Evening star., 1902-09-04
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTS
A BRIEF TALK BY SECRETARY
HITCHCOCK.
He Believes Mr.. Roosevelt is Actuated
by an Honest Desire for
the Peoples Good.

Secretary Hitchcock of the Department of
the Interior is now at his desk daily
after vacation of six weeks spent in rural
pursuits on his farm al Monadnock, N. H.
The harvest time was spent by him in the
field and he has returned to the city with
a ruddy brown complexion that betokens
good health. Mr.. Hitchcock has not had
much communication with political leaders
during these six weeks, but in way has
kept in touch with affairs. He believes that
no danger exists of any failure of the coun-
try to return a good working republican ma
jority In the House of Representatives. He
Is satisfied that when the Presidents policy
on the subject of legislation in relation to
the trusts is fully understood he will have
the Endorsement not only of the people at
large, but of the most conservative interests
as well.
DO you believe that great antagonism is
now felt toward Mr.. Roosevelt on the part
of leading financiers?" Mr.. Hitchcock was
asked by a Star reporter today.
Il would not use such strong word as
antagonisn," he replied. "Undoubtedly
there are people who differ from him, but
they cannot but absolutely indorse and ap-
prove his sterling honesty, integrity ana
sincerity. The only difficulty is that he
has been misunderstood. The people have
had idea that he intended to tear down
and pull to pieces these great financial In
terests and corporations, whereas the
speech he made the other day explains the
situation. He illustrated his purpose ad-
miraby when he said he did not regard it
as necessary to kill a patient in order to
make him well. The President, as | under
stand his purpose, simply means to enforce
a strict compliance with the laws as they
stand. That is what good citizenship
means as described by the President I do
not think there is the slightest occasion
for fear or anxiety for the commercial IN
terests of the country
DO you think the leaders in the financial
world feel that way about it?'
That l cannot say, because l have not
been in financial circles" he said. 1T
seems to me that is what they ought to feel
do his duty as he sees 1t and he sees it from
the very highest flame of citizenship He
will not swerve one iota from doing what
he believes to be for the best interests of
the people, who, after all, are sovereign"
Are the people at large back of him in
what he is doing?"
There is no question in my judgment
that the people of the country are absolute
ly behind MISUNDERSTANDING so, too. l
believe he will be the republican nominee
of the party two years hence, and that
he will be elected-furthermore, l believe
that he ought to be- There is not the
slightest question about that"
DO you think the claims the democrats
are making, in regard to Imperialism, the
trusts and the administration generally
will have any influence on voters?''
Il do not, because those claims are not
based on actual facts on honest interpre-
taton of the situation in the country | un-
derstand that their text book contains lot
of flimsy charges that will not hold water
Inc republican party is perfectly ready to
meet and dispose of these charges, which
they can easily do