Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-25
Delegation Leaves for East to Make
Personal Call.
IGHT AND FINANCE TALK
Fail to Agree on Fund to Support
Filing of Suit.
ANNOUNCED PLAN MODIFIED
Civil Action and Contempt Proceed
ings Put OFF indefinitely
Fifty Arc I'm At
tendance.
WILL MET HIM ON TUESDAY

IHS SIllppeIs aie TO take ACtlon against
the railroads to prevent the enforcement
Of increased rates, according to a decision
reached at the meeting held at the Omaha
Commercial club yesterday delegation
representing the committee appointed at
this meeting is to meet In Washington on
Tuesday next They propose to file COM
plant with the attorney general of the
United States alleging an illegal combin-
alton in restraint OF trade
| All of the Missouri river cities with the
exception of ST. Louis were represented
in the meeting There was little of dis
pute in the meeting, but the steps pro-
posed and the movement to give them
financial backing grew weaker as the
meeting progressed.
From the determination expressed at
the morning meeting to vigorously start
! both civil and criminal actions based on
the alleged combination of the roads for
| the making of higher rates and further
prosecution for contempt of an order OF
the United States supreme court made
some years past the afternoon session
resulted In the decision to make a COM
paint to the attorney general
The shippers now propose to enlist the
activities of their representatives in con-
gress by telegraph. A plan was made to
shower the capital with night letters call
ing attention to their complaint and the
meeting to be held at the Millard hotel
in Washington on Tuesday.
smith Outlines Position.
A. c. Smith of Omaha, as chairman of
the committee named in the morning, made
a vigorous statement of the situation at
the afternoon meeting.
"If we are going to fight at all said
Mr.. Smith, 1--WE must fight our best. L
say that. too, without wishing to go on
record as favoring any line of action. But
we must either go through with it or lay
down.
at may as well be known here and now
that to make q fight means long fight
and the expenditure of a large amount of
money"
Well" rejoined someone in the crowd.
'if we don't spend 1t that way the rail-
hoads will take 1t away from u.s."
Yes" agreed Mr.. Smith, but they are
so graceful about 1t. Litigation is brought
in Jumps and freight increases come a lit
tie at a time"
H. G. Wilson, a Kansas City traffic
man, expressed a bit Of feeling that proved
amusing to the committee members at the
meeting,
"Do you realize that this means start
ing criminal prosecutions against our
friends among the railroad men3" he sug-
gested. "Of course I do not care, but
want everyone here to understand IT, he
added
Nobody will be hanged over this" was
, the answer he got.
Several times the financing of the pro-
posed opposition to the rate increase was
brought up during the meeting and as
| 49,.
Glenn saves Day.
t At last John M. Glenn, secretary of the
5 Illinois Manufacturers association saved
9 the day by volunteering to make an et-
r fort to get the legal side OF the work cared
for at no cost to the shippers by the law
| yers for his association. In the event tha.
e he is able to do this, similar effort will
be made with the legal staff of the Ma.
tlonal Association of Vehicle manufac.
$ turers
Just who will be at that meeting In
Washington on Tuesday is not yet deter
mined f. ]. McVann of the Omaha Com
S mercal clubs traffic bureau win probably
represent the shippers here. o. B. Wilson
4 and George Richards OF Kansas are ex-
pected to attend the meeting in behalf
= of the shippers OF their city. With several
r members of the committee attendance
r at the meeting is largely tentative. 1t is
n at least certain that Omaha, Kansas City
@ Duluth, Chicago, Sioux City. St. Joseph
O and Minneapolis will be represented there.
In the course Of an address TO the ship
pers In the afternoon. Mr.. McVAnn de-
n cared that he did not have the least
o doubt that there was rate making COM
bination among the railroads.
r In fact" he declared, II understand that
Nbat-
@ caution that they now vote on their rate
I, agreements by open motion"
o Step TO Higher Rates.
" Several Of the shippers expressed the
opinion that If the present schedule OF in
creased rates was allowed TO stand 1t would
: be but a short time until even higher rates
: would be put In effect
. The meeting closed late in the afternoon
= and most Of the shippers departed at once
), for their homes.
The members OF the committee OF repre-
,e scntaton which held the afternoon meet
}" ing, were:
,e Omaha, A. c. Smith.
rs Kansas city, w, b. Richards.
to Sioux City, w. $, Knapp.
ST. Joseph. II. G. Krake.
- Atchison, J. 3. sllman.
Council Bluffs, +. S. Empkie.
Lincoln w. A. Selleck
Chicago w. j, Evans.
Duluth, +. A. Patrick.
Milwaukee, Charles Zlelke.
= Minneapolis, George II. Patrick.
ST. Paul f. S. Pool.
Definite Plan.
ia The meeting came to a definite plan on
In action when j. H. Rushton. president OF the
al Fairmont Creamery company, declared for
ne the invoking OF the law.
There is only one way TO meet thb
ig situation" said Mr.. Rushton. that Ia 10
as meet II like meu-in the courts. You can
md. ha