The news & observer., 1905-12-17
YEA, TEDDY DID
ALL THE TALKING
And He Lectured the
Blackburn Cohorts.
THEY SWALLOWED IT
The Sweet They Kept in Their Mouths.
The Bitter They Gagged Down
and Tried to Forget. Hence
the Grin They
Wore.
By THOMAS j. PENCE

Washington d. c., Dec. 16.-
Gradually the full story of the con-
ference between the President and the
Blackburn cohorts at the White
House Thursday is being unfolded.
Today certain things were dropped
by some of the visiting insurgents
that give a changed aspect to certain
developments previously reported. 1t
is known that the President lectur-
cd his visitors and said some very
plain things. Probably his most inter-
eSting remark was withheld by Mr..
Blackburn'S supporters who were full
of the things that the President said,
which could be construed to be favor
able to their cause. The President
said he wished to the very bottom OF
his heart that there was no patro-
mage to distribute among Republicans
in the South. In this connection he
spoke of the eternal rows that exist
among Republicans in Southern
States over the distribution of patro-
mage. 81 am sure the party in the
South would be better Off" the Pres
ident is quoted as saying 'if there
were no offices to be fought over
One of the Republicans present
said today that Mr.. Roosevelt was ev-
identity in bad humor, and that his
manner indicated he was displeased
with the presence of the visiting Re
publcans.
Roosevelt -Lcctured Them.
"I was surprised" said the visitor,
for | thought we were to be heard.
Instead of that the President did all
the talking. Blackburn started off to
speak. having reduced his line of
Il ~
interrupted h m with evidences of i'm
patience, and then proceeded to give
us a gentle lecture. All of us were
surprised, but could say nothing. The
President showed that his sympathies
arc with Judge Pritchard. He spoke
of the agreement signed by Rollins
and Black burn, and said he was going
to recognize it to the letter. He re-
ferrcd to the fact that he had talk
ed with Judge Pritchard about the
agreement, and that it must be car
ried out. Mr. Roosevelt referred to
the revenue cases on trial in the
state, and made it clear that he favor
ed vigorous prosecution of all per-
sons charged with crime. His ref
erence to the Anderson charges was
made with much feeling. He almost
denounced Anderson, alleging that the
institution of action in the courts was
Pres dent seemed to have no concern
about the charges of nepotism, though
I attribute this to miSn formation
that has been given him by the organ
i3ation crowd. There W. very little
that was said by the President that
is favorable to our cause, unless it
he his remarks regarding third terms.
| don't think Blackburn is going to
get anything. beyond what is conce-
-; 4 tI1C ritz ION lcrYn nj q
will name the mashal and contral
patronage in his district, and that
is ALL Most of us were in bad humor
when we left the White House. 1
was downright mad. There was an
understanding that the true situation
should not be disclosed.
This statement came from every
plain-spoken man. Undoubtedly muGh
that he said is true. He has no mo-
tive for misreorcsenting the situa-
ton, though it must be said that he
is not much of fighter. The Pres
ident is carrying out the Blackburn
Rollins agreement The big question
is what will he do about the other
Offices?
w. ~, kitchin on Rates.
REPRESENTATIVE w. w. Kitchin. who
is one of the most earnest advocates
VI ltilNcy I1le uldLlOu IN Coil-
grcss, is of the opinion that meri-
torious measure will pass the House,
but he has his doubts about the sound
ness of the proposed legislation after
it has gone through the Senate legis-
lation mill. This suspicion that the
Senate will modify the bill that is to
be enacted into law is well night uni
verSal. Mr. Kitchin. who has given
this subject much study. said in re-
ply to a request for a statement re-
garding the proposition to confer upon
the Interstate Commerce Commission
the rate making power:
"The owner of a grist mill who is
not tho creature Of the law submits to
the mower of the government which
forbids him to CHARGE excessive toll.
RAILROAD corporations are creatures
of the law for the benefit of the public.
They have the power to tax the COM
merce of the country and usually with
out the restraint of competition-the
system of each railroad syndicate gen.
orally having a practical monopoly of
the traffic in the field of its operations.
The agencies of these svndicateS fix the
rates and. it is not violent to presume,
fix them in accordance with the de-
mands of greed rather than the prin
,ciples of equity. considering what will
the traffic bear rather than what is
right As never before we are now
tauoht that Great wealth and high
place do not guarantee honesty and
fair dealing and it is apparent that
the government must protect the peo