Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-23

AND FREIGHT RATES
Iowa Business Men Seeking Reason
for Increase in Population.
STATE HAS FEW FACTORIES
Mr.. Clifford Thorne Compares Condi-
lions i'm Iowa with Those In Adj
Joining Stntes-Lays Blame
on Railroads.
(From a Staff Corresnondent. }

From a Staff Correspondent
| DIES MONIES, May 22.-(Special) THE
people Of Iowa are beginning to discuss the
| probable census showing of the decrease in
Iowa population, or at best very slight
Increase as compared with some other
states They are also giving some consid-
Grafton to the fact that all preliminary re-
ports indicate the showing will not be very
flattering as to the increase of Iowa manu-
featuring and shipping trade. 1t is be-
! lieved that the census will show a slight
| Increase in population of the cities and
| towns and a decrease in rural population
The business men of the cities are dis
posed to lay the blame for this condition
upon the somewhat stringent regulation of
the saloon business and to the unfavorable
condition of the freight rate matters. In re-
gard to the latter there seems to be no
question but that Iowa has been very back
ward and that the freight rate situation is
not the best possible for the shipping in
terests. Clifford Thorne of Washington
Ia who has given the matter a great deal
of attention in recent years as the attorney
for the live stock shipping interests, is
convinced that a general overhauling of
freight rates is needed for this state.
In this connection he has given out a
statement as follows, which clearly ex-
presses the prevailing view among farmers
and shippers:
Iowa's rank among it's sister states in re-
gard to manufactures is hard to account
tor. We would naturally expect some sim
narlty with Kansas, Minnesota or Wiscon-
sin. And yet we find that the value of the
manufactured products of each of those
states for the last year reported by the
United States Department of Commerce and
| Labor, was from $3S, 900 900 to $3.50, 900 600
greater than in Iowa. WhV is this trua 2
Population and railway facilities are two
great essentials to the growth of manu-
features. But we find that Iowa had from
100000 to 100000 greater population, and
from LOCO to 1000 more miles of railway
than either one of those states.
The relative disproportion with other
nelghborng states is even greater The
population, according to the last census,
was; In Iowa. 22Sl,s5S; in Indiana, 2,561, $50;
in Ohio, 4,157, 545 and in Michigan, 2,420 1872;
and Iowa had from 600 to 1000 more miles
OF railway than any of those states; yet
the value of the manufactured products of
those states for the last year reported was
from 24O to 600 per cent greater than in
Iowa. Ohio manufactures exceeded those
in Iowa by over $500 900, OO0
Every state adjoining Iowa, except Ne
braska and South Dakota has a larger
amount of manufactures every year than
almost double the volume; Missouri on the
south, has over two and a half times as
, much; Illinois, on the east, has nine times
the amount. Something is radically wrong
some place.
Iime for Change.
, 1t Is time for this condition to change One
! way to help bring about a change is to
l make a complete overhauling of our inter-
; state freight rates. Everything else being
equal, the factory is going to locate where
the rates are most advantageous. Rates
are like rent, you have to keep paying
) them all the time. This, L am told, has
} caused scores Of factories and jobbing cen
ters to be located just across the river in
Illinois, many Of which would otherwise go
to Iowa.
propose thorough and exhaustive in
} Vestigation of the interstate freight rates
affecting Iowa generally. l advanced this
program in my statement February IL
| Since then the present State Railroad com.
mission has offered no excuse whatever
Tor neglecting this part of their duty which
they have had since 1907. Recently thou.
, sands OF rates affecting Iowa have beer
raised, and effort whatever has beer
made by our state commission to test the
. reasonableness of these advances. This
duty relative to interstate rates is spec.
: fically provided for in sections 2l20-A anC
. of the supplement to the code. l sin
cerely believe that Iowa is justified in de
manding that the state commission shall
undertake this task. 1t will mean some
hard work, but it may prove to be of in
: calculable help to the future growth AND
, prosperity of our state. This Will make al
, that rate legislation we have been so pro
!, foundly interested in of some concrete
! tangible value to Iowa.
4 Campaign is Quiet.
. The political campaign prior to the prl
:. mary election is proving one of the quietes
g on record. There is absolutely not a stat
e issue involved and it is recognized tina
> every candidate for any state office is no
n only worthy, but capable, and there canno
; be the slightest objection urged agains
q him. Just at present the whole campaign
a Is apparently waiting for the decision o
r the two senators as to what they will do
{ They desire very much to return and spen,
d, at least a week In the state, but find 1
! hard to get away from congress.
: In only four congressional districts ar
u there sharp contests and practically onl,
j. in two is the fight being made very hot
/, In the Seventh district, where Captain J
9 A T. Hull is fighting for a tenth nomlna
n ton and is opposed by Judge S. F. Prouty
e who has three times before contested 70
!, the place, the work is being done thor
v oughly. Both candidates have done nue.
speaking out in the district. Both hav
discussed the issues of the day as made IL
at Washington Both have discusses
: Speaker Cannon and the rules. One wou
vote for Cannon for speaker and the othe
would not. This Is as near an issue as an
one can get.
In the Ninth district some spice was in
jected the last week by the letter of Presi
% interest of Judge Smith. The friends o
Attorney General Byers have, however
! drawn the record of the Shiloh commission
, on this matter and are showing that tn
70 president was not fully informed as to hoy
the Shiloh matter was handled by the low
commission. Byers and Smith are bot
= campaigning hard.
/, one popularity of the entire campaign
that while national matters have been dis
. cussed there has not been any discussion
: Of President Taft personally nor of the ad
, ministration. not word by a congressiona
! or state candidate that could be construe
!, as in any way areflecting upon the presi
- dent and no disposition to raise any issu
as to the loyalty of the state to the presi
dent. In fact, all the candidates are friend
N of the president and loyal party men.
~ Both Governor Carroll and Governo
Garst nave been out in the state maxim
a few speeches, but there is hardly enoug
( general interest to make it possible to war