Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-04
international Railway
Congress Opened at
Washington.
FAIRBANKS A SPEAKER
Delegates Representing Every
Road of Importance in
World Attend.

| Washington, May 4.-The Interna-
tiOnal Railway congress was formally
opened today by Vice President Fair
banks. Every railroad of importance
in the world was represented Fair
banks discussed at some length the
purposes of the congress. He welcom-
ed the delegates to the United States
and congratulated this country that
the congress was holding its seventh
session here
Object of Meeting.
He said in part:
The sessions of the International
Railway congress are of far-reaching
moment. They bring into closer fell
lOwship distinguished and able repre-
sentatives of many nations inspired by
wholesome, common impulse. They
bring together those who are engaged
in promoting the arts of peace, and
who are desirOus of advancing the wei
fare of mankind They enlarge the
circle of international acquaintance
and tend to preserve international
amity- They exphasize the fact that
our common good is to be promoted
by the maintenance of a broad, frater-
nal, international spirit.
FaVOrs Arbitration.
''While deliberating upon methods to
promote the efficiency of the railway
let us hope that you may cultivate
purpose to promote the adjustment.
through the arbitrament of reason, so
far as may be done consistently with
national honor, of those perplexing
IL, til, o,feA 70
menace the worlds peace. The nation
which seeks an honorable settlement
of differences with its neighbors in
some other manner than by the sword
is not decadent: it is not wanting in
national vrility 1t is merely mani
Testing an advanced degree of cfviliza'
ton. 1t is evidencing the fact that
the barbaric strain has run out of its
blood
Morton Speaks.
Washington, May 4.-Many members
of the international railway congress
were guests last night of the Ameri-
can Railway guild at banquet Dur
ing the speech making Secretary Nor
ton took occasion to give fresh express
sion to President RoOsevelt's ambition |
railroad rate legislation. His |
toast was THE President of the United |
States" Morton, referring to the rail |
road question, said the president |
wants nothing but that which is right, |
and he is just as anxious that no in |
justice be done the railroads as he is |
that justice shall be done to the pub
lie
Around World I'm Seven Seconds.
At midnight Secretary Morton open
ed a switch on the grounds of the
American railway appliance exhibition
which started the time signal from the
naval observatory on its way around
the world. The progress of the signal
was illustrated by the delegates to the
railway congress and
heir friends by electric lights placed
On a map of the world. II was thought
that owing TO war in the far east it
might not be possible to make the cir
,uit of the earth last night. However.
when Morton opened the switch five
minutes before midnight, the lights on
he map of the United States flashed
every second until II
o'clock A long flash indicated that
he signal had been sent. and in just
seven seconds every light on the map
vas lighted. showing according to the
that the signal had com
oleted its circuit
President Stuyvesant Fish, of the II
inOis Central, also spoke