The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-28
WHY He DID IT.
Gov. Stubs Defends Recent
Rate Conference.
Says That Corporations Have
Been Meeting Secretly.
STANDS FOR PEOPLE.
NDS FOR PEOPLE.
Governor Asserts It Was His
Duty to Call Meeting.
''The Interests" Must Give Pub.
lie Right TO Discuss Problems.

Il note that the representative of
the railroads are abusing me in I'M
measured terms for calling the inter
state rate conference the other day to
protest against the proposed raise in
freight rates." said Governor Stubs
today. TT seems to me that in taking
this ground the corporations, which
are created by the people, deny the
people the right to gather together in
public meeting to protect their own in
terests. The corporations themselves,
in definance of antitrust laws. met Sc
cretly and agreed to raise the freight
rates.
THE meeting held in Topeka last
week was representative of the ship
ping and commercial interests of the
west. There was no excitement at the
gathering or howl against the rail-
roads, but rather the delegates calmly
discussed the proposed raise from the
standpoint of common sense and JUS
uce. 1 called the meeting in the in
terest of the people of the state whose
servant I am. 1t was my duty to do
so. I am trying to serve the people
of Kansas just as I would big cor
poration if 1 was its president. I
work just as long hours and watch
every department as closely. 1 claim
the same rights for the people that the
railroads claim for hemselves-pro-
lection of interest so far as possible.
The proposed raise in freight rates
will cost the live stock interests of this
state alone over a million dollars a
year. Surely 1 have the right to call
the representatives of these interests
together to discuss this matter without
of necessity being denounced as a
demagogue.
Some Rights to People.
an common decency and fairness
the corporations should be willing to
grant the same rights to the people
that they themselves claim and eXer-
else. Our people have not passed into
a state of bondage where they can no
longer dare to protest against raise
make great mistake when they con-
centrate their abuse upon the head of
any man who dares to call attention
to the injustice of any act of theirs.
They hire the smarteSt and most ag-
gressive men obtainable to represent
upon their public officials to protect
them. When these officials do their
plain duty as demanded and as they
have promised to do, why are they
more than railroad representatives are
robbers and thieves because they stand
up for the interests of their employ
ers at every turn?
Blames the Corporations.
4 believe that the attitude of the
railroads and corporations themselves
is as much to blame as the frenzy they
ascribe to the reformers for all the
bitterness and hostility and suspicion
that rests now like a cloud between the
general public and the big combina-
lions of capital which are depended
upon to develop the resources of the
country and promote her prosperity
when the corporations cheerfully
accept the right of the great general
public to openly discuss corporation
matters in which it is vitality interested
then a final settlement of the much
mooted question between them will be
quickly reached.
LAS regards that interstate rate con-
ference, ] have received many letters
from men interested in many states
and they all express satisfaction over
the good results accomplished at tho
conference. The movement was STAR
ed there. I hope it will be carried for
ward and grow until it will reach pro-
portions that will demand attention la
the highest quarter of the nation. Ths
| Transmississippi congress Which meetS
at San Antonio next November IS the
next place to effect an organization 20
protest the proposed rates and demand
physical valuation of railroads
Pies just as good as you ever ate
| navbe better at Mrs. Annie NJ. Trap
| I---.l.,ro-a 10 Kansas avenue,