The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-25
NO FREIGHT CUT
Representatives of Seven Rail-
roads Meet With Gov. Allen.
Offer Only Sympathy to Kansas
Wheat Growers.
SHOW INTEREST IN THE PLAN
Suggest That Rate Problem Be
Handled by /. C. C.
Leave in Afternoon, After
Pleasant Visit to Topeka.
SHOW INTEREST IN THE PLAN

There will be no freight rate reduc-
tions-just now
Representatives of seven big Kansas
railroads came to Topeka Friday to
listen to the sorrow song of the farm
ers as sung by Governor Allen and
Clyde NJ. Reed. chairman of the pub
lie utilities commission. When the
afternoon trains were leaving for Chi
cago and st. Louis. it became appar-
ent that the railroad heads had done
a bit of singing themselves.
No Voluntary Reduction.
The meeting was called to recite
the woes Of the man with a riding
pillow and his need of lower freight
rates. During the meeting transporta-
ton officials had quite a bit to say
about the labor and industrial prob
lens. finance and credits. They not
only went home without promising
voluntary reduction in rates on wheat.
but they left a broad and general in
timation that any campaign for relief
might be broadened to cover their own
business.
There were numerous officials of
the principal railroads in the confer
ence. They listened to statements by
the governor and the utilities COM
mission head regarding price slumps
on almost everything except freight
hauls. They heard the story of long
days of perspiration and toll on the
farm and troubled sleepless nights
when the grain prices went down, but
prices of things the farmers bought
stayed UP. The governor and Reed
were loaded with statistics and COM
parsons on the cost of everything
from pig iron to a nights rest in
Broadway hotel. Always the farmer
got the worst of it. But here was the
one chance to do some missionary
work in his behalf. Would the rail-
roads voluntarily take a bit of slack
out of the wheat rates?
They Were Sympathetic.
Rail representatives. tho, had ap-
parently held little gloom meeting
of their own. They were broadly SYM
pathetic with the farm situation. 1t is
bad. There was no tendency to deny
it. In fact there was a unanimous
sentiment to pass resolutions in their
behalf. But the governor and Reed
doubted seriously whether the wheat
growers could negotiate the resolutions
men told little more of their own
troubles.
Thus they spent the afternoon. It
was a fine setting for a day of clouds
and gloom-Friday is unluclxy anyway
and intermittent showers knocked
out all chances of golf. The governor
had shown a broad, brotherly feeling.
He didn't receive the railroad repre-
sentatives in his office. There was far
more warmth and consideration than
is shown in the average conference.
Something of the personal touch was
big luncheon in Governor Aliens
home. That was the scene of the aft
ernoon discussion.
Interested in Plan.
When evening came the railroad
men fastened to reassure Governor
Allen that they were keenly interested
in his plan. that it was a worthy eff
fort and that any move to relieve the
farmers would meet their earnest ap-
probation. They also urged him to
maintain a watchful lookout for any
opportunity to do a little good for the
railroad business. They thanked the
governor AID Mrs. Allen for the ex-
cellent luncheon and once or twice
offered to discuss future governorship
prospects with Chairman Reed. Then,
as they sorrowfully departed, they
suggested that perhaps after all the
rate problem should be handled thru
the interstate commerce commission.
Officials who attended the confer
ence to discuss wheat freight rates
were: For the Santa Fe: w. B.
Storey, Chicago, president; F. H
Houghton. Chicago, freight traffic
manager: ]. r. Koontz, Topeka, as
sistant traffic manager. For the
Frisco: ]. NJ. Kurn, st. Louis. presi-
dent; A. Hilton, st. Louis. vice presi-
dent in charge of traffic. Rock Is
land; S. H. Johnson. Chicago, vice
president and freight traffic manager
Missouri Pacific: W. A. Hanback,.
st. Louis. freight traffic manager.
Union Pacific: Frank W. Robinson,
Omaha, freight traffic manager.
Burlington: H. H. Holcomb, Chicago,
freight traffic manager. Missouri,
Kansas & Texas. George T. Atkins. ST.
Louis, freight traffic manager.