Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-20
Trans-M s-Mississippi Con-
qress in Session at
Kansas City.
A BANQUET PRECEDES
Secretary Root and E. H. Har-
rlman Clash Over Rail-
way Control.

Kansas City. Nov 2O.-When the
18th annual session of the Trans-Mis-
sissippi Commercial congress assem-
bIed today the vast auditorium of the
convention hall was crowded with del
egates. guests and' spectators. The
congress was called to order by J. r.
Case of Abilene. Kan. member of the
executive committee.
Many Bid welcome.
Following him welcoming address
was made by Colonel Fred Fleming of
Kansas City, Senators Stone and War
ner,. and Governor Folk of Missouri.
Governors Hoch of Kansas, Mickey of
Nebraska. and Frantz of Oklahoma.
David r. Francis, president of the con-
gress, delivered his annual address.
which was followed by H ID. LOveland
of San Francisco, E. II. Hartman, and
others.
Root Replies 10 Hartman.
Kansas City. Mo. Nov 2O.-The most
interesting feature of the Commercial
club banquet last night was Edward II.
Harriman's criticisms Of government
regulation of railroads. and Secretary
Roots vigorous reply.
Mr. Hartman in his address said:
''In his speech in Harrisburg recent
" President Roosevelt said the execu-
tive and legislative departments of
the government should be given addi-
tiOnal power TO deal with public organi-
cations.
Hopes for share of Power.
IF We are going to continue to pros
per. the power which the president de !
sires added to the government. l hope. !
will be added to other organizations. I
hope some of it will come our way. It |
is impossible for a railway company or
a large organization to carry on its |
business. properly if people are con-
stantIy criticising and suspecting."
Here Hartman paused, turned to Root, |
and said:
Have Mission.
1T often is important to city or 10 !
a country whether we do certain things !
whether we develop territory or leave |
il dormant
-"Often we cannot give development n |
start because of the action of certain
people for political prestige. 1 believe |
there is to be change of attitude |
which soon is to be felt. People are
coming to believe in Americanism-l
and that means fair play"
Accepts Challenge.
Root accepted Harriman's challenge
promptly and prefaced his prepared !
speech by saying: I
Before 1 begin my talk on the sub |
ject which has been assigned to me, l |
desire to make a few remarks in ans
wer TO Hartman. Hartman, believe.
would have us give more power to the
railroads.
"The experience l gained from a
knowledge of the railroad business in
the state of Missouri at time when |
the railroads were competing for bus /
mess led me to believe just means of |
regulating traffic and railway affairs is
through the railways themselves. l be-
lieve it is just to say that a wise law
would be one that would force railroads |
to combine in keeping the lava law !
that would prevent railroads from
breaking the law
should be supplemented.
Their power should be supplement- |
ed by government control, such as
would prevent them from doing wrong. |
1T is a common tendency of rail-
roads 10 give the advantage to Il !
wealthy shipper against weaker or
smaller one.
''It is that tendency so often display
ed-a tendency to crush the weak. For
this reason | say that it is necessary, |
il is essential TO freedom and indepen-
dence that railroads should be held
under control to prevent discrimina- |
tion. The slight advantage that rail |
roads would gain by more power-thc
power that Hartman asks for-would |
be so greatly offset by evil that such
proposition would not be considered of
moment.
Trade to Aid Peace.
World wide peace, substantial, en-
during, and made possible by closer
commercial relations between the ma !
tions. was the Keynote of the notable /
speech delivered by Root Following |
Root. diplomatic representatives of
FIVE Latin-American republics made
speeches along the same line. offering |
trade extension between North and
South America as means of bringing