The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-18
SOUTHWEST
IN De EMAND
FOR JUSTICE
SHIPPERS ASSOCIATION
IN FIGHT FOR NEW
GULF RATES
IMPORTANT HEARING
BEGINS AT KANSAS CITY
---------
Oklahoma Represented Through
Legal Department and
Corporation Board
(By AlssncIated Pressl

Kansas CITY, Mo-, March 1S- -Chas.
A. ProutS member of The Interstate
Commerce comm 5slon, today heard
arguments on complaint Of the South
western Shippers Traffic association
which asks readiustment of freight
rates from Galveston 70 points In The
Southwest
Among those present are these OF.
iicers Southwestern shippers Traf
fic association, j. l.. Powell Wichita,
president j IT, Johnson, Oklahoma
CITY, vice president; H. H. Gaines,
Galveston, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. llaineS also represents the Cal
weston Chamber Of Commerce. l.. T.
Moore, Wichita Transportation hu.
rCau: G. II liykes. ld Sinner, J ~
Dawson, and G. w. KanaveL Knnsa8
state hoard Of railload commission.
cis; Judge A. r. Helm, Wichita, at
lorncy Southwestern Shippers ASST
c.at'Qn J. n Love, chairman Okla
huma corporation commission asslsl
ee by G.. M. Bee. expert rate clcrk,
and II Wllmering. Charles West, ui
torney general 0i Oklahopa and
George iIenshaw assistant
John +, Powell Of The Johnston 8
l.arimer Dry Goods company, oi
Wichita, Kan, is president. Of the
Southwestern shippers Traffic ASST
cialion, which filed HE complaint
originally with the commission
"ihc complaint said Mr. Powell,
today requests a revision Of rates
from Atlantic acaboard territory inW
Tie southwest via Gulf OF Mexico
PORTS, and rs the most comprehensive
and formidable movement ever insti-
tntcd by the shippers Of the west for
q rcadiustmenl Of existing rates.
The Southwestern Shippers Trar.
llr association was organized ri OK.
lahoma City year ago by represepr
thtives Of the shippers throughout ihe
state Of Kansas, Oklahoma, TeXas,
New Mexico and Colorado.
More Than 200 Cities
More than thirty towns and cities
we're represented, and thereafter
mcte than two bundled additional
cities and towns joined the move
ment
THE states Of Kansas and Oklaho-
ma have officially taken up The fight
IN the interests Of the southwestern
clippers and are represented al the
hearing
John Dawson, attorney for the
Kansas State Board of Railway com
niissioners, assisted by judge A. r..
Helm OF Wichita, is here 10 support
lhc claims OF Kansas aud Charles
West, attorney general of Oklahoma,
With associated counsel Is here TO
represent the interests Of Oklahoma.
Traffic Experts There
Expert traffic mon from Wichita,
Oklahoma city, Galveston, pueblo ana
other cities are here to testify at the
hearing.
"fhe purpose Of The Southwest
shippers is 20 secure q general re-
vision of rates in and out OF the
southwest via the Gulf Of Mexico
They believe that they are entitled tu
thc benefits that may be derived from
their close proximity 10 the Gulf Of
Mexico ports that have been improved
by the expenditure Of millions Of dol
lars by the United States government
"Thoy believe that tho NATURAL az
y9ntages thus improved should b.
utilized to aid he growth of thg
southwest, and not 60 allow the mil
Hons expended 10 be wasted by tht
arbitrary action Of the railway com
panies, who have 50 far arhitrarib
controlled rates by sen aud hand tc
defeat the objects heretofore desired
to be attained
Tho people Of the Southwest dc
sire simple justice and thoroughly bo
lieye that this can be brought about
iihout affecting the railway carriers
Who operate in the west, and al th,
same time bring great benefits {,
the people living in these southwest
/ orn states"