Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-18
At THE WHITE HOUSE
B. F. Yoakum of the Rock Island
Road Has a Talk.
OPENED THE EXPOSITION
President Pressed Button for Starting
Machinery at Louisville.
THE ALABAMA JUDGESHIP
Oscar Hundley of Huntsville Now
Seems to Have the Best Chance
for Appointment

B. F. Yoakum, chairman of the board of
directors of the Rock Island road, spent
some time with the President today. At
the conclusion of the conference Mr..
Yoakum said that he could not discuss the
| topics talked over. If he had anything to
say he would take time to think it over
| before talking for publication.
Mr.. Yoakum said that 1t was well known
| that he favored closer relations between
| the government and the railroads in mat
| tiers connected with freight and passenger
| traffic. When asked to present some def
mite plan of cooperation on the part of
| the railroads and government he said he
| might do so later
| Mr.. Yoakum admitted that the railroads
had been hard hit by the legislatures of
| the different states and that the outcome
is awaited with concern. He understood
! that the damage had been about ended for
| the present as most of the legislatures had
adjourned. Whether the railroads would
| be hard pressed by the legislatures next
| winter he did not know. In this connection
| the principal plan of the railroads for CO.
| operation with the federal government is
| said to be to try to get the President to
use his tremendous influence with the gov
| errors of states to call off the legislatures.
| Most of the railroad presidents are said to
| view with favor the declaration of Com
nerce commission that he doubts whether
| the states have the power to interfere with
the business of interstate roads Some of
them, II has become known, have deter
mined TO join with President StiCkney of
the Chicago Great Western in bringing ac-
ton in the federal courts to determine how
far the states can go.
Tomorrow the President will receive a
visit from President Melen of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford road, one
of the four railroad presidents j. Plerpont
Morgan asked the President to receive for
a consultation. While three of the four de-
cided that they could not accomplish any
thing by coming on here, the fourth man
telegraphed asking for a date with the
President. This was granted.
President Opened Exposition.
Al $3.50 o'clock this afternoon President
Roosevelt opened the Greater Louisville
exposition by touching a button in the eX-
ecutive offices. The wire conveyed the cleo
tricity that started in motion the machin-
ery The exposition is designed to furnish
the country with facts as to the Industrial
enterprises of the Kentucky city. The Pres
ident said that he was pleased to press the
button because it was one exposition That
was not seeking aid from the federal gov
eminent.
Senator Warner of Missouri, accompanied
by several Missouri and Kansas men, in
vited the President to attend the annual re-
at Baxter Springs, Kan, in August next.
The President said that he would like to
make the trip but would be unable to do SO
Senator Gamble talked to the President
about patronage matters for South Dakota.
The Alabama Judgeship.
Senator Pettus of Alabama, who is a
member of the Senate committee on mill
tary affairs, which is Investigating the
Brownsville shooting, saw the President
this morning He said that his visit did
not relate to the Alabama judgeship, which
has been under consideration for some
time 1t is now said to be probable that
the President will appoint Oscar Hundley
of Huntsville as Judge of the new district
Mr.. Hundley was some time ago nominated
as United States attorney OF the Hunts
VILE district, but was not confirmed, his
name being before the Senate at the close
of Congress. If the President does not
name him as Judge he will again appoint
him as United States attorney.
The White House has received lnforma-
ton that the reported confession of negro
formerly in the 18th Infantry that 1t was
negro soldiers who shot up Brownsville Is
a fake. pure and simple. and that no con-
fession of former soldier of the regiment
had been made.