The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-15
Railroads Have Wasted
Gold and Ink.
TEODY'S BACK is IRON
President and People One On This Is.
sue and the Mass of Literature
Poured Out by the Railroad
Educational Mill Falls
Flat.

Especial to News and Observer.)
Washington. ID. c., Nov. 14.-During
the summer the public was enter
tanned with articles appearing from
tine to time in various newspapers to
the effect that the views of President
Roosevelt on the railroad rate ques-
zion had materially changed and that
when the session of Congress opened
ii would be found that he was not
nearly as much in earnest as ne had
heretofore been reported to e. Such
articles usually went on to say how
the sentiment throughout the country
Vas changing in favor of the rail
roads, and predicted that no action
would be taken by Congress-
These predictions have scarcely
been verified. President Roosevelt
has come out more strongly than ever
IN favor of the passage of some bill
that will make the government the
Ccciding factor between shippers and
carriers in the matter Of railroad rates
End he is receiving hearty support
from members of Congress. of both
parties and both Houses. In fact
the situation from the railroad stand
point seems to he graver today than
ever before and the educational cam
n:tign which they have conducted ~
great expense and through numerous
agents seems to have wholly failed
To produce the results anticipated.
Last week the American Hardware
manufacturers Association in session
in this city. passed a resolution cor
daily endors nG the plans for rail
way regulation proposed by Pres-
dent Roosevelt and recommend that
such railway rate regulation be en-
acted by Congress at its next session. -
The passage OF this resolution was
preceded by considerable wire pulling,
although not of the Kind reported i'm
the press, as some of the most ac-
lively engaged IN opposing rate regu-
lation. who were reported as being
here for that purpose. were not here
and those who were here took no
part in the discussion. At the Joint
banquet of the National Hardware AS
Sociation and the American Hardware
Manufacturers Association. Repre-
sentative Burton. of Ohio, Was en-
Enthusiastically applauded when he de-
Clared that there should be no re-
bates granted 10 any favored mcr-
chant or manufactures. thas terminal
charges should be made equal to all
and that there should be general
lowering of rates.
\ gentleman VINO is strongly OPP
posed to the Presidents policy and
who has toured the country this sum-
mer attending conventions of various
sorts TO ascertain the sentiment on
this subject told me that while he
was satisfied the conservative business
clement in this country was opposed
TO government supervision of rail
way rates. he was surprised at the de-
termination SHOWN by President
Roosevelt. Il was told by some gen
tIemcn who saw the President" he
said that the President vas abso-
lutely rabid on the subject. and that
he denounced the railroads in the
strongest terms imaginable. He has
made up his mind that he is going to
got railroad rate. legislation out of
Congress this year. | quote the
above as an evidence that the Presi-
dent has not weakened. inspired re
ports To the contrary notwithstand ne.
Considerable interest attaches to the
announcement that the general pub
licity bureau of the railroad COM
hination would suspend operations as
its work had been very unsatisfactory.
II is said that nearly two million dol
lars. (although This figure is probably
excessively was raised by assessing the
railroads for this publicity campaign
and expensive headquarters were
opened in Chicago and various West
efn cities. and many agents were sent
throughout the country to interview
country editors and 10 persuade them
by one means and another to publish
matter supplied by the bureau. oiii-
ccs were also maintained in Boston
aud New York and some work was
attempted in Washington.
The Washington work was very I'M
successful. 1t opened with the circu-
Iation of what purported TO be ac-
counts of the hearings before the