The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-27
Members Welcomed to Topeka
by AID Club President.
W.P. HEMPHILL TALKS
Fires Opening Gun in Fight for
Rate Legislation.
End Free Service Evil - Place
All ON Equal Footing.

present and others arriving from all
parts Of the state hourly, the eleventh
| annual convention of the Kansas Inde-
pendent Telephone association opened
this morning at the Hotel Throop.
| Address of welcome was delivered by
E w. Rankin, president of the Topeka
Ad club. Mr. Rankin babe the visitors
| feel at home in the capital city and
turned the keys of Topeka over to
them. Strange to say no public official
was present to speak to the telephone
| men, to tell them of the advantages OF
| Topeka and to explain why it is the
| leading city of Kansas in all things. As
| ever it remained for private citizens to
| give Topeka justice and to place her
| Alright in the eyes Of those who have
| entered within her gates. Mr.. Rankin
| dubbed over with words of good fell
| lowship and hospitality. The speaker
I told the Hello men to consider Topeka
| their own and do with it what they
would. His speech or rather little heart
| to heart talk was warmly received.
Charles Morris of Holton, Kan, re-
piled to the remarks of Mr.. Rankin
1 and accepted, on behalf of the associa-
| ton, the freedom of the city. Mr.. Nor
| ris declared that the association well
knew the position of Topeka as a city
and the character of her people as en-
tertainers. In general terms the speak
| the organization came to this city con-
fdent that the right hand of fellowship
would be extended toward them.
President w. p. Hemphill of the as
ISOLATION is a much disappointed man
today. Governor W. r. Stubs and
Attorney General Fred S. Jackson had
promised Mr.. Hemphill they would adj
dress the convention at Its session
Thursday night. Both the governor
and attorney general had to break their
appointments. Governor Stubs Is out
in a big automobile doing his best to
check the gathering Wagstaffish storm,
while the states chief law officer is at
tending to legal business for the people.
At the conclusion of the talk of Mr..
Morris, President w P. Hemphill de-
ivered his annual address, which is as
'ollows:
MANY events have transpired since
our last meeting in this city some 1 5
months ago, but nothing, however, that
should discourage or embarrasS the up
to-date telephone man or cause him to
lose faith or interest in his work. The
object of this association as presently
organized, is to promote the welfare
of the members in a business way, ex-
change ideas of management, and the
handling of equipment, the study of
bookkeeping methods and to foster and
encourage a fraternal and Corpora
tive policy of operation. So far as we
have been able to judge, these associa-
tons and the interchange of ideas have
been helpful in many ways and have
been the means of creating in the minds
of those engaged in the business a
sense of obligation one to the other
that is absolutely uneQuaIled in any
line of commercialism. These ties of
friendship are the result very largely
of association influence.
"If all this be true can we not gain
still greater benefits from an organiza-
ton that not only affords the social
and business Interchange of ideas and
experiences but which offers uniform
a -alsVr r11n 1lNcrs0 "a
greatest objection that is ever raised
by the investor to our business is the
fear that some neighboring telephone
man in a close by town will disregard
his obligations and sell his property to
our competitor SO that We lose his con-
nection. Stop and consider for mo-
ment-is not the breaking of our con-
nections abou. the only serious thing
The public, while appreciating the
benefits of competition. offers the
greater share of it's business to you
because you have made good. What
then is needed to make your business
one of the best and safest in the world
but the continued assurance that your
connections are safeguarded? Such a
plan of organization has been carefully
worked out by the most thoughtful
men in the telephone business and is
warranted to stand the legal test. The
plan is based on a membership con-
tract which is to run for a period of
years In this contract, the applicant
pledges that his property will remain
a part of the National Independent
Telephone system of the United States
for the period named This does not
prevent him from selling this property
to whomsoever he may wish, and it
should be the means of bringing thous-
andS of dollars of new money into the |
independent field. 1t is the lack of
away. Give 20 the Independent ex-
change the protection that this MEM |
bership agreement guarantees and YOU |
nave removed the greatest barrier that
STANDS In the way of securing financial |
assistance from the investing public. |
NO legitimate criticism other than the |
weakness OF our connection contracts |
can be offered against our business. |
me protection which modern construc- |
ton methods and equipment affords |
has completely robbed the telephone |
industry of its hazards and has placed /
IL In much safer and stable condi- |
ton as regards risk than the usual and |
ordinary commercial enterprise Our
business has o deal with an essential |
service to commercial and social life |
and must of necessity be perpetuated.
The foundation for our existence is |
necessity ana the Importance of this |
necessity instead of diminishing with |
the development of our country's re- /
sources must inevitably increase in
greater protection. The story of the |
telephone has not half been told. Each /
succeeding generation will find addi- |
tional uses for it. Such a business as
this can lay claim to financial support |
from those who have means to invest /
and under Judtcfous management Will |
render safe return.
Must Know Their Business
The trouble has never been with the
telephone business. It is always the
fault Of those who do not know how to :
conduct it. You would not take a man
from a blacksmith shop and expect hin,
to make a successful banker. Nor would
J you think of condemning the banking
Business tpcailSc If 1,ic- foiI.,ro uy,. 1