The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-02

he was in the Porto Rico tariff bill.
the Cuban reciprocity bill and other
important measures, just as he will
be in the currency question or a re-
up as the big question of the next con-
greSS. He is a leader, not follower.
He is al senator who cannot only be
depended on to do what is right, but
he can lead the way. make the road
and. when he is through, the work is
accomplished and needs no explana-
ton or apology
An Illustration of the difference be-
tween the two men, the lawmaker
and the candidate. occurs in the lat
ter's campaign speech. Mr.. Bristow
ment to, prove that the wheat growers
Of Kansas pay excessive freight rates
to the gulf. He is only three years
behind The Interstate Commerce
commission has the power to consider
and decide this question now and has
alreadys begun the good work. Under
the provisions of the Hepburn bill, the
measure championed by Senator
Long, the Kansas state commission
brought an action for a reduction in
grain rates before the Interstate Com
merce commission a year ago. 1t was
decided, in favor of Kansas and re-
duction: amounting to about cents a
bushel was made from central Kan
sas points. The order of the board
is in force and during the last shipping
season the price of wheat in central
Kansas has been 3 or cents a bushel
higher, .thanks to the Interstate Com
merce commission and the Hepburn
law. In giving it's decision the COM
mission indicated that a further re-
duction' would be ordered if it were
for not affecting the milling industry
and other conditions too severely. In
fact the interstate commerce law has
been doing and is doing just what Mr.
Bristow is talking about in seeming
ignorance of the progress of events.
The question of freight rates is no
longer one for legislation, but for in
vestigation and decision by the Inter-
state commerce commission. The
work of Senator Long and his col
leagues is standing the test. These
cases of discrimination and excessive
rates can be taken to the commission.
The battle is now before that body
and the courts as to justice of the
rates, and is not before congress or up
without much advertising, but the real
truth of the rate regulation question
is that SO far as congress Is con-
cerned it is settled and Mr.. Bristow
is toying with a birds nest two years
old. He has just discovered the errors
which the legislation urged by Sena-
tor Long is correcting and is asking
to be elected to Longs place to do
the thing which Long has already
done.
The difference between the candi- :
dates is well known in Kansas. Sena-
tor Long is kept in Washington by
the closing days of a busy, strenuous
session When he returns to Kansas
he will go before the people with
with the issues of the coming cam !
paign to present. He will get the fair Z
consideration the people give a man :
who is not afraid and who has some :
ing voted wrong on amendment and
some small bills he will meet himself (
because he has the information re-
CURED. They were made in an article
signed by William Allen White, but
White did not prepare it. The article
was offered to and refused by half
dozen newspapers. 1t has been lying
around Topeka for three months. No
one was willing to father the stun un-
til White edited it little and signed
his name. The votes alleged to be
wrong were trifiing indeed when ten
years of public service are considered,
and no man in Kansas, friend or
enemy OF Long, but knows that he
will meet and explain them fairly and
The difference in the two candidates
is well understood in Kansas, and IT is
no special discredit to Mr.. Bristow
to say that the people have looked
him over and decided that he won't
do. Some may have political reason
to oppose Long, but they are not
ready to stand for his old supporter.
They want the real thing if they have
to choose Long has made some mis-
takes, and his friends do not claim
he is an angel. There is no halo
over his head, and there are no wings
in sight. When. man is found who
claims to make no mistakes he should
be carefully watched. But his friends
do say and nobody can successfully
deny, that he is a senator who has
served his constituents faithfully, =
leader of men and a statesman Of
whom Kansas can be proud.
w. 7. MORGAN.