The San Francisco call., 1907-03-20
MELLEN LEAVES
WHITE HOUSE IN
A SEVERE CHILL
Railroad Magnate Is Giver
Cold Comfort by the
President
OUAILING NAPOLEONS
Powers of Finance Make
Sorry Exhibitions in
Conferences
ROOSEVELT UNMOVED
More Determined Than Ever
TO Curb the Traffic
Corporations
By Ira E. Bennett
WASHINGTON- March |

WASHINGTON. March 49,
Another railroad president has visited
the White House and gone away with
empty hands. 1t was President Mel
len Of the New Haven road who went
up against Roosevelt today. He was
inside about forty minutes. After the
talk the President saw about twenty
newspaper men and talked to them
with amazing frankness. but not for
publication. Mellen had nothing to say
TO the press.
The lengthening line of railroad
managers and fnanciers headed for the
White House is a symptom and not a
remedy for the troubles that have over
taken the railroads. Not one OF the
railroad men has offered to the Presi-
dent any suggestion Of value looking
70 sllaving public feeling against
the roads or providing a way for CO.
operation between the public and the
railroads. Each has his own idea Of
what he wants. but II SINNERS down
to q plea TO Roosevelt to call OF the
state Legislatures and take control Of
the whole railroad question.
The railroad men are completely
adrift in the attempt to gauge senti-
ment or mold IL. A few days ago they
spplauded to the echo a speech criti-
cising Secretary Roots Capitalization
sdea. and now they are advocating com
plete Federal control Of railroad regu-
lstions. Some Of the captains Of in
dustry who have seen the President
lately were either attacked with buck
sgue when they gained his presence
or were there merely to return TO
Wall street and circulate stories 20
AFFECT the market. They had absolute
ly nothing to suggest to the President.
and some Of them earned his contempt.
tt was made clear today that the
President does not intend to take rail
way presidents or financial nagnates
into his confidence. They learn from
him only as much as the public already
knows. The newspaper reader in San
FEGnflcfO y JUST d wen poHlc0 on the
Presidents policies as President Mel
len was when he left the White House
today
Any one who has read the Presi-
dents messages and speeches knows
that he advocates more complete Fed
ersl control Of interstate railroads.
When the railroad presidents tell him
their troubles he points 70 his mes
sages and speeches and asks them to
read them carefully. He believes that
the people OF the country are deter
mined 10 control interstate railroads,
and that they will not cease until ex-
listing unsatisfactory laws are per-
fected and strengthened.
II there is no other way 10 control
the railroads. the President will favor
tire enactment of law governing the
Incorporation Of Interstate railroads
relating TO their capitalization and so
on. The President does not place any
faith in the conversion OF the railroads
10 the doctrine Of Federal control.
The President viii speak at James,
town on April 26 at the opening of the
exposition and again at jamestown on
June 10th. when the Editorial Associa-
fion meets. At present IL is the Presi-
dents inclination TO make a speech on
the railroad question to the editors at
Jamestown