The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-21
LONG AT WICHITA.
Senator Makes a Frank State
ment Of Position.
Tells just Where He Stands on
Public Questions.
THAT COCHRAN STORY.
Did Not Even Endorse st. Louis
Man for Judge.
What Roosevelt and Taft Think
of Platform.

Wichita, Kan, July Ex-senator
Long addressed a large audience In
the Auditorium Monday night, in de-
Tense of his record as member from
Kansas of the United States senate.
His address was in considerable part
prepared especially for Wichita. where
a great deal of the opposition to his
reelection centers. 1t was at Wichita
that Long made his famous address
on the railway rate legislation, which
aroused much opposition among
Wichita people. The speech which
Senator Long made here was calculated
TO overcome the opposition which has
heretofore existed.
Judge H. c. Sluss presided at the
meeting. The stage was filled with a
delegation of old soldier Republicans.
Long declared emphatically that he
was willing to stand or fall on his rec
ord in the senate. and strongly defend
ed all his official acts.
He declared himself in favor of a
valuation of the railway property or
the country, but not in favor of a
physical" valuation.
He denied that he had received
$1,000 from the Missouri Pacific rail-
way to influence his action relative to
the candidacy of Alex. G. Cochran,
attorney for that road. for United
States judge.
He asserted that the Republican
platform, which he assisted in draft
Ing. met with the full approval of
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft.
He discussed at length the long and
short haul question. and explained
why he is opposed to legislation on
this subject of the kind proposed by
J. L. Bristow.
Senator Long said in part:
IL
speaking to the Republicans of Which,
tia. 1 welcome this opportunity also
because in the fall of 1905 / addressed
the Wichita chamber of commerce and
made certain observations on the rail-
road rate question. My remarks were
incorrectly reported. l pointed out a
few days later wherein the reports
were incorrect, but within the last few
weeks these same incorrect reports
have been used in the campaign that is
now in progress. The meeting before
the chamber Of commerce was had at
my solicitation. Resolutions were
adopted by the executive committee of
the chamber of commerce asking me
TO get right with the president 1t
was the elimination of an effort that
had been made for months to get me
10 support the ch-Townsend bill
and the recommendation of the presi-
dent on rate legislation in his message
OF lSV4. L nave mere q Telegram sent
me at Washington in February, 1905.
signed by Mr.. J. f. Howard and other
members of the chamber of COM
merce. Mr.. Howard was then actively
connected with the chamber of COM
merce. and Is now a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for state rail-
road commissioner. The Esch-Town-
send bill had passed the house of rep
resentatives and was pending in the
senate. l was urged in this telegram
to support it in the following Ian
guage: The Esch-Townsend bill will
undoubtedly bring relief to Kansas in
terests represented by you. We urge
you to support 1t with all the power at
your command at this session.
IT had, previous to that time. re-
ceived telegram from Mr. Howard
In which he opposed the Hepburn bill.
not the present law. but the bill that
was pending at that time in the house
or representatives. His telegram was
as follows: Hepburn bill worthless to
shippers. We stand on exact wording
presidents message If railroads can
suspend rate order by commission n
Will give no relief
After full consideration OF the sub.
ject l decided that 1 could not support
the Esch-Townsend bill and that coulc
not support the presidents recommen.
dation in his message of 1904 HI,
recommendation in this message was Il
the effect that the order of the inter.
state commerce commission should r,
into effect Immediately and remain IL
force until reversed by the court on re-
view. I did not believe then and d,
net believe now that such a provision
would be legal or constitutional TIL,
Bailey amendment to the Hepburn hill
was in line with this Recommendation
/ voted against 1t then and would yot,
against 1t now. Believing that the tim,
had come when a frank discussion O
this question would be Of mutual benefi
1 asked the Wichita Chamber of Com
merce to have a meeting and discus.
the matter with me. 1t was held ans
I fully explained my position. 1 stated
that would await the recommendation
of President Roosevelt before announc
ing my support of them. I informed tn,
Chamber of Commerce at this meetiny
that, while they could pass resolutions
finally the responsibility of the vot,