New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-07
PRESIDENTS RATE POLICY
H STATES 1T IN TEXAS.
a Square Deal for the Public and
the Railroads, Too.

Apsstn. Tex. April 6.-President Roosevelt
Arrived at Austin this afternoon on schedule
Eme. He addressed the members OF the legis-
Isture and later made a speech to citizens in
lbe public square. In his address TO the legis-
lature he said:
No President OF The United States, no good
American. proud OF his country, could enter
fSis Capitol and stand IN this hall without feel
Tnr a certain thrill OF pride in his citizenship
sn6 n the history OF the country's past This
6uilding in which we are now IS not only one Of
kbe largest. but one OF the most beautifu! OF its
k1nd throughout the world. II is eminenuy
6fting that so great State should have so fine
There are one or two things that I should
Axe particularly 10 say IN this chamber ana 10
fbe mem hers of the Texas legislature. received
a copv Of the resolution passed by your body,
Introduced. 1 understand, by former Minister
Terrell in reference 10 the passage OF the Inter-
STATE Commerce act. ! wish 10 thank you most
heartily for what you did. I think, Governor
bnd Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen that the long
er our experience in public office Is the more we
realize that al least % per cent, II not more OF
5be work Of importance done by any public Of
sfcer who is worth his salt, has nothing what
Fver 10 DO with partisan politics The things
sbar concern us ali as good citizens are infinitely
larger than the matters concerning which we
are divided one from the other along party lines
THE RULE OF ACTION
Fu-damentally our attitude in our foreign af-
fairs and in reference 10 foreign nations must
sn the long run. II We are TO be successful as a
s,eonle be based upon certain common sense
Iules Of conduct. the identical rules upon which
every eelf-respecting citizen must base his pri-
nate actions This is especially true as regards
81 questions dealing with capital and labor, and
especially in dealinF with the great aggregations
pf capital usually 10 be found in corporate FORM
Through which so much OF our business at the
hresent DAY is conducted. II is essential in
dealing thus by legislative action with corporate
wealth. or, indeed, with wealth N any loTIn'
ahat sge remember and act upon certain rules
simple enough and common sense enough TO
Etate but not always easy when 1t comes TO
acting upon them. Most emphatically
not, as good Americans. bear hostility 10 any
rich man as such any more than 10 any poor
Rnan as such. Ny experience has been that the
man who talks overloudly Of his hostility TO
corporate wealth cannot be trusted to act quite
20 the way he talks.
II Is good Thing 10 have moderation in State
affairs, but TO make your deeds bear out abso-
butey your words.
NOT HOSTILE TO THE RAILROADS.
With that preliminary would like 10 say. in
brief Just what my position is as regards this
particular question with which I have had to
deal. and regards which the Texas legisla-
ture took the action so much appreciated.
On the whole there have been few instru-
Ilents in the economic development OF the coun-
Ery which have done more for the country than
fhe railroads do not wish IN any share or
way 10 interfere with the legitimate gain Of any
lOf those great men whose special Industrial
loapacity enables them to handle the railroads
iEo as 10 be OF profit 70 themselves and Of ad-
vantage 10 all Of us / should be most reluctant
~ VIII put II stronger than that, should alb
boluteiy refuse-to be party 10 any measure.
proper and legitimate prosperity OF those men;
bnd I should feel that such measure was
aimed, not only at them, but all Of us for
Ettack upon the legitimate prosperity OF any of
as is in the long run sure to turn into an attack
epon al
With that proviso. as TO which ask you 20
remember that mean literally every word. let
bne further add that the public has a right, not
. privilege. but, In my view. duty, to see that
there is in SIS behalf exercised such a super
iyisogy and regulatory power over the railroads
ss win insure that while they give fair treat
ulenf. they themselves get IL in return.
The proper exercise OF that power is condi-
idoned upon the securing of proper legislation,
which viii enable the representatives Of the
Ruonc 70 see 70 Il that any unjust or oppressive
er discriminating rates are altered so to he
Bust and fair rates and are altered Immediately.
HIS RAILROAD RATE BOARD
know perfectly well that when you give that
power there Is chance Of its being occasionally
20 the representatives OF the people which it is
not possible 10 abuse AS every one knows the
power q taxation, which must. OF course. be
given 70 the representatives OF the people is the
power Of DEATH for Il Is possible to kill any in
sduEtry by excessive taxation There must be
pertain trust placed IN the common sense and
the common honesty OF those who are TO en-
Eorce the law.
" Il ever falls, and : think Il will, 90 my lot
20 noninate a board TO carry cut such a law,
Fha nominate men, az far "a ! am able, on
ivhoSs sbility, courage and integrity can eountj
fnon who will not be swayed by any influence
f'AAloeefs uFecG or inalFceEg SOCIAL politicai or
fHy OthOr, 20 show improper favoritism for the
Railroads and who, or the other hand. IL a rail-
road is unjustly attacked, no matter that at.
pack has behind IL the feeling prejudice Of
- per cent Of the people, will stand up against
Fhat attack ThRt is my Interpretation Of the
eeetrine Of the square deal.
PRAISE FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD.
want 70 say Just one more word on an
tlrely different subject I have always taken
q great interest IN the National Guard Of this
HountTy. II ig our pride that we have the small
sst possible regular army. There Is not another
aFst class power there is not second or third
tFely 10 its population and wealth, very much
larger regular army than We have. We DO not
need anything but small regular army We
Aeeo and must and shall have the very best
regular army OF its size that is TO be had any
"here. We do not need a large regular army,
salslng volunteer troops. Those posi- ibilties are
ssFgely conditioned upon the excellence OF the
National Guard
Since I have been IN Texas. at almost
every stopping place there have been members
eI me National Guard. companies Of the Ma
Aeeplng crowds Ia order. in preventing any
uolnle Of any kind. in keeping the whole pro-
oeeaings orderly and proper. have been i'm
sNsnseiy struck with their eOld4eTlike efficiency
y ls only what ought 20 expect. When ] was
iast IN Texas I was engaged, with certain
SSihers, IN raising a volunteer regiment, and as
! mink know good thing when see IL, got
1neni
Your whole history from the days Of Austin
enc Houston and Davy Crockett right 20 the
present time. shows what splendid lighting ma
70 10 not