Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-04-02
ROOSEVELT AND THE RAILROADS

Beyond doubt the railroad question
is the most important now before the
people OF the United States and the
opinions Of President Roosevelt are
more sought after than those of any
other man. On this as on all other
public questions the president is not
letting his light hide under a bushel
but his public expressions are to be
known of all men. In reply to a query
Tor more information he SAYS he has
nothing more to add than has already
been given and cites his addresses
and his several messages to congress
where he has carefully gone over the
ground.
A study of these will show that the
president is not in favor of government
ownership. In his Raleigh address he
says: II do not believe in govern
ment ownership of anything, which
can with propriety be left in private
hands, and In particular I should most
strenuously object to the government
ownership of railroads But believe
with equal firmness that 1t is out of
the question for the government not
exercise a supervisory and regulatory
right over the railroads for It is vital
to the wellbelng of the public that they
should be managed in the spirit of
fairness and justice toward the pub
lica" This represents the president
fairly on the question of government
ownership
On the matter of Justice to the rail-
roads as well as justice to the shipper
the president has said:
Il have said again and again that I
would not tolerate for one moment any
injustice to railroad any more than
would tolerate an injustice by a rail-
road. have said again and again that
would remove a public official who
would yield to any public clamor
against a railroad, no matter how pop
ular that clamor might be, just as
quickly as would remove a public
official who rendered an improper SER
vice to a railroad at the expense of
the public. But I am convinced that
there must be an increased regulatory
and supervisory power exercised by
the government over the railroads. |
Indeed I would like 1t exercised to a
much greater extent than I have any
idea of pressing at this moment. For |
instance, would greatly like to have
1t exercised in the matter of over |
capitalization.
Il am convinced that the wages |
ha Ia o
was no fictitious capital upon which
dividends had to be paid, need hardly
say that this does not mean hostility
to wealth If you gentlemen here, in
whom believe so strongly. were all a
unit in demanding that some improper
action should be taken against certain
men of wealth, would defend them
against whom, no matter how much I
cared for, and In so doing would real
iy be acting in your interest. would
be false to your interest If failed to
do justice to the capitalist as much
as to the wage worker But I shall
act against the abuses of wealth Just
as against all other abuses"
1t is this eminent fairness on the
part of the president that leaves his
so little to hang an objec-
tion upon. and not meet the clamor of
the people OF all classes, but see this
controversy not from the point of self
interest but the fairer field of disin-
criticism. The president
stands on this splendid vantage ground
and his opponents can make no head
way against him or his position.