was practically united in IA
vor of a law which would protect the
people against ruthless confiScat1on OF
private property by unjust railroad
rates.
At that time Kansas had only
one senator. as Senator Burton was
not participating in public aHalrs
AS 1t was known that the rallroa a,a
were making u struggle to control the
senate, having given up the mousse
Senate Long of Kansas was urged to
take a position, not for any particular
bill, but for the people or against the
people. 1t was openly charged that
the railroads had elected Senator
Long, and he was asked to disprove
IT, He was asked to declare that he
would use his voice, his influence and
his vote-not for the presidents
policy, for the president had no set
tied policy; but Long was asked only
to use his voice and influence by
public declaration in favor of restor-
ing to the people the things which
the supreme court had taken from
them
Other senators all over the west
were speaking out publicly for the
people; the railroad senator's in the
OF
mand of the people for railroad rate
law, and were making what sentiment
they could against any action what
ever. So Kansas turned to Long
asking him to do for Kansas what
the railroad senators were doing for
The railroads-speak out. stand up
and be counted, except that Kansas
asked Long to be a force for right
eousness, and join the group of sena-
tors headed by Dolliver of Iowa, and
declare not for any bill, not even for
the president. but to represent the
righteous complaint of the Kansas
people against the iniquity of unre-
strained railroad rate making.
Senator Long lodged. He was SNUG,
silent. He smiled and said he had
not heard of any "bill' being before
the Senate. His friends urged him to
get behind the sentiment of Kansas
and voice it. Bue he was still silent
and the railroad senator's counted him
IL.
silence meant; and the Kansas people
knew what his silence meant.
On November Is, 1905, Senator
Long appeared before a meeting of
the Commercial club in Wichita. His
mercial bodies all over Kansas were
demanding that he speak out. reso-
luton, very like other resolutions all /
over Kansas, had been passed by the
1I..%
that Senator Long give his support
to the proposition now, at a critical
moment preceding the action of the
national legislature, and that later he
use every means in his power to Sc
cure the PASSAGE of a law which will
give the Interstate Commerce commits. |
sion, when a rate has been challenged, !
a hearing held and rate found to |
be unjust and discriminatory, the |
power to establish and put into effect |
a just and equitable rate.
There is nothing in that last clause |
about any particular bill. 1t does not !
demand the he stand by the presi- |
dent" 1t simply demands that he shall
lend his voice. his influence and his
vote at a critical moment to the cause
of simple justice.
Now there are those in Kansas who
believe that Chester l. Long was dis |
honest in his silence; that he was
repaying the railroads for electing him. |
The facts do not warrant this infer |
ence. Chester Long is comparatively |
poor man today. and If he had cared |
to capitalize his love for Wall street, |
to make money out of his basic prin-
ciples of life. he could be rich. So in
the discussion of his record in the |
senate and out of it, the sheer at his |
personal integrity must not be al
lowed to enter. He is a Bourbon, |
flesh and blood, bone and gristle He |
does not believe in the people. He does
not believe in progress. He worships |
the fat god of Things as They Are. His |
thirty-five votes for Wall street are
voters of principle. as much as the |
were votes for principle. |
Well, to continue the narrative. on |
November Is, 1905, Senator Long ap-
peared before the Wichita Commercial |
club. He faced them down. He defied |
them. He would not be bluffed into |
offending Wall street. He would not |
declare his position. He would not |
say that he represented Kansas and !
not Wall street in the demand that |
the Interstate Commerce commission
after hearing had been held (should) !
have the power to put in a just ana !
equitable rate" after the old rate |
had been found unreasonable and dis |
crimina tory Senator Long believed |
ia blished order He believed it was
a blow at vested rights and in his
speech before the Wichita Commercial |
club that bright November day in 1905 |
he said:
You ask me to state my position
now. You ask me to engage in this
agitation for additional powers of the |
Interstate Commerce commission. 1
decline to do this believing it is not /
my province. Under present condf- |
tions in the senate you unfortunately
can be heard on this question only
through my vote. You NAV
agitate, you may pass resolutions. but
finally I am to vote"
Then he proceeded to discuss the