The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-02-10
KEEN INTEREST WAS MANIFESTED IN
THE EASTMAN DISTANCE TARIFF BILL


their fellow men in the way of |
freight rate determinations are
against the bill. Some of the bright !
est men in the state are employed |
by the railroads and have millions |
at their control and are Johnny on
the twin cities from choice, but be-
cause they are forced there by the
railroad rates, and they draw labor
there. The only ones to be hurt by
the bill i'm the cities are these spe-
cially favored jObbers and manufac-
turers. With equal rates, the smaller
places can grow, and the labOring
men can get good homes Of their
own, in better localities TO raise
their families than amid the tempta-
tons Of city life.
Twin City Papers Unfair.
The twin city papers have not said
nluch of the eastman side of the
case. Some of the reporters said
that they could not be right, but
must follow instructions and give
The fellows with the long blue pen.
ellis had to be reckoned with. They
said that they considered the speaker
right. The speaker had prepared
letter answering his critics, which
he was going personally to mail to
the papers and commercial clubs of
the state, and so reach few of the
many people that the twin city pa
pers reach.
Matters "Were Rotten"
The speaker said that the further
he investigated, the rOttener he had
found the matter, and if the people
here knew it all they would be i'm st.
Paul with shOtguns 10 force the leg
islature to pass the eastman bill.
The speaker read letters written to
him by several men who roasted the
railroads and the twin cities, and
claimed that the only relief was
through the distance tariff. The lat
ter would build up the smaller cities
One red hot letter was from John
A. Applegate, editor of The Can
non Falls Beacon.
Answering what Mr.. Eaton. former
Iowa railway commissioners had said
elsewhere, Senator eastman said
that some of the packing plants in
Iowa had been closed by the big Chi
cago plants, which had bought them.
There are numerous, prosperous in
dependent packing plants in Iowa.
He had been told that twin city
mills had bought and closed two
Duluth mills, to get rid Of the COM
petition. The speaker read an ar
ticle or manufacturing in Iowa.
! Every place in that state had some
kind of a manufacturing plant. The
! law did not permit the big guns to
destroy the little fellows business.
Two cities are trying to hold down
/ the rest of the state in Minnesota.
! independence Is Wanted.
! The rural districts have as just
/ complaints as our fOrefathers of
+ 1776 had We want our independ-
ence. We do not want to cripple
the railroads, but want them to get
a just return. We are also proud
of the great cities, and would not
/ tear them down, but we believe that
! those two great twins are no longer
in need of a nursing bottle.
The wheat rate at Owatonna on
the Rock Island road is 81 cents pei
hundred. and for five years on the
/ Milwaukee 10 cents. recently reduced
! to 9 cents, which reduction MankatC
roads with the longest haul would
not be excluded from competing.
st. Paul and Minneapolis are not
the beginning and end of all things
There is now a barrier between this
section and Duluth as to make il
pay to go to Chicago with its high
rate. at is question for us in DIVA
tonna to know In which direction to
send our stuff" said Senator Cash
man.
Congestion Is Bad.
The Importance of a distance tar
if rate is to get down to natura
} conditions and do away with dis
examinations. 1t is not a good thins
; to longest cities. 1t is bad for al
but the real estate men. 1t is il
, congested cities that the white
plague and immortality thrive, and i
is best for humanity to spread out
, In Iowa they transport their goods
, without discrimination and will
, equal opportunities. Population j:
{ diffused. In Minnesota the farmel
, has the greatest burden to bear
> more than the laboring men in tn,
cities. He does not enjoy all of tn,
, fruits of his labor that he should
| as a great part has been takeI
1 from him, although he has wOrke,
, hard (but thank God nat so in Iowa
:. by men of skill and influence VIII
: have worked for greed.
4 Senator eastman closed with hear
5 ty applause. Answering questions, h
D said that his bill was an exact cop
4 Of the Iowa law. It might be hes
J, not to incorporate those rates in TIL
l. law, owing to the need of low rate
: in some points. However, it is eA
Y pcctCd that the commissions wi
4 name the Iowa rates, or very nearl
t so, or bring down a curse on thei