The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-09
DENVER FETES
The PRESIDENT
Mr.. Roosevelt the Guest
at a Sumptuous Cham
Der of Commerce Banquet

S DENVER. Colo. May S.-The en-
tertainment of President Roosevelt by
the citizens of Denver tonight was a
fitting conclusion of a day of royal
welcome as he journeyed through the
State of Colorado from Glenwood
Springs. All the townspeople along
the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad,
over which the Presidential party
travelled, gathered at the stations to
greet the President and every evil
dence of good will was seen and heard.
The browning event came tonight
in the form of a banquet rendered
to President Roosevelt by the Denver
Chamber of Commerce in the Brown
Palace Hotel. Everything known to
the decorators art was called into use
to embellish the commodious banquet
hall. Tricolored streamers and shields,
interspersed with pictures of the Pres
fdent framed in hags, almost hid the
walls, and American Beauty roses on
the tables added color to the scheme.
Potted plants were literally distrib-
uted throughout the hall.
The menu was perfect. Throughout
the service OF the courses stringed in
struments blended in beautiful mel
ody.
President James Temple of the
Chamber of Commerce called the
guests to order and Chief Justice Will
liam H. Gabbert acted as POSTMASTER.
In brief speech Justice Gabbert in
troduced the President, who responded
to the toast. The Nation
After discussing various questions of
interest, the President took up the
question of railroad rate legislation as
follows:
1 want to say word as to a governmental
policy in which feel that this whole country
ought TO take great interest. and which is
itself but part of a general policy into which 1
think our Government go. L speak of
the policy of extending the powers of the In
terstate Commerce Commission and Of giving 1t
particularly the power TO fix rates and to have
Ne rates that they fix go into effect practically
at once. AS l say that represents, in my
mind. part of what should be the general policy
OF this country-the policy of giving, not to the
State, but to the national Government. an in
creased regulatory power over corporations.
important step, is connected with giving such
power over the great transportation corpora
lions of this country.
member that harm and not good will come
from the giving Of it. unless you give it with
for yourselves, but to do justice to others;
that you will be as jealous to do justice to
the railroads as to exact Justice from them.
We cannot afford in any shape or way In this
country to encourage feeling which would
do injustice to man OF property any
than we would submit to injustice from q
man of property.
We must make up our minds that nothing
but harm will come from any scheme to exer-
else much supervision that 1 advocate
over corporations. and especially over the
mon carriers, unless we have it clearly fixed
In our minds that the scheme is to be OF
substantial justice alike to the common
rier and to the public. If have the appoint
ment or direction of any commission and power
TO administer q law of such increased powers.
shall neither appoint nor retain the man. who
would fail to do justice to the railroad any
more than / would appoint or retain the man
q "a IL
road. i want that understood preliminary
that is. If have the appointment of any of
those men. their retention, they will give a
be short
wish to urge with all the earnestness pos
sess. not only upon the public. but upon those
interested in tho railroad corporations the abb
solute need OF acquiescence in the, enactment
Of such a law
Senator Thomas M. Patterson then
spoke to the toast, THE President
After the banquet the President and
his party were driven to the station
and entered their cars for the night.
The Rio Grande train bearing the
Presidential party arrived at the Union
station in this city promptly at $50
o'clock, and not hitch occurred in
the arrangements at the depot. The
Chamber of Commerce reception COM
mittee, headed by President Temple,
received the distinguished guest. AS
the President emerged from the sta
ton he became plainly visible to the
multitude being held in check on both
sides of the street by the police. A
great cheer rent the air and the PreSi-
dent DOTTED his hat and bowed smiling
ly. At the same time a detachment of
the United States Infantry from Fort
Logan and two cavalry troops of the
Colonial Guard saluted the President.
The Presidents carriage was drawn
up to the curbing and he entered with
elastic step. Along the route to the
Brown Palace throngs barred the
streets and waved flags and cheered
vigorously The President paid marked
attention to the women and children
in the lines. smiling with evident
pleasure at the latter.
At 7:15 o'clock the President re-
ceived the members of the Denver
Press Club in his rooms at the Brown
Palace, and was initiated as an hon
orary member of the club. A solid
gold membership card, made of Colo
RADIO precious metal, with his name In
scribed thereon as the first honorary
member of the club, was presented to
the President This was accepted in a
brief but feeling speech of apprecia-
tion,, and then the President shook
hands with all the members of the
club.