The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-04-09
BELIEVED WILSON
FAV0RS ADVANCE
~ IN FREIGHT RATES

Washington. April State Railroad
Commissioner Thorne, before departing
for Iowa after his appearance in the
increased freight rate case. dictated a.
letter on the rate situation to President
Wilson. The letter is a strong and
striking exposition Of the salient points
on the public's side of this great rate
controversy. 1t is an open one and
probably will be made public. Mr..
Thorne's reason for sending such a let
ter to the president is the remarkable
stand the White House is taking IN
this cas- in which the railroads In
the eastern territory are asking O. 5
per cent increase, an increase which
will be felt heavily in lows and all
through the middle west.
President Wilson wants the increase
allowed to the railroads. While ship
pers state commissions in Iowa and
seven other western states, the Nation
al Live Stock association and many
other elements, to say nothing OF ul-
Innate consumers. are opposing the IN
crease, the presidents closest advts-
ers have let it become known he
wants it n will be disappointed If 1t
is not allowed.
The Daniels Fight.
For days, 1t has been known the pres
ident wanted the rate increased. But
yesterday and today the situation has
become more plain, some of the Senate
democrats carried word to the Senate
in the curse of the fight On Winthrop
Moore Daniels that the president be-
lieVed it was time to '1et up on rail-
roads"
Today it was allowed to become
known at the White House that the
president knew Daniels views and
thought them right, and that he was
the sort OF man who on the Interstate
GNnT11 m nTnn RnTO IN fcGfnTN would UiUn tha
railroads "a fail show"
President Wilson today enunciated
the principle that is guiding him in
the sn:sction of public servants, ex-
pressing the view hat he did not be-
lieve in choosing men who would de-
eide questions in a certain way, but
those whom he knew to be just and
fair. The president remarked that to
him 1t seemed justice was the hardest
thing in the world TO obtain and that
1t required more courage and con-
science than any other n thing. Mr..
Wilson was discussing his appointment
of Prof. Winthrop M. Daniels to the
confirmation obtained only after a Wig
orous Senate contest. The president
referred to MI. Daniels as a just and
enlightened whom he had known
intimately for 25 years and whom he
considered of unusual ability.
Mr.. Daniels was sworn in today as
a member of the commission.
Daniels is the man who favored ad-
ding nearly 80 per cent to the real
value Of a Passaic gas plant for intan-
gible values.
His Influence Felt.
The Washington Evening Star, in an
article based On information from the
White House. says:
THE significance Of President Will
sons virile support of Winthrop M.
Daniels for Interstate Commerce COM
missioner just at the moment when IL
appeared certain Mr.. Daniels would be
defeated by radical influences in the
Senate, has not escaped sharp notice
in political and business circles, and
1t Is in line with information OF the
last few months that Mr.. Wilson is not
in sympathy with constant attacks on
railroads: moreover, that he will
greatly disappointed If the Interstate
Commerce commission does not grant
O reasonable and favorable increase Of
freight rates to eastern roads"
Though ii is not admitted that the
president is bringing pressure on the
commission to increase the rates, the
very fact that these articles are being
widely published with White House
sanction of the tenor indicated in itself
constitutes pressure on the commission,
and everybody knows 1t.
1t Is under such extraordinary cir
cumstances that Mr.. Thorne has writ
ten his letter..