The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-09
BELIEVED WILSON
FAVORS 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 n
striking exposition OF the salient points
on the puplic's side of this great rate
controversy. 1t is an open n 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 case in which the railroads in
the eastern territory are asking a 5
| per cent increase, IN increase which
will be felt heavily in Iowa and all
through the middle west.
President Wilson wants he Increase
allowed to the railroads. While ship
| pers state commissions in Iowa n
seven other western states, the Nation
al Live Stock association and many
other elements, to say nothing of ul-
innate are opposing the IN
ers have let it become Know he
wants it and will be disappointed if 1T
is not allowed.
The Daniels Fight.
For days, it has been known the pres
fdent wanted the rate increased. But
yesterday and today the situation has
become more plain, some of the enate
III - - "oIu L liz SClsdIS
in the course of the fight on Winthrop
Moore Daniels tina the president be-
lieved it was time to 'let 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
Commerce commission would give the
railroads "a fair show"
~ T,o-sl--4L
the principle hat is guiding him in
the selection of public servants. ex-
pressing the view hat he did not be-
l1eve 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 it seemed Justice was the hardest
thing in the world TO obtain and that
1t required more courage and con-
science than any other one thing. Mr..
Wilson was discussing his appointment
of Prof. Winthrop M. Daniels to the
Interstate Commerce commission. The
confirmation obtained only after a Wig
orous Senate contest. The president
referred to Mr.. Daniels as a just and
enlightened man. whom he had known
intimately for % years and who he
considered of unusual ability.
MIR. Daniels was sworn in today as
a member of the commission.
Daniels is the man who favored adj
ding nearly so 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 it
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
a reasonable II 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 it.
1t is under such extraordinary cir
cumstances that Mr.. Thorne has writ
ten his letter.