The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-30
LONG At OBERLIN.
He Discusses Long and Short Haul
Features of Hepburn Law.


Oberlin, June 30.-In his speech
here yesterday afternoon to a crowd
that could not get into the court
room, and that came from every por-
/ ton of the county, Senator Long
| touched on some of the railroad rate
| questions by telling in detail of the
Hepburn amendment to the interstate
commerce act and what relief 1t
afforded the country.
OF particular interest was Senator
Longs reference to the long and short
| haul question. He referred to the fact
that much has been said by the
opposition to his return to the SEN
ate as to the inequalities existing in
various portions of the state as to the
| wheat rate to Galveston. What par
ticularly brought the senator's atten-
ton to this was a recent letter he had
received from friend in Great Bend
where some unusual interest and
sentiment has been aroused because
of the so-called inequality from that
point.
That Great Benz Rate.
1.-THE Hepburn railroad rate law"
said Senator Long, furnishes relief
in exactly such cases as these. If
there is a rate that is too high, the
Hepburn law points the way to relief.
Complaint can be made to the Inter-
state Commerce commission, hearing
Cdu De Ildu, anu IL the oVlQenCe ana
the facts show the rate SO high as to
be extortionate, the commission will
order reduction, and it has to be put
| into effect.
Exactly the same thing was done
in the case of the Merchants and
| Shippers club in Pratt and adjacent
counties some months ago. The rate
| to Galveston was complained of, a
| formal complaint being made to the
| Interstate Commerce commission, the
commission held hearings, notably in
| Topeka. and reduction was ordered
| in.
| eff Great Bend or any other COM
| munfty believes itself Disseminated
| against, the relief is clear. Let COM
plant be made to the Interstate Com
merce commission, under the Hepburn
law. and hearing VIII be had.
| 1T is entirely unfair to leave the
impression, as the opposition to me
does. that further amendment of the
| interstate commerce act is necessary
to furnish relief in the Galveston rate.
| Those who SO claim know better and
| are doing this for political effect, or
else they are woefully ignorant of the
| legislation congress has enacted in the
| interest of the people of the west. 1t
| is manifestly unfair to ignore the
fact that the Hepburn law offers full
measure Of RELIEF in such cases, and it
| Is time that the people were I'M
unfair and wholly untrue statements
made by the opposition
Long Proud of the Law.
| Senator Long then dwelt some time
| on the Hepburn law. the demand for
| relief some years ago, the struggle in
congress in enactfng this law. and the
| efficacy of it. He declared that he was
| proud of the law, that he had helped
| to make 1t, and. had taken a leading
| part in the discussions in congress and
| the contest for this legislation. He be-
| lieved the law satisfactory told of the
| fact that it had brought relief in many
| instances, such as the one referred to
| above in connection with the Galveston
| grain rate. in the case of the coal rate
| in western Kansas, and that the con-
| brought into question. Not only did he
| who helped make 1t, declare it a good
| law, but he cited the Chicago platform,
| that strongly Endorsed the law.
Norcatur Town Spirit.
Senator Longs day in Decatur county
| was fully as stirring and full of con-
| slant travel and speech as any that
| have preceded it in his tour Of the
| Sixth district. Having spent Sunday
with his sister, Mrs. Rogers of Norca-
| tur, he arose early this morning and
| went around the town visiting and
| meeting new acquaintance. Norcatur
is lively little town on the Norton
Decatur county line. whence it gets its
name.
| 1t has survived three disasters this
year: fire, severe hailstorm, and a
| cyclone. None of these events has
Quenched the town spirit. Senator Long
| made no speech, but saw everyone
| there was to see, and about O'Clock
! a large touring car came from Oberlin
to take him through the county on his
days speaking and visiting trip.
1.-TWO Dissatisfied With Platform"
After stopping at Clayton, the first
speech of the day was at the little town
| of Jennings, on the Rock Island, in
southeastern Decatur county, where
| about 200 people were lined up on both
sides of the street as Senator Long
came into town. The crowd quickly as
sembled around the postoff1ce. on the
main corner, and Senator Long made
half hours speech from the sidewalk
He came nearly having a joint debate
here with a Virginia Democrat, who
denied Mr.. Longs statement that Mr.
Bryan was dissatisfied with the Chi
cago platform. Mr.. Long had stated
that only two persons had declared
their dissatisfaction with the docu
ment: Mr.. Bryan and w. A. White
and the Democrat took exception.
| Senator Long reiterated his state
ment, and the Democrat did likewise
| But nothing came of the incident. Al
ter shaking hands with all in the
crowd, Senator Longs party then wen
it's way.
1t was just noon when the little town
of Dresden was approached. Dresden
is about ten miles further down the
Rock Island in the corner of Decatur
and fine little band was footing away
when the big car rolled into town. An
other impromptu meeting was arrang-
ed and Senator Long again told the
story of the Chicago convention. OF
Taft and Sherman. and of the plat
form. His remarks were frequently
applauded and he held an extended re-
ception at the close.
Booming Mr.. Taft.
| hurry-up run was then made tc
| Oberlin. which was reached for a late