The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-20
q. 8. LOTUS LOSES FIGHT
FoR LIFE WITH CANCER
Minneapolis Grain Man Was
Leader In Rate Battles With
Railroad0

Involving suits or organizations
of shippers against railroads, had
made him known throughout the
country. He was the prime
mover in the famous reciprocal
demurrage case, the sleeping car
and express rate and other cases.
Mr.. LOTUS, who not yet 43
years of age when he died last
night, made determined fight for
life. In October last year he
took the autolysin treatment at
Eitel hospital, Minneapolis. His
case drew the attention of medi-
cal world. After the treatment
he went to Florida.
In New York, later. Mr.. LOTUS
consulted DR.. Silas Beebe, a can
Ger specialist, and came back to
Minneapolis June, 18th. Until
within a few days of his death, at
the home of his brother-in-law,
Ray S. Trautmen, 5i29 Como ave-
nue., St. Paul, Mr.. Lotus still
kept up the fight.
Leaves Wife and Children
Although Mr.. Lotus had spent
most of the time just prior to
his illness in st. Paul, he had liv-
ed all of his life in Minneapolis.
He is survived by his wife and
four children, Grace IS, Kather-
inc II, Helen is and Robert La
toilette LOTUS, 8; two sisters,
Mrs. Ray S. Ttrautman and Mrs.
Ola Hohle, st. Paul, and his aged
father, James Lotus, St. Paul.
The funeral service will take
place at 2 p. m., Wednesday at
Gethsemane Episcopal church,
Fourth avenue S. end Ninth st.,
of which he was member, and
Rev. G. A. Ten Brock will con-
duct the service The interment
will be at Lakewood cemetery.
George S. Lotus began his
business career in the freight de-
partment Of the Minneapolis &
st. Louis road, becoming an ex-
pert on freight rates before he
reached his majority
Long Engaged in Railroadins
Mr.. LOTUS was born in DE
Soto, Wis, Aug. goth. 1873, and
came with his parents to Min
neapolis in 1882. During his
first year in Minneapolis he work.
ed as newsboy, but at 10 years
of age he got place as messeng-
er in freight department Of the
Minneapolis & st. Louis. He was
chief clerk in the department at
20. Later he went to the s..
Paul & Duluth as assistant gem
eral freight agent. When that
road was absorbed into the North
ern Pacific system. Mr.. LOTUS was
27 years old. He decided to g"
into business. and became assoc
lated with l.. +. Hubbard. form
er governor, in the Loftus-Huh-
bard company, dealing in grain
and hay. The company first
operated i'm st. Paul. hut latei
moved its Offices to Minneapolis.
Mr.. LOTUS soon came in con-
nict with the railroad companies
Oil rate matters. :tc first attack
ed some of the roads for "ebating
practices. securing. the conviction
of three roads for vioating the
federal law. H.. took up the que>-
tion of ''rcciprocal dcnurrage
and got laws enacted by Mlnn"S"-
ia and several other states. re-
uuring railroad companies t."
pay shippers for delays i'm furnish
ing ears. but these laws were de-
clared invalid by the courts.
Fights Sleeping Car Rates
Better success attended Mi.
LOTUS tilt with the sleeping car
companies. He filed complaint
with the interstate commerce com
mission attacking the prevailing
rates for berths as excessive.
This finally resulted in an order
applying the country over, MAX
ing upper herths 20 per cent
cheaper than lowers. Mr.. LOTUS
was active in the campaign for
lower freight and passenger rate,
in Minnesota. which resulted in
the rate laws of 1907, later upheld
by the supreme court of the Unit
ed states.
He became interested in politics
and came in contact with R. NJ.
La Toilette, then governor and
now senator from Wisconsin
They became warm personal
friends. and in the campaigns OF
1908 and 1912, Mr.. Lotus work.
ed hard for La Follette's nomina-
ton for president. He served
for years as president of the Pro-
gressive Republican league Of
Minnesota. Mr.. LOTUS backed
Senator B. f. Sundberg of Ken
nedy. Minn., in his famous COM
plant against excessive express
rates which resulted in sweeping
reat reductions, some time before
the parcel post legislation was
enacted.