The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-24
MERGER OF RAILROADS
FAVORED BY VICE PRESIDENT OF
 NEW YORK CENTRAL.
Says in the Future the Recent Decision of the Supreme Court May Be Looked Upon as
 Mistake.

Chicago, May 23.-Five hundred members of the Illinois Manufacturers Association and their guests were present at the banquet of that organ ization which was held tonight at the auditorium hotel.
 President B. A. Eckhardt of the as- sociation, presided. The, chief address of the evening was made by William c. Brown, vice president of the New York Central Railroad Company, who spoke on our Country and Cur Rail- roads"
 He declared that the greatness and progress of the nation had depended upon the development of the railroad and that one had grown at the same rate as the other. He indirectly de- clared himself in favor of the combi- nation of railroads. and cited numer- ous circumstances in tho history of the country where people had declar- ed against such combinations, where the courts had sustained the conten- tions of the people, and yet the logic of events had shown both the people and courts to have been mistaken.
 His description of the fight made by public to prevent the building of bridges, etc, provoked much laughter In his speech he said:
 Tt Is not possible that the language of the majority of the Supreme Court in recently deciding an appeal case may in the light of the years to come seem to reflect the clamor of the pub lie. rather than the calm, judicial re- view of a great question by this ex- alted tribunal If this shall prove to be the case, 1t will simply be another remarkably exact repetition of history in cases having many closely analag- ous features.
 By legislative amendment or by ju- dicial interpretation the question of reasonable restraint of commerce, as against any restraint whatever, must become a part of the sherman anti trust law and must be con>s dered in its enforcement or obstacles to conner cial and industrial progress are likely to be interposed. the gravity of which no one can foresee, and only tho lapse of years can determine"
 Melville F. Stone spoke on '"The Rus so-Japanese War" He made an earn est plea for neutrality on the part of the citizens of this country, saying that he asked for 1t not in let ter or act alone. but in es- sence and spirit. He declared that Russia had been the strong and consistent friend of the American re- 
 down to the present time and recount ed numerous historical facts to prove | his assertion. He declared that in all 1 probability had 1t not been for the at- | titude of Russia during the civil war other nations of Europe would have intervened in the struggle and the re- ! suit would have been the disruption of the nation.
 Our obligation to Japan, he said. was of a different character but no less binding.
 Tt is," he said. the obligation of the parent to the child. From the event full day when Perry thundered at hel gates and forced their opening. JapaI has been led step by step into tn, paths of western civilization by tn,
 United States. Her sons have beer graduated at Yale and Harvard. He
 own universities have been taught b, American professors. Her ministers Q
 state are from our universities; he
 best admirals from our naval schools
 her scientific engineers from our tech
 nical institutions"