The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-11
Given an Enthusias tic r eception
at Wichita.
Dined by Commercial Club and
Chamber Of Commerce.
BIGAUDIENCEPRESENT
Opera House Packed to Listen
to Senatorial Candidate.
His Speech in Reply to That Of
Senator Long.

Wichita, July 11.-Friday was Bristow
day and evening at this place The can
didate for United States senator before
the Republican primaries Of August Z
arrived early in the day by freight
train from Augusta; was met at the
station by friends and a delegation of
party followers. He spent part Of the
morning with Henry ]. Allen, editor
OF the Beacon, and with local Repub-
licans. He was entertained at luncheon
by the president of the Commercial
club and later at a dinner by the presI-
dent and members OF the Chamber of
Commerce. In the afternoon there was
a public reception and in the evening
another one preceding the lecture.
Long before the time set for the
evening speech the Auditorium was
filled and a fair sized crowd stood
around on the outside unable to get in
There were other attractions here also.
His appearance on the stage was greet
ed with a cheer. He was introduced
by Ex-Governor w. e. Stanley. His
speech was in answer to the Emporia
speech Of his opponent. Senator Chester
l. Long. The address was lengthy
Here is an abstract OF FIVE columns.
as made by the speaker himself. Mr..
Bristow said:
ANY man. who aspires to represent
the people in the United States senate
should frankly state his views on
questions of public concern. Believ-
ing this, when I announced my candi-
dacy 1 declared in favor of certain
policies. Senator Long announced at
| the state convention and has since
reiterated the statement that he mad
| no platform to announce. but that he
would make the race upon his record.
Radical Differences of Opinion.
"The record of the senator shows
that he and 1 radically differ. on vital
political questions. To illustrate: 1
| opposed the Aldrich currency bill be-
| cause It made railroad bonds basis
| for our national currency. Long sup
ported the measure. I believe In the
revision of the tariff; Long has not de-
| clared himself upon the subject, but
| his record indicates that he Is with
| Cannon on that issue. I believe that
| public service corporations should not
be permitted to issue stocks and bonds
| for an amount greater than the cost
| or value of their, properties; Long, as
| shown by his record, Is opposed to
placing any limitation upon the
| amount of stocks and bonds that these
corporations can issue. I believe that
| the interstate commerce commission
should be given authority and means
| to ascertain the physical valuation of
! the railroads; Long Is opposed to CIV
| ing the commission any such power l
believe that the interstate commerce
commission should give authority to
| fix transportation rates and to correct
| manifest injustice in rate schedules
upon it's own motion. Long Is op-
| posed to such a policy. The question,
therefore, is, DO q majority OF the
Republicans of Kansas believe as 1
do on these questions, or are they
| with Senator Long?'"
| Mr.. Bristow then discussed the
Aldrich bill, stating his objection to 1t.
1 In regard to the tariff, he said that
| he was a protectionist, but believed
that the time had come to revise the
| tariff and take the duty off of lum-
ber and a number of other articles.
Transportation the Vital Question.
| Speaking Of transportation he said:
1.-THE transportation question is to-
| day the most vital question In Amert-
can politics. 1t is the presidents at
| titude upon this question and the
| problem that grew out of 1t that has
| given him the great hold that he has
| on the hearts of the American people.
| The discussion of Senator Longs rec
| ord upon this question is a subject
concerning which he is very sensitive.
| and seems to consider 1t as person
al attack.
"a very few men practically control
| the transportation lines of this ma
| ton, and a committee representing
these men fix the rates over almost
| every railroad in the country. Such
| control places into their hands tre-
mendous power over the commercial
| and industrial interests of the country.
| When these men agree upon a policy
there is no power in America that can
resist them, unless it is the United
States government
mo president has ever had the
courage to defy the power of these
great railroad magnates except
Roosevelt, and there has been no 9TH
! er man in public life within a quarter
of a century who could have so sue
cessfully challenged their supremacy.
/ Roosevelt has had rare sagacity in at
tracing public attention to his ad-
ministrative acts and has won great
success by appealing to the masses for
| support as against the organized pow
err not only of the combined corpora
tions of the country. but of their sub
servient politicians as well.
HE is the most powerful character
that has appeared in American poll
tics since Abraham Lincoln, and IL Is
doubtful IL Lincoln himself ever had
such a firm grip on the public senti-
ment of the country. The president
has won in defiance of a majority Of
; his own party in both the senate and
the house. His personal popularity
is so great that every reactionary SEN
ator when he seeks reelection before
the people of his own state goes upon
the stump and loudly praises the pres
ident, though in his heart he hates
him, in the senate votes against his
/ measures, and does not believe in any
{ of his policies. This is exactly the
case of Senator Long. Personally he
/ dislikes Roosevelt; he hates his politi-
/ cal methods: and he does not believe
: in a single one of his progressive
: ideas. Long has never supported the