New-York tribune., 1907-10-02
PRESIDENT FIRM
IN HIS POLICIES,
RICH And POOR ALIKE
MUST OBEY LAWS.
Mr, Rooseuelt Promises Fairness to
i'll in KeOkak Speech-Begins
Mississippi Trip.
fBy 1eleEraph to The Tribune. !

he
night from the peak of old-fashioned stern
,,beeI steamer. which is ploughing its way down
the Mississippi somewhere between Keokuk and
Ct Louis President Roosevelt is aboard. en-
;o,.inc every waking moment of the trip. for 1t
Is a novel experience to him. With him
feD of his friends and White House assist
ants John McIIhenny. former Rough Rider and
civil Service Commissioner. who is to be the
Presidents host on his forthcoming bear hunt
IN Louisiana took the boat with Mr.. Roosevelt
here and so did Captain Seth Bullock. his old
time ranch friend from South Dakota. Captain
Bullock is the United States Marshal of that
state. and Just run down to Keokuk between
sessions Of court to see the President"
Z didn't get any invite TO wander down this
side Of the creek" he said. but when heard
-be Big Chief was TO he this near my wigwau,
7 lust snuck, and here I am
As soon as the President got off the train this
morning he saw Bullock's peaked sombrero ris-
ing over the heads of the crowd like tall pine
above a forest of dwarf cedars. We'll by
George if there isn't Seth" cried the President,
forgetting for the moment all about the galaxy
Of tall HATED and frock coated gentlemen who
were there officially welcoming him to KeOkuk.
Then he cried as he reached over and grabbed
the old plainsman's hand. You've just got 10 so
down the river with me-" Captain Bullock NUT
tered something about "the next session of
court" but the President shook his fist at him
and the United States Marshal for South Dakota
threw UP his hands.
MAKES NOTABLE ADDRESS.
In the pretty park overlooking the river and
not far from the great stone shaft erected to the
memory of Chief Keokuk, good Indian" both
before and after his departure for the happy
hunting grounds, the President made a notable
address TO throng that was spread about the
green sides Of the natural anphitheatre far be
yond the sound of his voice. Just in front OF
the Presidents stand a human flag of school
children that sang patriotic airs and waved its
animated stars and stripes with vigor and
thusiasm whenever opportunity was given.
As at Canton the President did not deliver
his speech just he had prepared it and given
Il to the press. He did not omit any feature.
hut frequently turned from his manuscript TO
inter3ect extenporaneous remarks for emphasis
and elaboration.
Again, as yesterday. his theme the
similar treatment for rich and poor. and again
he found occasion TO use familiar cooquialisms-
Isn't this good doctrine?' he asked. after stat
ing his proposition addressing the Grand Army
group in front OF him, and when he received
shout of assent he added that he was always
willing 10 help a man who stumbles and falls,
but not 10 carry the man who lies down"
me" he added. He dwelt on the necessity for
sef-mastery. declaring that every man must
have a master" and adding: IF he does not
master himself some one else will do So"
In another connection he laid down the gen
eraI proposition that Al private soldier is
worth number Of poor major generals, but
added that an Al major general is Invaluable,
the point being that individual merit is the
pearl Of great price in every walk of life.
UNDESIRABLE CITIZENS"
He said he was willing to help the big rail-
road man who is honest and would protect him
against the demagogue. but he would not de-
sist in his condemnation Of those who were not
acting honestly.
You will remember that a year ago l ex-
pressed my opinion of certain undesirable cit-
zens," he said. 81 stand by what I said"
The President added that he would always
condemn the man who incites TO murder and
would demand punishment for that offence, as
he would for the crimes of the corporation Grim
inals. He would treat both just as he would
treat other offenders. He also emphasized the
Importance of preparation for any work That
the American people can whip the world" he
conceded. but contended that they would have
hard time doing it if not prepared. The PresI-
dents plea was for preparedness and organiza-
tion. He spoke of the claim that America can
whip the world, and said that even if this were
true. the country must suffer in doing so. There
was no boast in that direction. but. the n
trary. a warning of danger in case of lack of
preparation He would have all, both men and
women, do well some work that was worth do
ing, and he announced his contempt for the
woman who would shrk her duty as n wife or
mother.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
President Roosevelt's speech was as follows:
Men and Women of iowa: l am glad indeed
to see you and 10 speak to you In this thriving
city of your great and prosperous state / he
lieve with all my heart in the people of Iowa
for I think that you are good, typical Ameri-
cans, and that among you there has been de-
Veloped to a very high degree khat body of
characteristics which we like TO regard as dis
unctively American.
During the last few years of the United
states have been forced to consider very Sc
liously certain economic problems. We have
made a beginning in the attempt To deal with
The relations of the national goVernment-that
is' with the relations OF the people OF the coun-
ty-to the huge and wealthy corporations, con-
Tolled for the most part by few very rich
men, which are engaged in interstate business
especially the great railway corporations. You
know my views this matter. You know that
believe that the national government. in the
interests OF the people, should assume much the
same supervision and control the manage
lnent Of the interstate common carriers that It
now exercises over the national BANKS. You
know, Furthermore. that l believe that this
supervision and control should be exercised in
a spirit Of rigid fairness toward the corpora
me people, but giving them justice in return.
LESSONS FROM THE PAST
Recently / have been reading the work of the
eminent Italian scholar Ferrero the history Of
ire Roman republic. when the life of the
itprnaE state had become that of a complex and
luxurious industrial civilization. / am happy to
t.y that the differences between that civiliza-
ilon and our own are more striking than the