Arizona republican., 1910-01-02
A LETTER AND A REPLY
Continued from Page 1.)

from Phoenix were higher than they should be when compared with the rates from Fl Paso and points III Nevada and Utah. Akers got busy as we were a1ter- ward told and persuaded the cattemen not to come be fore us Later his paper announced that we had tned to induce them present their case to s ana that our object was to nure them with the interstate commerce commission At any rate the cattlemen did not appear < It is matter of common knowledge that when we made complaint in the matter of the frelght rates OH the Gila Valley Globe & Northern railway, Akers pa ner sneered at the undertaking and said 1t was farce We accomplished reduction of "A per cent We asked the railways to reduce passenger fares one cent me
 went to Chicago and conferred With the santa re or fcias and got their assent requested reductions on the Santa Fe branch lines in Arizona The Southern Pa cific at the request of the cOnmlsson made similar reduction on the PhOenX-MaricOpa line. Altogether, this reduction made saving of $6oOoo yearly to 5ne travelling public Akers paper sneered at it, and sad It was of substantially value to the public.
 We asked for reduction in class rates. reduc- ton on westbound freight from Fl PasO granted only
 few days ago, amounting on the average to more than 20 per cent, and meaning saving of million ana ha dollars yearly shippers in Arizona This reduction however abolished the special rates on the Phoenlx Eastern thereby increasing those rates as detailed the other day in The Republican, The railway commission promptly notified the railway people Of the commas sionS objection to the abolition of this sOcaed JObber rae and it to be hoped that there will be the modca ton that the Phoenix merchants desire Akers paper promptly came out and sneered at this reduc
 on and saving to the people of the territory and actual y had the to insist that rates instead o beng re duced were increased And so it has gone throughout the work of the commission always sneers and oppO sitiOn from Akers and his paper.
 Time and again, Mr. Bicknell and l. in talking with in divdual members of the Commercial club, urged them to to office, look at our correspondence, and give the benefit of their suggestions The influence of Akers always directed against any amcable re- lations between the commission and the club
 Did this indicate any sincere desire on hls part to promote the interests of the club and its members! {! Does it not indicate rather, purpose his part to keep the rate question unsettled and in turmoil to appeal prejudice of the club members and thereby make them believe that he and his paper alone were their friends?
 My Relations to The Republican
 Akers has fostered the idea that while in the service publican and that the Commercial club target for articles from He has industrously charged by n- nuendo that the purchase of the Republican property not purchase in good faith and that simply in my present position representative of railway interests, especially of the interests of Mr. Frank M. Murphy.
 My first employment on The Republican in 1901, when was acting secretary to Governor Aur phy retired from office the following year, and for three years the editorial articles hired edi tor When Governor Kbbey took office in 1905, he in vted to be his secretary. Accepting continued for
 few months to write editorial articles for the paper but only to limited extent, and in September of that year resigned, because of my inability to agree with the management the policy of the paper Governor Kibbey had started his movement for increasing the taxes of the great mines of the territory. Mr. Frank M Murphy who had controlling interest in the paper ap proved O the governors position that the taxes ought to be increased but did not approve the plans formulated by the governor agreed with the governor Finding that could not shape the policy of the paper in this sPect as desfed resigned, a1ter some sharp core spondence with MT. Murphy on the subject (And Il think may say incidentally that believe am the only man who ever voluntarily gave up good newspaper job in Arizona because he could not cOnscentOsy write as his employers desred).
 Akers knew these facts
 For four years thereafter until September last wrote but single editorial for The Republican and that was the death of Governor Murphy Nor in that time did inspire editorial other article except when was quoted territorial officer And in that time was not n the office of the paper exceed half dOzen times 44 aE
 would not wish have it understood from this that was on ulfriendy terms with the Republican people, Nor would have 1t understood that was or an if- friendly to Mr. Murphy. On the contrary, notwthstand- ing the various times that have found ourselves on sharply opposing sides of sundry questions we have beleve retained respect and regard for each other